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.
3 comments:
Awwww. Poor little guy! Patrick will be in my prayers. . .
One thing after another! Give him a big hug. His silly goofball smile will be back soon. We will pray for 100% recovery and a quick recovery.
A friend of mine who was studying pediatric neurology (but switched her residency to psychiatry) did a lit search for me and told me we are doing everything right and that the recovery could take as long as 6 months but is more likely going to be a few weeks.
Post a Comment