Diaper Swappers

mommysweetpea · 07-23-2010, 05:06 PM

Has anyone ever had to get this done on their kiddo? My DD is getting it done next week because there is a chance she has CF. Backstory: When she was born, her newborn blood work came back with a risk factor for CF on it. She was growing, gaining weight, right on target with development, etc. So we saw no need for further testing at that point. She was diagnosed with asthma at 4 months and ever since has had breathing/asthma problems. She is also a super sleeper at 2.5 (like 16-17 hours a day)and constantly has puffy eyes and is very "touchy" in her personality. She also breathes through her mouth all the time. Combined with all these factors, it has been determined to do the sweat test to see if she has a form of CF. Our next step is full panel of bloodwork and then a allergy specialist.
Sorry that got long. So what can I expect from the sweat test? What do I need to prepare myself for? Thanks mamas!

boy-oh-boy · 07-23-2010, 09:38 PM

DS1 had a sweat test at 10 months after he had not gained weight for several months and even dipped down in weight a little. I don't know if they were wanting to rule out CF or not, though. For our sweat test they just kind of wrapped this thing that was somehow supposed to collect sweat and we had to wait like 30 min with it on. DS didn't like it a bit but I do not think it was actually hurting him. It seemed fairly non-invasive.

shanree · 07-24-2010, 08:37 AM

mama ..... all of mine have been tested but mostly because my little brother has CF, so I am most likely a carrier. The sweat test is very simple. they put a little thing that looks like a little watch on her and leave it there for 20-30 minutes. It has a little spiraling tube inside the "watch face" part of it and you can watch it turn from one color to another as it collects little amounts of sweat.
People with CF sweat more than most others and they excrete large amounts of salt in their sweat. So the sweat test just determines whether she is excreting large amounts of sweat. Even if the sweat test comes back suspicious there is still a chance she may not have it.
A full blood work-up/a DNA profile is the way to know for sure.
I hope all is well mama! CF is a scary thought... but.... on the bright side. My little brother is 23 years old today. He ran track in highschool and did all the things the other kids did. My Mama stayed vigilant about his meds and therapy and his doctors always remarked about how well he was doing that he seemed to have it so "mild" compared to other patients. As an adult and living on his own he has not taken care of himself as well as Mama took care of him and his health has severely went down hill, but he still lives on his own and takes care of himself. He spends a LOT of time in the hospital trying to get his O2/lung capacity up and he is now on a lung transplant waiting list

I will tell you one thing that will hopefully ease your mind......
If her diapers are not absolutely horribly autrocious (smell and runniness) on top of all the other things, you probably don't have much to worry about. CF patients' pancrease is block/hindered from releasing the enzymes to digest food properly by all of the excess thick mucus, so their food doesn't digest properly and they have really bad diapers of runny partially digested food that STINKS in an undescribable kind of way(until they are diagnosed and then get meds that help digest their food).

MamaNae · 07-24-2010, 09:49 AM

((hugs)) like previous posters said the test is fairly non-invasive.

To ease your mind a bit, I have a cousin with CF, he is 40 years old and still going strong. He's had 2 double lung transplants. But realize that his health suffered more than necessary because he was diagnosed 40 years ago and went through 30+ years of ancient treatment. Nowadays treatment for CF is so far advanced that people diagnosed today have an even greater life span.

an_aurora · 07-24-2010, 10:42 PM

My DD had the test done at 2 years of age. She wasn't gaining weight and the allergist ordered the test just in case. It was super easy, and we had brought along a new toy (a magnet doll with little dresses that you change) and she just sat on my lap and played.

07-23-2010, 05:06 PM	#1
mommysweetpea Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sunny Southern California Posts: 1,319 Ratings: 12 Feedback: 100%	Sweat Chloride test for Cystic Fibrosis ? Has anyone ever had to get this done on their kiddo? My DD is getting it done next week because there is a chance she has CF. Backstory: When she was born, her newborn blood work came back with a risk factor for CF on it. She was growing, gaining weight, right on target with development, etc. So we saw no need for further testing at that point. She was diagnosed with asthma at 4 months and ever since has had breathing/asthma problems. She is also a super sleeper at 2.5 (like 16-17 hours a day)and constantly has puffy eyes and is very "touchy" in her personality. She also breathes through her mouth all the time. Combined with all these factors, it has been determined to do the sweat test to see if she has a form of CF. Our next step is full panel of bloodwork and then a allergy specialist. Sorry that got long. So what can I expect from the sweat test? What do I need to prepare myself for? Thanks mamas! __________________ ~Tammy~ WOHMommy to TJ 10-15-05 and my little VCFS drama queen Taylor 1-9-08. Married to my best friend Thomas since 8-3-02 Come and swag with me! http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/MamaSweetpea

