We took Nina to an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist this morning — as usual, Melissa beat me to the punch on updates, and I don’t really have the heart to say all this my own way at the moment, so here’s what she wrote:
Today Nina went to see an ear, nose, throat (ENT) specialist in hopes to undercover what has been causing her constant drippy nose. The appointment was definitely needed, but very hard on Daran and I as the list of issues for little Nina continues to grow.
The physician did a couple of tests on Nina to help determine the possible causes for her congestion and drippy nose. He used a scope to look down her nostrils and into her throat (which Nina did not like at all), as well as performed a routine tympanogram to check the fluid levels in her ears (because that’s just what ENTs like to do). The tympanogram did confirm that Nina has fluid in both ears, so a 3-week course of antibiotics was prescribed to help treat the ear infections. The scope procedure uncovered several issues.
Looking down into Nina’s throat, the physician noticed her voice box was red and raw suggesting Nina likely has reflux. Zantac was prescribed to treat that. Looking into her nostrils, it became clear that Nina’s right side is structurally blocked (with extra tissue/cartilage/something) and no air is getting through. This abnormality will require surgery to open the passage and is an inpatient procedure (at least one night in the hospital for recovery, but could be longer). A CT scan of Nina’s face will be performed to confirm the blockage before the surgery is schedule. This is not an urgent/immediate surgical need, but will happen soon (guessing sometime this summer). No specific dates have been discussed as the next step is the CT scan. The physician also stated that this blockage explains why the right side of Nina’s nose is constantly dripping. Since the mucus cannot go backward down the nasal passage, it has no choice but to slowly drip out. Sadly, the fact that her left (unblocked) nostril is also dripping constantly was a cause for concern.
Because of all the mucus present on Nina’s left (unblocked) side, and due to the fact that she has been coughing/choking a lot lately, the physician recommended that we have Nina tested for Cystic Fibrosis (CF). A sweat chloride test will be performed to rule out this diagnosis (and oh how we are praying that the test does rule this out). A referral coordinator at the ENT office will be scheduling both the CT scan and the test for CF. A follow-up appointment with the ENT physician has been scheduled for August 19 to discuss all of the test results and determine next steps.
Prayer requests:
Please pray for quick scheduling of the CT scan and sweat test, and that the results would come back conclusive (no gray areas) and in a timely manner (hoping we don’t have to wait until August 19 to learn results). Please also pray that CF is not the diagnosis for Nina. (I/we are dealing, as best we can, with all the other “treatable” issues, but CF really scares us.) Pray for wisdom and peace for Daran and I; knowing how best to care for Nina and advocate on her behalf with all the various care providers. I specifically pray that none of details of her health issues falls through the cracks, which could negatively affect outcomes of the “bigger” issues. Finally, please pray for big brother Ian–that he would continue to have quality one-on-one time with mom and dad and not feel “left out,” and that he won’t get scared by all the doctor/hospital visits that Nina’s been going to lately. (He has been so great and such a supportive big brother so far.)
Blessings to each of you.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5
https://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svg00vrbfwhttps://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svgvrbfw2010-07-16 10:04:452010-07-16 10:04:45Presently: But Wait, There’s More…
Ian told Mommy a week ago that he had spotted “a Comerican flag.”
Ian has started referring to Mommy as “my Mommy.” It isn’t said in a way that sounds possessive, it is said in the same way that one might say “my love.”
Just now Ian handed me a card from a game “I have a letter for you! Two letters left… one for Connor and one for Kaylee…”
On Saturday (10th) Ian had his first real play-date at somebody else’s house. Elena and Scott were kind enough to take Ian into their home to play with their daughter Rowen, whom I think is about a year older than Ian. It also turned into his first sleepover. This probably sounds early for such a thing, but this was mostly Elena and Scott doing us a huge favor — Melissa and I needed time to pack. I woke up in the middle of the night and missed him greatly.
