The Plagues of 2013

Note: I had to type 2013 FOUR times because I kept typing 2012. I'm a WINNER that way.

One of my kids began to cough on Christmas Eve. Being that said kid is an asthmatic, like most of my kids, I knew the drill. We've been dealing with asthma for a looooong time. Increase the steroid component and it'll be fine.

Except that it wasn't. Cough, cough, cough - all day, all night - all Christmas break.I albuterol'ed the heck out of that kid.

We bumped up the steroid, we used the cough medicine that was advised, we treated as best we could. They were a couple of days where the cough backed off, but then the cough came back. Mostly at night, which for us has always been a straight up sign of asthma. I'm really pretty comfortable handling asthma, and I have a lot of faith in my kids pediatrician, and so she and I went back and forth. Twice I almost brought my kid in, but then the cough disappeared, and so I didn't.

Finally, I'd had enough, the kid had had enough, and we went in.

Where we were promptly sent for a chest x-ray, and given a diagnosis: walking pneumonia.

Feeling like the WORST PARENT EVER.

Two other children experienced asthma flares, but their lungs were clear, and so we were advised just to use the rescue meds. Which needed to be refilled.

My oldest daughter developed a pain in her back. She "Dr. Googled" herself, and was convinced she had a herniated disc - despite the fact that she had none of the symptoms. She went to the doctor, and heard the word fractures, and called me in a panic. She said she'd been told that she fractured a vertebrae.

We went for an x-ray. No fracture in the vertebrate. Instead, she has something known as Retrolisthesis. Muscle spasm, causing lots of tenderness and discomfort. Comes from somewhat weak muscles - said child does not one shred of exercise AND lifted some heavy boxes using her back.

What was actually said in the exam? "No evidence of fractures". Lesson there: listen to ALL THE WORDS - not just the ones you think might be important.

Nine days into the new year. Two sets of x-rays. Four visits to the pharmacy. Three doctor visits.

I'm pretty much over this already.

Comments

[Tara]

It's in the Mom Book that you are not expected to diagnose pneumonia. See Chapter 6, p. 4. So cut yourself some slack.

In all seriousness, my coworker's daughter went a week with a 104 temp before they diagnosed her pneumonia. She had her at the doctor three times. It happens. Nothing you can do about it.

[Headless Mom]

Asthma is like that. Don't beat yourself up. I would have done the same thing.

[Sara]

Worst Mom Ever award goes to my mom. When I was living with her in NYC for a summer, sleeping under a window AC unit that spewed out God-knows-what, she FINALLY took me to the ER to find out I had pneumonia. And then we WALKED home....to save the cab fare.

True story. But she wasn't the worst mom ever. She was my beloved Best Mom. And I'm sure you are, too. :-)

[addy]

Yup, been there!The viral infection that brought along the bacterial infection to keep it company.... Now hubbing is sick cuz everyone else is well now. And dude is a serious grump when he is not well. It will get better.

[Kyooty/Mary]

Yuck! on the sick. I hope everyone has healed up.