Patrick can smile again. In a fraction of the time we were told to allow, Patrick smiles almost like his old self again. The BP is still there but very subtle. All that in only a week. I would have pictures for you all but our camera is on the fritz. We are still going to get a second Lyme test as these things are so darn inaccurate. The first was inconclusive and the second was negative but that's only with an 80% accuracy rate. Not good enough for our Little Pat.
Note to grandmas: there won't be any pictures for a while until we either get the camera fixed or buy a new one. In the event we have to buy a new one, it could take quite a while.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Bell's Palsy
Wednesday night was quite scary for our little family. I noticed throughout the day that Patrick's smile was a bit crooked but thought he was just smirking. One of his eyes closed more than the other but thought he got a bit of Bette hair in it. I almost thought it was something more serious but then everyone tells me I worry too much.
Right before Jesse got home, Patrick was crying about something -- totally ordinary cry.
Except that...
Only one side of his mouth was moving and only one eye was closing. One side of his face was paralyzed. Jesse walked into the house, saw this and we told each other. ER. Now!
So we get to the ER thinking our baby is having a stroke or has a brain tumor and they usher us into a room. The doc comes thought not as swiftly as I would have liked (okay, Patrick was acting happy).
Turns out it's Bell's Palsy. At some point here recently, Patrick contracted a virus (or maybe Lyme disease) without us knowing. He had some elevations in temp and had been a bit fussy but the ped and I both thought it was teething as neither was severe. She did take a throat culture and it was negative. The inflammation from the virus caused swelling of cranial nerve #7 which is housed in a small, bony canal. When that happened, the myelin sheath, which protects the nerves, was damaged. In adults this is treated with steroids but in peds that doesn't work and therefore the benefits do not outweigh risks.
85% chance he will recover completely. 10% this will show up when he is tired or stressed. 5% that it will not go away. I wonder what the recovery rate is for infants/children is because they are not treated. This does not have anything to do with the brain. I have seen it reported that children recover well from this. Guess 'cause they are still growing and regenerating more than us geezers.
Truly this is such a small thing but my heart breaks a little more each time I see him smile or cry and only one side of his face moves.
Right before Jesse got home, Patrick was crying about something -- totally ordinary cry.
Except that...
Only one side of his mouth was moving and only one eye was closing. One side of his face was paralyzed. Jesse walked into the house, saw this and we told each other. ER. Now!
So we get to the ER thinking our baby is having a stroke or has a brain tumor and they usher us into a room. The doc comes thought not as swiftly as I would have liked (okay, Patrick was acting happy).
Turns out it's Bell's Palsy. At some point here recently, Patrick contracted a virus (or maybe Lyme disease) without us knowing. He had some elevations in temp and had been a bit fussy but the ped and I both thought it was teething as neither was severe. She did take a throat culture and it was negative. The inflammation from the virus caused swelling of cranial nerve #7 which is housed in a small, bony canal. When that happened, the myelin sheath, which protects the nerves, was damaged. In adults this is treated with steroids but in peds that doesn't work and therefore the benefits do not outweigh risks.
85% chance he will recover completely. 10% this will show up when he is tired or stressed. 5% that it will not go away. I wonder what the recovery rate is for infants/children is because they are not treated. This does not have anything to do with the brain. I have seen it reported that children recover well from this. Guess 'cause they are still growing and regenerating more than us geezers.
Truly this is such a small thing but my heart breaks a little more each time I see him smile or cry and only one side of his face moves.
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