Our ER Experience last night . . .

[kathleenandjoe]

Well, we were suppose to be heading to DC right NOW for an MRI with sedation as ordered by the neuro (looking for seizure focus) and ns (a couple of headaches - and has not had a study in nearly 3 years).

Well, yesterday Becca was climbing the stepstool (something she does on her own all the time for a long while now) to the trampoline (enclosed, we use for therapy - okay and fun) and SHE FELL RIGHT ON HER HEAD ONTO A PEICE OF CEMENT SIDEWALK.

Yes - we will be moving the trampoline entrance to face the grass today. Crap.

HUGE bump on the back right of her head (shunt is mid left side now thank God - the bump was right on her scar area from first shunt). She was crying, but really okay. However, it was HUGE - I am talking a tad smaller than a baseball sticking out. I took her to ER to play it safe. She said she wanted to sleep and I knew that was not good.

So after a long wait, they wanted a CT to check for bleeding or fracture since it was so big. Of course my baby will not do even a short head ct without sedation (though we tried - to no avail) so we had to get an IV and sedation after all last night. She stresses big time for any procedure - even blood pressure - freaks out. Anyone else have this problem?

I've done everything I can think of - pretend play, books, pictures, talking - to prepare her.

Anyway - CT was negative and vents looked good. She did have 2 seizures last night, this morning - but she also did not sleep much with all that (in ER til midnight) and judging from the sleep deprived EEG experience a couple of weeks ago - that is a bad thing for her.

So we are not getting sedated again this morning, and now will have to wait until October 27 to get the MRI. Ugh.

So that was our FIRST er experience for a NORMAL childhood bump. And she is fine, we lived. Thanks for listening. Anyone else deal with a major bump on their hydro kid?

Hugs,
Kathleen

[Nick,Brian,andJon'sMom]

Sorry that Becca fell. Hope that she is feeling better today.

Jonathan has falling and bumped his head quite hard a few times and he has been alright. Even did the whole thing with the ER visit and the CT scan.

Is there anyway that you could get the MRI moved up? Maybe they have a cancellation list that you could have Becca's name to. It really stinks having to wait for MRI appointments.

Marcie

[Brandon's Mom]

{{{{Kathleen}}}}

So sorry to hear about Becca's nasty tumble, but glad she didn't end up with a serious injury.

Yes, we've been there- done that, with Brandon on a number of occassions. With the bad balance due to the CP, he took a number of nasty falls which resulted in huge knots on his head. We too, always ended up at the ER running a shunt series and coping with the seizures that were brought on by the trauma to the head and the altered sleep pattern. :rolleyes:

My kids haven't ever had much problems dealing with medical procedures, and I realize how fortunate I am to be able to say that. There were a couple of occasions where it took 3 adults to hold Brandon down to get IVs put in, but that was only after they had stuck him several times to get one into his arm in vain (yes, that was an intentional pun). I'm sure if you post this over in CN too, there might be some other parents who can give you some tips to calm Becca down for her procedures.

Ah.... normal childhood bumps, wish we could have traded for some of those over the surgeries, although they are barely less upsetting for all involved. :rolleyes:

[MegNJaxMom]

First: Thanks be to God that she is ok. You had me worried with title... the only thing we have gone to ER for is seizures we can't stop at home.

Second: Megs at 2 1/2 knows that someone with white coming at her means bad stuff. In fact, the ER staff at our local hospital knows she fights and at our last ER visit the lab guy saw who it was and was going to get another nurse to hold her! Needless to say we didn't need the extra restraint... but he knows! I have a feeling that like her hydro twin we will be headed to sedation for almost everything very soon.

Third: Hugs for your mommy heart and Becca's bumpy head... While I am glad you got to do something "normal" I hate to think of a kid in pain.

[AMBush]

I'm so glad she's okay, what a lousy way to spend an evening!


She stresses big time for any procedure - even blood pressure - freaks out. Anyone else have this problem?



Blood pressure, blood draws, pretty much anything that requires touching by anyone in scrubs. It's awful for everyone involved...

[CoolAngel28]

{{{hugs}}}...

I know how Becca feels,I hated all the medical stuff forever.Please know that I'm thinking about you guys.

Just an idea though,maybe your children's hospital has a program that helps ease Becca's fears about blood draws,EEG's,etc. If she sees that it doesn't hurt a doll,maybe she'll feel more at ease.;)

[Mom2HeathandKynzer]

{{{{HUGS}}}}Sorry to hear about Becca's fall. Hope she is feeling better today. and you are too...I think sometimes these things are harder on us than the kiddos.

[jennifer]

I was wondering could you send me some private messages, so we could talk. No one really talks to me on here and I just feel like I am not wanted. I was wondering, do all your kids have hydro? I am 22yrs. old had hydro since birth. Have a mild mental disability, will be trying to go to college.

[EthansDad]

Wild and scary! Glad it seems to have been mostly visible swelling etc!

