Tummy Bug Testing

As Logan's mom indicated below, we had a wonderful visit with Dr. Joel Morgan yesterday. He gave us a lot of information and answers. We still have a lot of unanswered questions and some major anxieties about our Little Logan but we feel like we are moving in the right direction.
Dr. Morgan really feels that Logan's "failure to thrive" is all related to his inability to eat and utilize the little food he does get down. We have a few additional tests we will now go through to look for more answers. Dr. Montes' assessment of Logan's GI tract indicated inflammation in the cells of his colon (see Another Piece of the Puzzle below). Dr. Montes suggested we obtain a skin prick test to try to isolate the allergens affecting Logan. However, the blood tests we have already run and this newly recommended skin test look at IgE allergic reactions. These types of reactions are caused by Immunoglobulin E (hence the name) antibodies. Since the blood tests were negative, the skin test (also testing for IgE reactions) most likely not add any additional information.
Sometimes, food allergies and sensitivities are demonstrated through a delayed or secondary immune response by the Immunoglobulin G antibody. The traditional blood and skin tests only look at IgE reaction. So, our next step is to submit an IgG blood test and have it looked at for any reactions.
Another question we want to solve is, "How is Logan's GI tract functioning?" The tests performed by Dr. Montes looked at the gross anatomy of his tract, looking for any major defects or disease processes. Thankfully, those tests revealed nothing more serious than some reflux and inflammation. Now we turn to look to see if there is anything inhibiting him from absorbing or digesting key nutrients and fats.
We are submitting three tests on Logan's stool. The first is a microbiology analysis that will identify the types and quantity of his tummy bugs and look for any fungal presence. An imbalance or absence of key bacteria will throw off Logan's ability to utilize certain foods. We will also be looking for two inflammation markers, "calprotectin" and "lactoferrin". Calprotectin is a calcium and zinc binding protein and has bacteriostatic properties. Lactoferrin has antimicrobial properties and raised levels of these two proteins will help us in determining the extent and cause of inflammation in Logan's bowel.