Terror du jour …
Today’s email to our favorite doctor …
Have I told you recently I hate the world? 😉
My daughter is fine, now. This is very bizarre, and I may never have explained to you my “one time theory.” Basically, something happens once, we sort of ignore it (or don’t panic). When she refuses to eat at all one day (happens), I don’t care, the second day I wonder. One whacked out seizure, if not followed by another, well, we don’t call it in. Seems to work well.
We had one hour from hell yesterday. She did not stop coughing (remember I was a paramedic, her airway was fine). It got pretty bad. She then started having neurological issues, tough to explain, but she just “was not there.” I did not know which caused which … coughing causing seizure or vice versa. As you know, I gave her Delsym and Advil and was prepared to give her Valium. She really “wasn’t there” for about half the time, I saw it in her eyes, etc. A pretty solid hour of the coughing, almost non-stop. I know I would have had a very rough throat and hurting chest at that point if it was me. She did “produce” a very very mucosy something (some Pediasure mixed with whatever) that was a cross between weird and The Exorcist. That was just once. Yes, I put my clothes directly in the laundry. Then I had her lie on her side when it all subsided. She was wide awake, but mellow for about 15 minutes. And then … normal. Absolutely fine. I never really slept last night, more listening, but nothing. Today, as fine as ever, happy, etc.
So, you’re the doctor. You tell me … wtf?
They say you’re supposed to keep your doctor informed. Can she fire us?
I’m so sorry! It must have been so scary. And the feeling that you can’t help her is the worst.
“Can she fire us?”
Actually that is one of the downsides of large systematic medical care – them telling you what you can have and who – medically-speaking.
It helped that you began your message with ‘sometimes it only happens once’. Glad she is better.
Erika: It’s only the first dozen times or so when your kid hits a 9.9 on the weird-shit-o-meter that you get scared. After that it is more like “oh f–k, what now and do we go to the ER or sit it out?” The feeling of not being able to help her out is one we share with all parents at times, not just those in “our group.” What we do own more is not knowing what comes next. My thoughts were 1) can I handle this and 2) if not, how do I get what kind of help I need? Having been a paramedic in my past life, I know my limits and have overcome the macho-ness of not calling an ambulance several years ago. That incident would make a great post if I can ever get myself to write it.
I understand what you mean. Izzy got sick yesterday, and besides the fever, chocking on her snot and throwing up, she also had these weird fits. She stiffened up, turned red, had a panicked look on her face and she held her breath until we picked her up or pet her back or chest. I doubt it was a seizure because we were able to snap her out of it as well as prevent it, if saw it coming. She had these freaky attacks the last time she was sick, so this time around we didn’t have a melt-down over them. It was still scary though. I so envy your paramedic background. I kept thinking I would be home alone with her the next day and I tried to recall that silly CPR video we had to watch at the NICU. Oh, and to make things even more interesting, I don’t drive. (I’m from Budapest, and we didn’t even own a car until recently, when we moved to the States). So I couldn’t even rush her to the ER if things went from scary to freakin’ scary.
Every now and then I feel nervous at my standards for what constitutes “emergency care” with Sophie. What brought us to the hospital when she was younger is now looked at, tended to and sometimes even ignored, all while my boys are eating dinner or doing homework. It’s a weird life.
I’m glad your girl is better.
Everyone has already said everything. Yes, and yes and yes, and uh-huh. They’re usually better off at home til it gets really bad, though, cause, most of the time, the hospital staff have no clue what to do with kids like ours anyway. Glad she is better.
Claire
Elizabeth, Claire: Absolutely agree!
what a tough day for you guys. i was scared just reading this. i really hope she’s ok. doctors never know what to make of anything, do they?