Wow, I can’t believe it’s July. And a week in no less. It has been a busy summer so far. B has been to a local sports camp, spent five days down in Tucson with her aunt and uncle and she and I just returned from a great five day trip to Omaha to visit one of my dearest friends. This is the second Fourth of July we have spent in Omaha, and I LOVE letting her experience the midwest. Being a Phoenix native, that whole big grassy yards, no fences, friendly neighbors, kids running from yard to yard – it’s all very different from here. It’s a really wonderful experience for both of us, and some great one on one time with her.
The next 12 days are filled with quite a bit, and not much of it would fall into the “fun” category. We have a two day inpatient stay at the children’s hospital for a video monitored EEG for G to look for seizures. Given how awful the one hour one was, I’m really not looking forward to it. Keeping a toddler happy moderately content while sitting in a small room, in video camera range, with 20 something electrodes on her head is not my idea of fun. She hasn’t slept anywhere but home since about eight months of age, so I have NO idea what sleeping will be like, but I’m thinking it will be more of a lack thereof. She also has a brain MRI coming up, which at her age is done under general anesthesia. We are hoping to have approval for her genetic testing before the MRI so that they can do her blood draws while she’s under. It’s a regular party at our house!
And last but not least, due to my can’t seem to shake them vertigo spells, I have head and neck MRIs and MRAs coming up. Two plus hours in an MRI machine isn’t high on a somewhat claustrophobic person’s list. Looking for wonderful things like TIAs, strokes and multiple sclerosis. I’ve had vertigo spells that last weeks to months on and off for over 15 years, that were diagnosed as vestibular migraines way back when (after testing for darn near anything and everything – including electronystagmography – which if anyone ever says you need, run away – mild dizziness my ass – more like crying and begging for mercy). My current neurologist isn’t so sure given some other symptoms and the fact that my previous brain MRI was done without contrast. Most likely they are simply really annoying vestibular migraines, but it’s best to make sure.
Somewhere in there I hope to do something to enjoy my birthday later this week, especially given it’s the last one I get to have in my 30′s (how the hell did that happen???). Somehow this past year feels like it’s aged me far more than one year, but the calendar will be kind and only add on one. After all the testing, hoping to have some fun and enjoy the last few weeks of summer break. I am dreading the start of school, the homework and busy schedule. Dreading is actually an understatement. I don’t think I’ve ever loved summer break as much as I have this year. The lack of homework has been pure bliss!
Happy early birthday! I hope everything goes well with G and that you get some information from all this. I’m sure you’d rather have something, no matter what it is, rather than the “we don’t know” that seems to be the common answer among medical professionals these days. At least the shamans of ages past would make up something. If it has a name at least it’s real and “something” can be done.
Even though we’re doing Operation Relocate Grandma this month, she’ll be settled in. So feel free to let me know if I can help. There’s a whole community of oldsters who’ll think B and P are the most precious little beings and will gladly be entertained by any new productions involving tape, bears or crazy song/dance routines.
Glad you’ve been able to enjoy a bit of the summer!
I hope that the EEG gives you some of the answers that you need. There are lots of less scarey reasons for dizzy spells (my mother-in-law has benign positional vertigo). Enjoy the break…and post more! I love your blog (and I keep meaning to try those cookies), have a gifted 12YO daughter (and a possibly special needs nephew with possible apraxia of speech, so it’s been interesting to see it from both sides).
Thank you so much Sara, I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your family. And Kyle (who I think I might owe a few drinks here soon!).
Bless your heart. My sister has vertigo, and my dad just experienced it for the first time as well, with a spell that sent him to the emergency room. My sister has stated it is the worst thing she has ever experienced, and my dad definitely agreed. I am so sorry, and I hope that they can find out what is causing it.
My Ethan did the 48-hour EEG this past December. Here is my advice for the stay because, trust me, you will be doing a happy, happy dance once you are released from the stay. Take movies or games, play dough, snacks, an iPod or iTouch, colors, markers, stickers – anything that can help. They will bring in entertainment, but it is nice to have things that you can keep rotating. The days were very long, as it is almost like a reality TV show, knowing that they are listening and watching everything. But, in the end, it is so worth it to know more information. We found out that Ethan was not having seizures and that his brain looked perfect. While it did not give us any answers, it was very positive information, especially given that there are different forms of apraxia.
Good luck! Hang in there! And, Happy Birthday!