The next day (11th) Ian had his first movie theater experience. We saw Toy Story 3. I think he enjoyed the venue, but the movie had some pretty scary parts. Mostly Ian was upset with the overall plot, which was not going the way he wanted it to. Mommy took him outside into the lobby (this was a Father’s day present for me, so I got to stay) and Ian looked around at the brightly colored walls and lights. “It’s happy out here.”
Unfortunately Ian’s such a non-stop stream of words that I don’t catch all the fun stuff he’s been saying, or don’t remember.
Yesterday I told him that if Nina (very drowsy at that moment) happened to fall asleep, we’d be able to play a bit more. So he started singing “Twinkle Twinkle” to her.
Other fun stuff: “We’re going to blast off and go to otter space and go to Africaaa!!!! And go to our new house!”
There’s a Mr. Tire on Alpine that Ian referred to as Humpty Dumpty.
He claims that the mice in Hickory Dickory Dock were running up the clock to get away from a monster.
He named a rainbow colored bear that he owns “Savannah” after a girl at school.
Another moment ago Ian took his first serious unintentional roll down the steps here at 139 Highlander Dr. He’s fine, but the next house has much longer stairwells.
He’s definitely full-swing into the “Why?” phase.
“Mommy, Daddy, look! A big circle!!!” (said while we drove on the on-ramp to the highway… which is a big circle.)
In general his brilliance is just hilarious. Seems like every day I get a little shock from something he does or says. When he wants to do something that you don’t, it is funny how much of a battle of wits it is already turning into and he’s really not that old yet. I should probably get back into playing chess or something. 😉
Nina ended up in the ER on Friday July 9th, but was not admitted to the Children’s Hospital. She had been congested and coughing for a few weeks but whenever we talked about calling the doctor, she’d suddenly be fine. That particular day, daycare called Melissa and told her that Nina was having difficulty breathing. Turns out she’s pretty much alright, but potentially could have asthma in her growing portfolio of issues.
Melissa wrote up this update on Nina’s “care page” which sums it up very nicely… although I will throw in that I also went to the ER with Melissa and Nina, because I did.
On Friday July 9, I received a call from Nina’s daycare in the early afternoon saying she seemed to be having difficulty breathing, was coughing quite a bit and had been vomiting up mucus. Nina has been very congested for about two weeks and has had daily spells of coughing/choking and occasional dry heaving–trying to get rid of all the mucus that is draining down her throat–so I wasn’t that surprised by this call, but was very concerned about the fact that she was having difficulty breathing. I’ve almost taken Nina to the ER about half a dozen times in the past two weeks, but it seems that every time I get ready to leave, Nina starts coo-ing and makes me think she’s okay. However, since the daycare staff thought she was having difficulty breathing, I decided now was the time to take her in and find out what was going on.
The visit to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s emergency department was excellent (once again) and definitely worth the trip. Our wait times for everything were much longer this time around, but I was actually thankful for that. I kept thinking that Nina must be doing okay or the staff would have been moving faster. It certainly made the wait times easier to deal with knowing/hoping that Nina wouldn’t have to be admitted this time around.
Nina had a chest x-ray taken, which ruled out pneumonia, and was given a breathing treatment while there. The respiratory therapist who was working in the ER on Friday was one of the therapists who had worked with Nina when she was hospitalized back in February. He is very good with kids and it was nice to see him again. Sadly, Nina doesn’t like the breathing treatments and cried/wriggled during the whole treatment. The physician who examined Nina concluded that she would need daily breathing treatments for at least a month, so it’s going to be fun doing those at home until Nina gets more comfortable with them.
Bottom line: Nina was diagnosed with reactive airway disease. The physician wrote her a prescription for a nebulizer to use at home with two medicines–Pulmicort (once daily for a month) and albuterol (every 4-6 hours as needed). The medical device company was able to bring the nebulizer out to us Friday night and Nina had her first breathing treatment at home on Saturday night (sadly she cried through that whole treatment too). Nina was also prescribed Zyrtec last week at her 6 month “well” child check-up, so she will continue taking that daily as well. We will follow up with our primary care physician on Monday for next steps. Nina also goes back to Mary Free Bed on Tuesday to repeat her head scan. If there hasn’t been any/much improvement to her flat spot and overall head shape, then she will be fitted for a helmet. (Lots going on!)
