The latest on Nic's medical saga

Last week Nicholas had his liver ultrasound. The tech seemed to be measuring a lot of little things but I couldn't tell what any of it was. For all I know, she was measuring the veins, valves, etc in and around the liver.

Today the pediatrician saw us to discuss the ultrasound results. There wasn't a lot indicated but there appears to be some small gall stones in Nic's gallbladder. Strange! Still, the way Nic developed his symptoms is not consistent with gall stones. For Nic to be so sick and so jaundiced, it would have taken a large stone to block the bile duct and he only has little ones.

Any ways, we're still not any further ahead with a diagnosis but I think we may be getting there...eventually.

Nic has to see a Peds GI doctor on April 10th. The original Peds GI doc is good but apparently this other one is THE ONE to see for liver problems. Maybe she'll have more news for me by then. A liver biopsy is still a distinct possibility in our future.

17 and a half weeks Preggo

Still not a lot of news on the baby front. I still feel pretty good most of the time. Tired, but functional.

I'm having weird cravings off and on. It's all by the power of suggestion too. I see a commercial or billboard and I HAVE to have it. Last night it was stuffing...I was fully prepared to make a box of Stove Top stuffing and eat it all. I still might because I'm still craving it.

I have my first ultrasound on April 1st so I'm getting very excited about it. I hope that he/she/it/they show the goods and is/are growing healthy.

My first appointment with the OB is April 14th so I'll get all the gory details then.

Less than 3 weeks from the half way mark, only 22 and a half weeks left until baby time. LOL

A surprise for my Dad

I had hoped to get out to BC to see my Dad and help celebrate his 60th birthday. I got the chance a couple weekends ago. I used my AirMiles and flew in under the cover of secrecy. I'd plotted with his girlfriend Karen, his friend Robin and a couple of guests for a surprise lunch party.

It didn't quite go according to plan but it was still a good visit. Dad almost didn't come out for the lunch because he hurt his foot and could barely walk. Karen had to finally spill the beans to get him out of the house. Some of the guests weren't able to attend because of previous plans and because of a medical emergency involving a member of the church.

I was supposed to meet up with some online Mommy friends on the Monday but they all ended up sick or their kids were sick. Unfortunately, we missed out on a lunch but some things can't be helped. I ended up hanging out with my Dad, yapping about everything and nothing. LOL

We had a lovely dinner with Karen and her Mom at Karen's condo in Harrison. Good visit, good company, they had good wine. LOL

I flew home on the Tuesday to a very happy hubby and two little munchkin boys. They survived ok without me...guess I can make this a habit, flying out and leaving them to their own devices. LOL Not likely!

A change to the ordinary

I've got a few different things to write about so I'll be doing a couple of posts. This is the least important one but still a change from the ordinary. LOL

As I was driving home from Nic's pediatrician appointment, I saw a very dark, African American man walking north in the middle of 124th Street, just north of 111 Avenue, completely STARKERS! NAKED!

I called the police but they'd already been made aware of this man. There were several vehicles that had pulled over and were watching the guy, waiting for the police, making sure he didn't get hurt, so I just kept driving.

Like I said, a BIG change from my ordinary life. LOL

The saga continues

We saw the GI guy yesterday. He was pretty thorough because he's as flummoxed as we are about why this has happened again.

He had to do a rectal exam because when Nic pushes, something pink and fleshy pokes out. He might have a small bowel prolapse or a polyp or even a hemorrhoid but that is unlikely as little kids don't normally have hemorrhoids. You'd think that Nic would have put up a BIG fight but he was too busy making Goo Goo eyes at the 4th year med student that was working with the GI specialists. Nic told us all the way home that he missed the girl doctor. What a kid, eh? Must take after his grandfather. LOL

Nic had another mountain of blood tests to have run. He ordered a full liver panel (Well DUH!), some nephrology (kidney) tests, a thyroid test, some Vitamin tests, some for amino acids and heaven only knows what else. The vampires at the lab took 8 vials from the little monster. On top of the blood tests, he had to pee in a cup and now I have to get poo samples again. I have to limit his diet for 3 days then for another 3 days as I get the samples. We did this last year and it totally sucks. Especially because he's not in diapers anymore and I have to collect it in a bowl before it hits the toilet water. EWWWWW!

Now, depending on what the ultrasound next week and this latest set of blood tests indicate, we may need to do a liver biopsy. Nic will have to be sedated then with an ultrasound guiding them, they'll stick a HUGE freaking needle into his liver to suck up a sample. Because the liver is so vascular, Nic will be held overnight for observation so he doesn't bleed out. That will be fun as I'll be the size of a house with this pregnancy. How am I supposed to sleep on those piddly "captain's beds" they have on the kid's wards? Its like camping out on a foamy on a mountain ledge. Maybe I'll just cuddle Nic in his bed and sleep with him. LOL More cushions. LOL

So folks, please keep my little tank in your thoughts and keep the good wishes coming. We need answers of some sort or another. Even if it's not the greatest of news, it's an answer and we can start treating him.

I'm not a slacker, Just preoccupied LOL

I've been accused of being a slacker again and it has only been about 2 weeks since my last report. In those 2 weeks, I've been a little preoccupied...

Some of you may remember WAY back in August/September of last year that Nicholas started having severe belly pains then started vomiting. It took 3 weeks to manifest itself totally but eventually, he turned yellow, his liver was enlarged, his liver enzymes were through the roof and he was pooping old black blood. Well, 2 weeks ago, he started with the belly pain again. It quickly turned to vomiting. A lot and very frequently. By a week and a half, he was turning yellow.

I had been in at the local hospital for Gravol and/or pain relief for him but they didn't do much. They referred us back to the pediatrician but one did listen and did blood tests. Those tests indicated that Nic's liver enzymes were elevating.

Last Saturday, I took him into the Stollery Peds ER and they did more tests. His levels were even higher and he was yellow by this point. They supposedly sent in a referral to see a GI specialist but I've called the specialist myself now and they have no record of the referral. However, after telling the nurse the situation, she said to call the booking office, and get Nicholas an appointment ASAP as per Andrea. I called this morning and we have an appointment for Thursday (tomorrow).

Nic is doing better now though. He was retested on Monday and his liver enzymes are all back to normal. He is not in any crisis at the moment but I want some answers. Last August/September this happened and it took 3 weeks to manifest and 3 weeks to come down to normal again. This time, it happened the same way but at double time; only a week and a half to manifest itself.

Last year I accepted the doctors's response of, "It was probably a virus. It has run it's course. It happened, it's over and he'll be fine. We don't know WHY it happened, it just did." I didn't LIKE it but I accepted the non-answer...This time I won't. There has to be a reason for this to happen a second time.

In the mean time, Nic's pediatrician has ordered an ultrasound to take a look at Nic's liver and some more blood tests. I found out last summer that there is a family history of an abnormality in either the 13th or 14th chromosome. If it is the 13th chromosome, he might have or at least be a carrier of something called Wilson's Disease. The pediatrician said it was a long shot but worth looking into because of the family history of an abnormality.

So, that is why I haven't been very talkative in people's blogs nor writing much in mine. I've been reading, but I haven't been commenting. Hopefully I'll be more social soon. Catch up with everyone later.