Just Katety
A lot on my shoulders, Bench Monday Edition
51:365-
So.....
A lot of you have been so kind in asking how we are, so here is your update.
Topher for sure has acute rheumatic fever, with a touch of acute rheumatic childhood arthritis. Acute just means that it came up suddenly. Rheumatic means it has to do with the joints. It can effect your heart valves and cause cardiac arrest, which is why it is so dangerous. His joints swell and are even associated with a rash now and then.
He has to see the rheumatologist and the pediatric cardiologist every 6 months, with occasional EKG's and echocardiograms. The treatment is penicillin, but our family has a history of allerfies to it, so he will be going to see an allergy specialist to determine if he is allergic or not. The penicillin has a 98% rate of keeping away strep throat, which is what caused his sickness in the first place. If he catches strep ever again for his whole life, his heart is at major risk.
He will need to be on meds until he is 25 years old, can you believe that? I truly thought the doctor was joking to make us feel better. He can't become a teacher or a doctor or any other profession where he will be in close quarters with people who are prone to get strep. If he has a roommate or wife or child that gets it, he has to go back on the medication and leave the area immediately. They are not playing around!! He is lucky that he gets to stay in school.
This is so frustrating to me. I am grateful that if he has to be sick, it is this and not a car wreck or cancer or something a thousand times worse. But this is still hard, and i am sad and tired. It has taken me 2 weeks to tell you all b/c i just don't want it to be happening. I'm ready to except it and just do our best.
As for Toph? He is the coolest, most understanding, laid back person i know. He takes it all in stride and finds a way to make it okay for himself. I am so relieved that he is not your normal 11 year old. He's gonna be just fine.
My mouth is better, back on solid foods but nothing gummy until my cap or bridge or whatever comes in.
The washer flooded the garage AGAIN and we lost our use of a washer, so we just better hope our clothes don't get dirty until they go out of style, lol!
My camera...well, you've all had enough bad news for today! Hahaha!
Thanks for caring, everyone, i'm so grateful to my support team here at flickr.com!! :)
A lot on my shoulders, Bench Monday Edition
51:365-
So.....
A lot of you have been so kind in asking how we are, so here is your update.
Topher for sure has acute rheumatic fever, with a touch of acute rheumatic childhood arthritis. Acute just means that it came up suddenly. Rheumatic means it has to do with the joints. It can effect your heart valves and cause cardiac arrest, which is why it is so dangerous. His joints swell and are even associated with a rash now and then.
He has to see the rheumatologist and the pediatric cardiologist every 6 months, with occasional EKG's and echocardiograms. The treatment is penicillin, but our family has a history of allerfies to it, so he will be going to see an allergy specialist to determine if he is allergic or not. The penicillin has a 98% rate of keeping away strep throat, which is what caused his sickness in the first place. If he catches strep ever again for his whole life, his heart is at major risk.
He will need to be on meds until he is 25 years old, can you believe that? I truly thought the doctor was joking to make us feel better. He can't become a teacher or a doctor or any other profession where he will be in close quarters with people who are prone to get strep. If he has a roommate or wife or child that gets it, he has to go back on the medication and leave the area immediately. They are not playing around!! He is lucky that he gets to stay in school.
This is so frustrating to me. I am grateful that if he has to be sick, it is this and not a car wreck or cancer or something a thousand times worse. But this is still hard, and i am sad and tired. It has taken me 2 weeks to tell you all b/c i just don't want it to be happening. I'm ready to except it and just do our best.
As for Toph? He is the coolest, most understanding, laid back person i know. He takes it all in stride and finds a way to make it okay for himself. I am so relieved that he is not your normal 11 year old. He's gonna be just fine.
My mouth is better, back on solid foods but nothing gummy until my cap or bridge or whatever comes in.
The washer flooded the garage AGAIN and we lost our use of a washer, so we just better hope our clothes don't get dirty until they go out of style, lol!
My camera...well, you've all had enough bad news for today! Hahaha!
Thanks for caring, everyone, i'm so grateful to my support team here at flickr.com!! :)