07-23-2010, 09:38 PM	#2
boy-oh-boy Registered Users Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NE OK Posts: 2,770 Ratings: 77 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Sweat Chloride test for Cystic Fibrosis ? DS1 had a sweat test at 10 months after he had not gained weight for several months and even dipped down in weight a little. I don't know if they were wanting to rule out CF or not, though. For our sweat test they just kind of wrapped this thing that was somehow supposed to collect sweat and we had to wait like 30 min with it on. DS didn't like it a bit but I do not think it was actually hurting him. It seemed fairly non-invasive. __________________ 6 boys!

07-24-2010, 08:37 AM	#3
shanree Registered Users Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Titus, AL (outside Montgomery) Posts: 2,361 Ratings: 51 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Sweat Chloride test for Cystic Fibrosis ? mama ..... all of mine have been tested but mostly because my little brother has CF, so I am most likely a carrier. The sweat test is very simple. they put a little thing that looks like a little watch on her and leave it there for 20-30 minutes. It has a little spiraling tube inside the "watch face" part of it and you can watch it turn from one color to another as it collects little amounts of sweat. People with CF sweat more than most others and they excrete large amounts of salt in their sweat. So the sweat test just determines whether she is excreting large amounts of sweat. Even if the sweat test comes back suspicious there is still a chance she may not have it. A full blood work-up/a DNA profile is the way to know for sure. I hope all is well mama! CF is a scary thought... but.... on the bright side. My little brother is 23 years old today. He ran track in highschool and did all the things the other kids did. My Mama stayed vigilant about his meds and therapy and his doctors always remarked about how well he was doing that he seemed to have it so "mild" compared to other patients. As an adult and living on his own he has not taken care of himself as well as Mama took care of him and his health has severely went down hill, but he still lives on his own and takes care of himself. He spends a LOT of time in the hospital trying to get his O2/lung capacity up and he is now on a lung transplant waiting list I will tell you one thing that will hopefully ease your mind...... If her diapers are not absolutely horribly autrocious (smell and runniness) on top of all the other things, you probably don't have much to worry about. CF patients' pancrease is block/hindered from releasing the enzymes to digest food properly by all of the excess thick mucus, so their food doesn't digest properly and they have really bad diapers of runny partially digested food that STINKS in an undescribable kind of way(until they are diagnosed and then get meds that help digest their food). __________________ JESUS LOVING Wife to Les, Full-Time Mama to Naomi (16) Elijah (10) Ian (7) Jake/Xander/Rachel (6yr old triplets) Aiden (4) and Benjamin (born Jan 2011) ....Homebirthing, EBF, ERF, CD'ing, BW'ing, HS'ing, Co-Sleeping, No-Circ, No Vax, 3 natural VBAC Mama. & now I am a CPST!!!!

07-24-2010, 09:49 AM	#4
MamaNae Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 6,237 Ratings: 13 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Sweat Chloride test for Cystic Fibrosis ? ((hugs)) like previous posters said the test is fairly non-invasive. To ease your mind a bit, I have a cousin with CF, he is 40 years old and still going strong. He's had 2 double lung transplants. But realize that his health suffered more than necessary because he was diagnosed 40 years ago and went through 30+ years of ancient treatment. Nowadays treatment for CF is so far advanced that people diagnosed today have an even greater life span. __________________ Renae. Helpmeet to my hottie hubby, Josh. Devoted Mama to my Wolf scout-bookworm-sports-a-holic James (7), my Daisy Scout Princess Aldria (5) and my 2 year old Tornado Emmett and Cora Paige coming in May! ISO- Newborn prefolds & covers, summer NB outfits- girl.

07-24-2010, 10:42 PM	#5
an_aurora Registered Users Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 8,297 Ratings: 10 Feedback: 100%	Re: Sweat Chloride test for Cystic Fibrosis ? My DD had the test done at 2 years of age. She wasn't gaining weight and the allergist ordered the test just in case. It was super easy, and we had brought along a new toy (a magnet doll with little dresses that you change) and she just sat on my lap and played. __________________ CPST, RN, and mom. Did you know that puffy coats and snowsuits are not safe to use in the car? Click here to learn how to keep your kids safe AND warm!