Health Archives - Page 17 of 20 - Forever In Mom Genes

EEGee

Jul 28 2011

With a relatively sleepless night under our belts, we headed to today’s early morning EEG appointment. The nurses were appropriately impressed by the dark shadows the little patient was wearing under her eyes like a badge of honour. Being sufficiently sleep deprived allowed the oral sedative called Chloral Hydrate to take effect quickly. Once fully asleep, the lab technician took head measurements to map crucial attachment points for the leads and started the test. The reading took about thirty minutes. We watched as brainwaves traveled across the monitor. Some left a smooth, even trail, while some lines were wildly jagged. The sudden flickers made me wonder, “Was that a seizure or an innocent dream?” Maybe we were witnessing memories being relived or new skills being rehearsed before our eyes? When Avery woke up she offered groggy hugs to mummy and daddy and a raspy “Bank you” to the nurse. We’re home now cuddled in bed watching Dora and getting ready for a well deserved nap. The neurologist will read the results and give us a call.

Jul 28 2011

Our beautiful daughter has Epilepsy. I refused to believe it at first, but couldn’t dispute that the squiggly lines on the electroencephalography monitor were indicative of a life threatening seizure disorder. After a year of tweaking her meds, we were thankfully able to control her seizures and Avery has been footloose and (nearly) seizure free for over a year now. Though she still has the occasional absence seizure, the BIG ONES seems to be a distant memory. So as pediatric neurology dictates, Avery goes into hospital as an outpatient for an EEG to get a look at what’s going on in her little blonde head. Patients must remain still and be completely relaxed for this test. Um, this patient is five and a little monkey; hence the fact that she will need to be sedated. Can they sedate me too ’cause every time she goes under I want to barf. If you ask me, there’s nothing “general” about general anesthesia. There are risks and the possibility of very real complications…especially with a medically complicated child like ours. Alas, in order to get a proper reading she needs to be asleep. She also needs to be sleep deprived[…]

Jun 10 2011

We’ve been down the ear tube road (or should I say canal?) before. I wrote about it here. It was a success and Avery’s hearing and speech improved immediately and dramatically. Now two years later, the initial tubes long since gone, Avery’s speech has taken a nose dive. We had her hearing re-tested and she failed, but not by much. We decided to put the tubes in again and the ENT doctor suggested her adenoids be removed as well. Adenoids may obstruct the Eustachian tubes, so removing them may prevent “Glue Ear” from reoccurring. Under normal circumstances the patient is sent home the day of the procedure, but I asked if we could CHOOSE to stay the night? Sleep apnea, seizures and potential heart issues made coming home immediately afterward a scary prospect. The doctor thankfully agreed that having her monitored for the night would be wise. So last week we checked into Sick Kids hospital. Some of us were more excited than others. Clearly Avery has NO fear of hospitals. Perhaps her brother has played a part in her feeling safe and secure around the medical profession? Avery was taken to the[…]

May 31 2011

I walked in Toronto’s “Weekend To End Women’s Cancers” and met so many people touched by breast cancer. Too many. Concerned for my own health, I asked my doctor if I should have a mammogram. She explained that Canadian women are advised to be screened at the age of fifty, unless there is a history of breast cancer in the family, in which case the recommended age in forty. I asked if I should wait until fifty? She told me it was up to me. Then I asked the question I ask all doctors… “What would you tell your daughter?” She said, “I would tell her to do it. Now.” She explained that breast cancer affects women (and men) of all ages, but it’s aggressive and develops quickly in younger women. By the time it’s detected, it may be too late. I made my appointment. Mammograms can be scary. Especially your first. I tried to make the idea less daunting by pronouncing “mammogram” like you would if you were announcing a candygram (like in the old SNL shark candygram skit). It helped. But only a little. Sporting a tie-in-the-back gown, a friendly female technician showed me into a dimly lit exam room. She[…]

Little Miss Merry Sunshine I Ain’t

Jan 24 2011

It’s winter and I’m sad. This is so frustrating because I’m actually a very happy person. I love my life, yet I feel sad for no reason. It seems I’m sad because I have SAD—Seasonal Affective Disorder otherwise known as the “Winter Blues.” SAD makes me mad. And a bit embarrassed to be honest. It kind of sounds made up or like some lame excuse to be bitchy or mopey or lazy. I’m not just craving a trip to Florida or a day at the spa. My body physically reacts to this time of year in a bad/sad way. And FYI, this is not PMS and it’s not lack of sleep. These two elements certainly don’t help matters, but I’ve been dealing with this affliction since I was 19 years old. I know what it is and and what it is not. January/February is the peak, but come late March, I’m happy-go-lucky once again. Symptoms (of which I have EVERY one) include: -change in appetite, in particular a craving for sweet or starchy foods weight gain -decreased energy -fatigue -tendency to oversleep -difficulty concentrating -irritability avoidance of social situations -feelings of anxiety and despair There is no confirmed cause for SAD,[…]

Category - Health

EEGee

Brain Waving

Glue Ear Can Be A Sticky Situation

What You Should Know Before Your First Mammogram

Little Miss Merry Sunshine I Ain’t