Archive for motility
‘Everything fell into place’: Innovative POEM procedure lets Peyton eat without pain
Peyton Reed, 14, is a typical teenage boy: He enjoys tennis, video games — and food. So when eating became so painful for him that he started losing weight, his parents knew it was time to get him help. The problem began gradually enough five years ago, with bouts of what seemed liked heartburn. Because ... Read More about ‘Everything fell into place’: Innovative POEM procedure lets Peyton eat without pain
New possibilities: How Caden learned to manage chronic pain — and found an unexpected path
In October 2020, Caden Deutsch started feeling sick. Although the 17-year-old had been coping with juvenile idiopathic arthritis since he was in sixth grade, this was different. By the following year, what had begun as brief episodes of gastrointestinal discomfort had progressed to constant, excruciating pain. “I’d been living with chronic joint pain for years, ... Read More about New possibilities: How Caden learned to manage chronic pain — and found an unexpected path
‘Life-changing’ appointment helps Georgia cope with motility issues
Five-year-old Georgia MacAloney loves dancing, cheerleading, and riding her bike. “She’s just a happy, regular kid,” says her mother, Justine. “You would never know what she’s been through just by looking at her.” Yet just a few years ago, the family had put life on hold due to Georgia’s illness. “We didn’t plan trips and ... Read More about ‘Life-changing’ appointment helps Georgia cope with motility issues
Open-label placebo offers new treatment for disorders of gut-brain interaction in children
Pain-predominant disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) in children — such as functional abdominal pain (FAP) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — can lead to disabling symptoms, poor quality of life, and high use of health care resources. While optimal treatment for these conditions remains elusive, we know that this patient population tends to have high ... Read More about Open-label placebo offers new treatment for disorders of gut-brain interaction in children
Innovative POEM procedure gives Emma an option for achalasia
Like a lot of teenagers, Emma Reiner loves pizza — so it shouldn’t have been a surprise when she recently enjoyed four slices in one sitting. But for Emma, the meal was an accomplishment. For more than a year, she had felt nauseous after taking just a few bites of food. “It felt like the ... Read More about Innovative POEM procedure gives Emma an option for achalasia
‘Never stop looking for answers’: Andrea’s journey with dysmotility
As a volunteer at Caritas Internationalis, Andrea Hernandez loves helping feed the hungry. Yet, until recently, Andrea herself was unable to eat by mouth, instead relying on a feeding tube for nutrition. Nevertheless, she says that when it comes to her health, “We are fed with hope.” Andrea, now 23, has experienced severe dysmotility problems, ... Read More about ‘Never stop looking for answers’: Andrea’s journey with dysmotility
Two recent innovations in aerodigestive care
Feeding disorders are extremely common in pediatrics and are a source of significant stress for families. Because many complex feeding disorders lack treatment options, children tend to receive nutrition by feeding tubes as a result. The Aerodigestive Center at Boston Children’s Hospital has been at the forefront of developing novel therapies for feeding disorders. Two ... Read More about Two recent innovations in aerodigestive care
Dysmotility may play a major role in respiratory symptoms
Clinicians whose patients exhibit respiratory symptoms frequently assume that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is responsible. However, esophageal and gastric dysmotility may be more significant factors in respiratory disease than GERD alone, according to a recent review by Rachel Rosen, MD, MPH, and Samuel Nurko, MD, MPH. The paper, published in Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics, ... Read More about Dysmotility may play a major role in respiratory symptoms