Arriving to the hospital we immediately feel like, "Alright. The time is finally here. We've been thinking and talking about this day for so long. Today, we are starting the Ketogenic Diet."
Bug has an IV in right now. A standard protocal at the hospital on the EMU floor in case they need to administer rescue drugs for a seizure. She is also having a 24-hour Video EEG that she will get taken off during her second day.
Because the diet excludes a lot of sugary foods children on the diet are at risk for low blood sugar. If Bug's level drops below 45 we are to give her an ounce of orange juice or apple juice to boost it back up. Otherwise, she is not permitted to have orange or apple juice while on the diet. Going to bed the first night she was at 54. Normal blood sugar levels for a child on the diet is usually in the 60s or 70s. So her's was getting a little low but they said that that is pretty normal for nighttime if they haven't eaten in a couple of hours.
The nurses and Michael and I are also checking her urine for Ketone levels, gluclose levels and sugar gravity levels. The first few diapers her Ketones were negative but at bedtime she hit trace amounts of Ketones! Yay!
Rayleigh Bug will be on the 3:1 ratio. This means 3 times the amount of fat than carbs and protein.
Her carbs are coming from her fruits and veggies. So like, apples, applesauce, strawberry, carrots, etc. Her fat and proteins are coming from eggs, beef and chicken.
We are working closely with the nutritionalist here, Jessica Holy. She is AMAZING. Very easy to talk to and to ask questions and very informative. She came in twice on the first day. The first time was to give us the basic rundown of how the diet will be started and to meal plan. We planned out what time of day she would eat meals and snacks and what she would have.
Because Bug is so young still she was able to start onto the diet with the Ketocal formula. It's a special formula for the Ketogenic Diet that comes in the ratio (3:1 or 4:1) you need so there is no measuring out. Her Ketocal liquid formula is being mixed with water to introduce it to her body. Her first 2 bottles of Ketocal were 2/3 water and 1/3 formula and she had those at 3p and 5:30p. Then at 7:30p she had a bottle that was 2/3 formula and 1/3 Ketocal. She tolerated this very well. Then after medicine Bug had a snack. Her first solid food on the diet. Her bedtime snack was.... sugar-free jello and whipped cream! Oh boy, was she in Heaven!
So far, so well!
No comments:
Post a Comment