[hunterjjumper]

Kathleen:

Sorry to hear about Becca's fall. Sounds like you handled it like a pro. Bummer on the MRI, I know it is horrible to wait for those, and to have them rescheduled it is always so far out. I will pray for a cancellation, it happened to us once!

I am sure you have done this with Becca, but when Helen goes to the hospital she has her favorite bunny that she takes with her, and everything that gets done to helen gets done to the bunny....usually first. However, there are some things where that just doesn't cut it, and we have the hollering and screaming. Things like botox shots, and taking medicine other than her seizure meds.

Glad Becca is feeling better, and I hope Mom is too.

Tammy

[laurensmom]

Big hugs!!!! Glad that she is okay!!!

After not having to go to the hospital for any major issues in the last 3 years, Lauren finally will go to his pediatrican without screaming!!!! He even got his teeth cleaned this week and didn't have a major breakdown!!

Hopefully one day Becca will forget all her earlier times and not be so afraid, tho I don't think Lauren will ever be ready for any kind of scan of his head area without sedation.

Hugs,

Debi

[kathleenandjoe]

Thanks so much everyone. You guys are great - - - and I just know that you know how it is.

Becca had such a great day today. It was one of the best behavior, attitude days that we have had in a while. She did have a short seizure at 0645, but was fine as usual after a short one like that.

She went to school, Daisy Girl Scout meeting, and soccer practice today. She had one of the best practices she's had! She has been so happy and has not had a fit all day long. I even scolded her once and sent her to time out for taking a block from AJ and then sticking her tongue out at him, and she walked over to time out with not even a word. Like she accepted she was wrong and knew it. I was just floored. THIS NEVER HAPPENS LATELY. She has been an over-medicated monster . .. . and the high dose of keppra in the mix has not been pretty.

Seriously. . . . maybe she should bump her head more often!!!

As for the anxiety. . . maybe someday. She hates IVs and knows that she will be getting one if she will not do it on her own. Still, she will not. It is like AMBush said - awful for everyone involved. Ugh.

Ah well - it was a good, busy day here and we all know how precious those are:)

Hugs,
Kathleen

[ConnersMom]

Hi Kathleen. Sorry to hear about the ER and Becca's distain for medical procedures. Glad to hear she is okay and had a GREAT day today.

We are finally getting Conner's annual checkup, and this year they are scheduling an MRI instead of CT scan. Apparently, they are moving away from too many CTs due to radiation exposure. we've never had an MRI and I was a bit worried about it. We've been talking to Conner about it and I think he's prepared - we always research on the internet and look at pictures together, etc. We discussed which stuffed animal needs to go with him to 'get their head examined'.

Love our hydro kids, Karen

[Nikki_Poohs Mom]

Sorry to hear about the ER adventure, but really glad she's okay....whew! How scary for you I'm sure.

When Nikki was as young as 8 months old she would scream even if the nsg held her. Also, when she was a child they always had to sedate her for the MRI. Now at 20, she still doesn't like the MRI or blood draws, IV's and questions everything they are going to do to her.

Hugs~

Nina

http://bd.lilypie.com/KnPum4/.png

[Austinsmom]

{{Kathleen}}
Glad to hear Becca is doing good now, W:eek:W, it is so hard on parents when our Hydro kids are small, Austin had 2 really bad head plants, Thank God kids are part rubber;) when they are young.
Sorry to hear Becca is having such a hard time with seizures, we got a ton of information on Austin’s 4 day ambulatory EEG, has Becca had any thing like that? Maybe an idea? Glad that she is okay, and having good days
love to you both ,
Deborah

[Suecr]

Glad she is ok, how scary! Hayley fell on her head about a month ago, at a playground. Had one foot on a slide (about 5 feet), waiting at the bottom to catch her, then suddenly fell backwards through a gap in the bars around the platform. Happened so fast DH or me could not get there in time. Hit her head on a platform on the way down, then onto the ground. Very scary. Seemed ok after, then went for a CT when headaches got worse. Thankfully ok.

[kathleenandjoe]

Deborah -

She just had a sleep-deprived EEG . . . THE most awful test experience ever followed by a weekend of twenty something seizures. So I will be asking for an alternative if necessary later for sure!

Becca continues to do well since the fall and just got the cutest little haircut!

God help us all get through all this head stuff! As if we have not been dealt enogh - can't they be exept from hitting their heads altogether!?

Hugs,
Kathleen

New pics in Becca's Five and AJ's 18 mo at http://rileyusmc.shutterfly.com

[Denese]

I'm with ya on the falls on the head. Used to obsess when Bradley was little...funny though, he never really fell & hit his head untill after all his probs started...2 weeks after his 2nd decompression the dog knocked him over & he landed with a loud thud. Cried a bit then shook it off...I swear his head is made of steel or something.

As for the mris...Dh & I take turns laying on the table with Bradley. During his marathon surgical ordeal there was concern over all the sedation. I said let me lay with him...so I or DH lay at his feet, hold a foot, talk with him & go in with him...hasn't been sedated since he was 2...the techs always give him extra stickers & such because they're impressed that he'll do that. Worth looking in to.