Please continue to keep Nina in your thoughts and prayers. All of these challenges are fairly minor and “fairly” manageable, but it does seem like the list of health issues continues to grow and compound. She’s definitely a fighter, but we’re hoping she gets a break from all this soon. It’s just so much for our precious little 6 month old to have to deal with.
https://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svg00vrbfwhttps://outoftheirminds.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ootmd-logo-dark-wings-3Asset-15.svgvrbfw2010-07-13 08:57:072010-07-13 08:57:07Presently: Nina In and Out of the E.R.
Presently: But Wait, There’s More…
We took Nina to an Ear, Nose, Throat specialist this morning — as usual, Melissa beat me to the punch on updates, and I don’t really have the heart to say all this my own way at the moment, so here’s what she wrote:
Presently: Chatterbox
Ian told Mommy a week ago that he had spotted “a Comerican flag.”
Ian has started referring to Mommy as “my Mommy.” It isn’t said in a way that sounds possessive, it is said in the same way that one might say “my love.”
Just now Ian handed me a card from a game “I have a letter for you! Two letters left… one for Connor and one for Kaylee…”
On Saturday (10th) Ian had his first real play-date at somebody else’s house. Elena and Scott were kind enough to take Ian into their home to play with their daughter Rowen, whom I think is about a year older than Ian. It also turned into his first sleepover. This probably sounds early for such a thing, but this was mostly Elena and Scott doing us a huge favor — Melissa and I needed time to pack. I woke up in the middle of the night and missed him greatly.
The next day (11th) Ian had his first movie theater experience. We saw Toy Story 3. I think he enjoyed the venue, but the movie had some pretty scary parts. Mostly Ian was upset with the overall plot, which was not going the way he wanted it to. Mommy took him outside into the lobby (this was a Father’s day present for me, so I got to stay) and Ian looked around at the brightly colored walls and lights. “It’s happy out here.”
Unfortunately Ian’s such a non-stop stream of words that I don’t catch all the fun stuff he’s been saying, or don’t remember.
Yesterday I told him that if Nina (very drowsy at that moment) happened to fall asleep, we’d be able to play a bit more. So he started singing “Twinkle Twinkle” to her.
Other fun stuff: “We’re going to blast off and go to otter space and go to Africaaa!!!! And go to our new house!”
There’s a Mr. Tire on Alpine that Ian referred to as Humpty Dumpty.
He claims that the mice in Hickory Dickory Dock were running up the clock to get away from a monster.
He named a rainbow colored bear that he owns “Savannah” after a girl at school.
Another moment ago Ian took his first serious unintentional roll down the steps here at 139 Highlander Dr. He’s fine, but the next house has much longer stairwells.
He’s definitely full-swing into the “Why?” phase.
“Mommy, Daddy, look! A big circle!!!” (said while we drove on the on-ramp to the highway… which is a big circle.)
In general his brilliance is just hilarious. Seems like every day I get a little shock from something he does or says. When he wants to do something that you don’t, it is funny how much of a battle of wits it is already turning into and he’s really not that old yet. I should probably get back into playing chess or something. 😉
Presently: Nina In and Out of the E.R.
Nina ended up in the ER on Friday July 9th, but was not admitted to the Children’s Hospital. She had been congested and coughing for a few weeks but whenever we talked about calling the doctor, she’d suddenly be fine. That particular day, daycare called Melissa and told her that Nina was having difficulty breathing. Turns out she’s pretty much alright, but potentially could have asthma in her growing portfolio of issues.
Melissa wrote up this update on Nina’s “care page” which sums it up very nicely… although I will throw in that I also went to the ER with Melissa and Nina, because I did.