June 17, 2009
After I dropped Chloe off at my sisters house, Madison and I headed over to her ultrasound.
They got us in quickly and I was impressed at not being treated like a number. That shouldn't be something to be impressed by, but over the 6 years of having kids in Florida healthcare facilities, I've gotten used to impersonal medical service.
The tech doing the ultrasound asked what was going on and seemed to actually care. She said her sister went through a lot of leg pain growing up and in her twenties found out it was something in her bone. I then mentioned the xrays we had on Monday and she said those were fine. That was my first surprise. I'm not used to a tech or nurse actually giving a clue of results, let alone actual results, of any previous test before the doctor has. She said our doctor would discuss it further with us, but their staff didn't see anything in her bones.
She started the ultrasound, and was marking edges with the computer of the four shadows (can't think of how else to describe them) on the screen. She asked me a few questions...has she had any trauma to her legs, has she been bit by anything, has she had a bad cold recently...all of which I said no to. Unless she's been bit by something she didn't know about, but I find that highly unlikely since they came on at different times.
She said the doctor who would be reviewing them later may still be around and she wanted him to see her since it was so puzzling to her. He came in, asked some of the same questions, but also asked if she's been scratched by a cat. The answers are still no to all of his questions.
He doesn't think they're cysts and he doesn't think they're tumors. He said they look like subcutaneous inflammation and said it's non-specific. Which if I'm translating correctly...someone please let me know if they know otherwise...tells me he knows what they're not, but doesn't know what they are.
So, of course I'm relieved in one sense, but there's still a question as to what they are. When I look up subcutaneous inflammation I find Panniculitis.
Internet research is a tricky thing. I don't think a parent can look up any symptoms or keywords online that their child is experiencing without freaking out about the results. However, without doing some research online, how am I to know what questions to ask, what tests to ask for, or sometimes even what to call something?
I'm her medical advocate.
I'm her resource for getting her answers.
And I'm totally in the dark on this one.
We see her pediatrician on Monday and we're going to ask for bloodwork to be done to help rule out any possible worst case scenario.
I'm still trying to think positive and I'm hoping this is going to end up being one of those mysteries we go through just so I can keep Clairol hair coloring in business.
I'll update as I know anything.
Posted by Amy at June 17, 2009 06:58 PM
Comments
Been thinking of you guys so much! I sure wish you guys had some answers :/ This is a total shot in the dark, but have they done any kind of Rheumatic/ Rheumatoid testing? Just an idea that's all. Thanks for the update!
Posted by: Jessica Muir at June 17, 2009 08:55 PM
You will definitely be in my prayers. I'm praying for God to open the eyes of the doctors to exactly what's going on with Madison.
Posted by: Kitty at June 17, 2009 10:52 PM