Good news – Alex is home from the hospital

After 4 nights at Santa Theresa Hospital Alex is finally home.

Last Sunday Alex complained of a sore throat and by Sunday night had a very stiff and swollen neck. He cried all night, and couldn’t talk or eat. Monday a doctor at Kaiser said he had 3 separate things going on – a sprained neck (what?!), a fever/cold, and pink eye. Wrong. By Tuesday afternoon, thanks to my Mom being proactive and really there for me and the boys, she talked me into bringing him back in, this time to the E.R. The E.R. sent us over to pediatrics…pediatrics sent us back to the E.R. This is after Alex kicked a little Dr. that looked like Freud right in the crotch. Freud said he had an abscess in his neck.

Anywho, after another 9 hours or so involving a blood draw, an x-ray, a CT scan, 3 tries to get an IV in, and some morphine, Alex was admitted to the hospital with an abscess behind his tonsils. They started him on 2 types of antibiotics. By the next morning we (we = meaning my Mom and I) found out he had strep group A which caused the abscess, spread to the tissues around his neck, and into his blood (this is called “scarlet fever”). Jesus.

I have never seen Alex so sick and not himself. He is normally so active, and loud, and impulsive; it really must have taken a lot to knock him down. He was so brave and I’m so relieved to have him back. Now if I can just get him to take the oral antibiotics that taste like crap 3 times a day for 6 more days…

On a related note – Thanks Mom, for caring about us and not being afraid to do something about it.  You would think most people would act this way, but it’s actually pretty rare.

Back Pain Part IV – A New Hope

I got the epidural steroid shot last Thursday. It was weird. The doctor used an x-ray machine to hit the right spot and I felt the steroid go down the back of my leg to about the knee.

Although I don’t feel “normal” still and I’m still in a little pain, it has definitely taken the edge off. They say it can take about two weeks for the steroid to really kick in, so I’m hoping it’ll get even better.

One strange side effect though, and this came after watching The Incredible Shrinking Woman the night before (coincidence?). While putting lotion on my legs I noticed my left calf was significantly smaller. I measured it, over 1/2″ smaller! I’m left-handed, so I know the left side of my body has always been a little bit larger and was probably even swollen a little due to the sciatic pain. Weird.

Ouch Pt. III

I saw my MRI today at the spine clinic at Kaiser. MRI’s are cool, I’ve got to say. If there was was way to get one, just for curiosity’s sake, I’d say do it. It’s neat seeing all the layers inside your body. Anyhow my L4 disk is herniated and L5 has a small tear that can possibly be leaking disk fluid (which is apparently very irritating to spinal nerves). I think it’s similar to the Aliens‘ acid blood.

So, on Sept 27th I’m getting an epidural steroid injection. I’ve never looked forward to shot before, but they could inject my eyeball for all I care. I’m ready to try anything.

On a positive note, I set up my computer and sewing machines on a “bar table” from Ikea that’s 41″ tall. Now I stand while doing most everything. Swapping the amount of standing and sitting time has helped a lot. I would recommend it to anyone. I don’t think we humans were built to sit, especially not for 8 hrs everyday. Plus working at my bar table gives me a constant anticipatory feeling that a margarita and chips are coming any moment now.

Ouch Pt. II

My doctor called today about my MRI – I have a herniated disc, L5. Hmm…I wonder where I’ve heard that before. I’m being referred to a “spinal clinic” and that can take up to 2 weeks. (that’s not my mri btw, I just wanted a visual aid to bitch with)

On a lighter note, I’ve found that lying flat out on the floor feels good. For a brief period of time afterwards I have no sciatic or back pain. I’m planning on doing this a lot. I’ve arranged various TV remotes, a phone, some catalogs and magazines, water bottles, a yoga ball, and my laptop, all on the floor.  My poor children have had to suffer through a summer of watching 6 million hours of television.

Kids cost $$, some more than others

Over the past year or so, we’ve been keeping a running tab of how much money our 4 year old Alex, has cost us. I don’t mean money to raise him (food, clothing, shelter, etc), I mean damages.

• After throwing marbles in the living room – cost of new TV: $7oo
• After throwing rocks outside – new, huge, custom window: $1,000
• Mechanic finds over $2 in change in car stereo – diagnostics & replacement cost: $500 (at least)
• Left refrigerator doors open all night – brand new fridge: $1,100

Cost so far: $3,300. His college options are narrowing. I have a feeling he has something to do with why my sewing machine’s reverse button doesn’t work also, but like most of the others, I haven’t exactly caught him in the act. Perhaps some lack or flaw in our parenting? Our other son hasn’t so much as broken a dish.

P.S. Even before I could get this completed posted, my little angel broke the door on a new cabinet. See the panoramic picture at the top of this page, right below my name? That’s Alex breaking the Pacific Ocean.

Bee Sting

Sunday afternoon Santi got stung by a bee. On his head. Poor guy. He has a strong fear of bees, so all along I’ve been telling him things like “honey, I am 36 years old and never been stung by a bee, I don’t think you have to worry.” It made sense to me, but now I see that was a stupid thing to say. It also brings up the question of whether or not I am allergic to bee stings…

Did I mention my back hurts?

I’m gonna do Kaiser’s work for them like usual and just diagnose myself. I have a herniated disc between L5 and S1. I spend most days in pain, depending on how much Ibuprofen and/or Vicodin I’ve taken. Oh, and then there’s the muscle relaxants, but they’re scary. I don’t know how I did it, there was no “oh crap, my back” moment.

This is what scares me (from webmd.com: “Usually a herniated disc will heal on its own over time. About half of people with a herniated disc get better within 1 month, and most are better after 6 months.¹ Only about 1 person in 10 still has enough pain after 6 weeks to think about surgery.² “

I’ve had this for 6 weeks and it’s not getting better. Am I going to be in pain like this for 6 months…or possibly forever?! I would trade this 6 weeks of pain for childbirth. If you are reading this; sit up straight! Trust me.