The Lightening Thief gets an MRI

So this is it. MRI day. For those who think these things are easy with SPD, they would be well... wrong. 

Looking forward to it being over. We got the boy up early to make sure he ate something before the deadline of 7 am. Now he is moaning about hunger... expect that will last until we are done. He is getting close to the deadline for clear liquids as well so if I can manage to get these two kids dressed, we are going to the store for some Gatorade (one of his favorites) to tide him over until the 11 am deadline for that. 

I found a play date for the girl (thank goodness I don't have to deal with that as well). 

I've already contacted the radiology department since they mentioned something about an IV. My immediate thought, "Are you kidding me? There is no way you are gonna get that to happen unless the boy is O*U*T!" Luckily that is the plan. 

So most children would just breath in the sedation and fall asleep and wake when the procedure is over no worse for wear but maybe a bit groggy and/or queasy-ish... my boy remembers the way it felt from having his tubes put in and likens it to slow death! Great that makes things easy now doesn't it?! Asking your child to relive the feeling of a slow death... nice. 

So... I called radiology and they said there is an option of pre-sedation that brings on a pseudo amnesia (scary thought). Of course they mentioned it tastes nasty... how's that gonna work...  but they did say it is a small amount and they can squirt it in his mouth... so hopefully with a tight hold (if need be) we can make this work. 

I positioned it to the boy that this was a great thing. Take this quick tiny bit of medicine and you won't even remember the slow feeling of death! (Gosh... let's hope his desire to get this over with and get to eat can win against the forces of neurological messaging!) 

I guess it is appropos that we are watching The Lightening Thief... epic battle of wills! 

Pieces of our puzzle

Random leg pain. Low muscle tone. Spinal cord minor malformation. 

These aren't things most of us think about when we think about our children. They certainly aren't things we could fathom to be potentially a good thing -- in a way. 

But when you have a child with issues that are not easily explained by a clear and present diagnosis, you live every day with a variety of symptoms and issues -- little puzzles individually that you hope someday just might come together. If you can't put the entire puzzle together, you hope to at least complete entire sections... with just that one right piece of information. 

And so today, while I was happy knowing that we have finally got occupational therapy sessions scheduled and insurance asking only for weekly $20 copays, I was also dealing with what I have always thought was an entirely different part of our puzzle only to find out that it just might fit together... a slight bone malformation that many people have to no ill effect and our son does have... could be leading to multiple other symptoms/issues including his low muscle tone (at least in his lower body) and his random leg pain complaints that seemed to go beyond growing pains but for which we have had no explanation. 

And so, in our world, getting an MRI and possibly needing an easy surgery could actually be a good thing -- one answer in our stable of myriad questions. As always in these matters, maybe not. The other constant is that just when I get a little excited about the prospect of helping my son and making things easier for him... I realize that this too is not going to be easy! An MRI requiring lower body anesthetic if I'm reading it right... needles did you say? Oh yes that should be easy - N*O*T! Ugh. And an overnight surgery now that the boy is old enough to understand all that might entail... even though he might think laser surgery sounds cool... I can hear the shouts of "I'M NOT GOING!" already. Anybody else think I can stay overnight with him at the hospital? 

And so in our world of different normal, there is a ying and a yang. A problem for every potential answer and we hope... .an answer for at least some of our issues. Will keep you posted.