Sick Dweedle Bug Update

Sauerkraut Here!

My poor Dweedle Bug had intussusception, when part of the intestine has invaginated into another section of the intestine.

I spent a portion of the morning reading up on the diagnosis and it’s pretty scary.

To begin, my nephew experienced all of the symptoms: vomiting, rectal bleeding, lethargy, a fever, etc.

My brother and his girlfrined took him to see a doctor and after a brief exam they sent my nephew home, almost. My brother gave the doctor a hard time and my nephew was then examined by a pediatrition who again, found nothing. However, he did request that my brother and his girlfriend bring my nephew into his office should things not improve by morning. Before morning arrived my brother and his girlfriend were back, this time at the emergency room, where my nephew was admitted.

First they tried an air-contrast enema, but that didn’t work, so they sent him to Downtown Boise for surgury. Around 5AM my little nephew went into surguy where they removed the tissue that was blocking the intestine, another growth on a different part of his intestine and removed his apendix. I believe they reduced it by laparoscopy, whereby the segments of intestine are pulled apart by forceps? In other words, his little abdomen was not cut open.

Here’s the scary part:

“Intussusception may become a medical emergency if not treated early, as it will eventually cause death if not reduced. When intussusception or any other severe medical problem is suspected, the person must be taken to a hospital immediately.

The outlook for intussusception is excellent when treated quickly, but when untreated it can lead to death within 2–5 days. Fast treatment is a necessity, because the longer the intestine segment is prolapsed the longer it goes without bloodflow, and the less effective a non-surgical reduction will be.”

Basically, this is/was some serious shit (no pun intended). My nephew is now in recovery and my brother and his girlfriend should be able to take him home sometime tomorrow. I’m sure my nephew is pooped (again, no pun intended) and in need of some good rest. Luckily, he’s so young that he won’t remember any of this.

That is all.

Sauerkraut