My ten-year-old went to the ER tonight and had to have a spinal tap.

He had the symptoms of viral meningitis. Headache and hearing loss, and he is broken out around his mouth. His regular doctor told us to go straight to the ER instead of coming to his office.

The test came back negative, but he does have a nasty case of bacterial ear infection and viral infection in his bronchi and lungs, so the ER doctor said. Our preferred pediatrician is about an hour and a half away, and that is where we are going tomorrow, if my son feels up to the ride.

I don't know if any of you have ever had to watch your child suffer through a spinal tap, but it is the worst thing I have ever been through, and I have been through a LOT in my life. He is one tough kid. He whimpered, but he didn't cry. I cried silently.

I haven't settled down yet. Not crying, but am upset at what might have happened to him. My kiddo is on the couch, where he will probably be for the next several days. I am drinking a beer, trying to loosen the tension that I am feeling.

:cry:

You and your son are in my prayers. :hug:

:hug:

it is very scary to see your child go through anything like that. Glad he is ok. I will say a little prayer for you. :grouphug:

He gets to chill on the sofa and can eat anything he wants. I authorize it.

I'm thinking about you, everything is tense enough without this, just glad the ST came back negative. Don't think about the what if's, they'll drive you nuts!

All the best!

I remember John Glenn's first orbital flight. I had the chicken pox and my mother rocked me all day and held my hands so I wouldn't pick at the pox. I must have been quite ill, but all I remember is Mom rocking me and watching the event on TV.

:-)

child suffer. Please try to get to your doctor tomorrow. And, have a couple more beers - you can sleep next to him. I used to do that with my hand on the kid.

I have a two year old and I can't imagine what you and your son went through. I'm sitting here crying right now as I type this. You have my very best wishes.

We are ok. Ahh...the two year olds...such a sweet age. Thank you so much for your touching post. :-)

:loveya:

I feel real bad for you, honest. Nothing and I mean nothing sucks more than seeing your children suffer and you can't help them get better fast enough.

Remember Kids are pretty resilient (usually signifcanlty more than adults) so have faith.

...if this is any consolation...

When I was about seven, I was really sick, all the time. Nobody knew what was wrong, and I spent months in the hospital having tests for juve leukemia, lupus, etc. I had to undergo a series of painful spinal taps and bone taps, too.

But, even though I was seven, and old enough to remember them, I had completely forgotten not tjust the pain, but the whole experience until I was reminded of it a few years ago.

The mind is an amazing protector. Your son will survive this ordeal, and it won't affect him at all*, in the long run.

*Although there's no guarantee it won't turn him into a quick-witted, sarcastic and unsettlingly sexy Canadian.

or if the draft is reinstated, I won't mind him being an unsettlingly sexy Canadian.

:loveya:

I usually try to respond individually to each of you, but please know that I am reading your responses and am taking them to heart. I am so exhausted right now.

:grouphug:

But thank God he doesn't have meningitis! I also send many warm thoughts and prayers out to you both tonight.
O8)

I'll include you in the deluge of hopeful thoughts I intend to be having. :hi:

I don't know what it's like to have kids, much less have a child who is ill and suffering, but my heart goes out to you and the little feller. I do know when you see someone you love deeply having a hard time like that, all you want to do is take that suffering from them. It must be immeasurable when it's your own little guy.

Here's hoping he gets well quick...:)

You want to be on the table instead of them. Thanks for your message. :-)

Hang loose. Easy for me to say.

I feel for you and yours. Isn't there a new treatment for VM?

I'm so sorry for all of the stress you are feeling right now. :hug:

he has missed since he was old enough to bubble in the ballot for me.

He asked me on the way home from the ER if he could go vote tomorrow, and I told him he couldn't. I think that pissed him off worse than being stuck with a six inch needle. :-)

But it's not so bad when you already feel really really really bad and are kind of out of it. Probably worse for you watching than for him. I think my earliest memory is of having a spinal tap done. I got run over by a bicycle at the age of three and was semi-conscious for a week.

I'm glad you got a negative report on the viral meningitis. Hope he is up and about and being his normal sel again soon. Thi too shall pass.

the kid forgets it almost right away. I had trouble settling myself down each time.


Precious kid will be fine!

My prayers (for good energy/karma and comfort) are sent your way!

I've done my share of it tonight. :-)

Thanks for your message. :-)

frightening disease. I will keep you and your son in my thoughts and prayers this evening. Spinal taps are very nasty - but, I am glad the results were in his favor. :hug:

And may your son be well soon too!

...I've watched my six year old niece battle brain cancer. I do understand....

Be strong...and thank goodness it wasn't meningitis.

If you need to talk...we'll all be here for you.

Tears and hugs, :hug:
Kim

I hope she will be ok. :hug:

Cant imagine a kid having to go thru that. Hope all turns out well.
Keep us posted. In the mean time our prayers are with you.

both feel better soon. Necessary procedure to make sure they are safe and treated properly. Hugs to both of you. I know what you mean.

Chin up jchild, lots of prayers and positive energy flowing your way. There is no more powerless feeling than having a desperately sick kiddo. Have faith, things will be better.

As if there aren't enough reasons to be on edge...

:hug:

and I can empathize with what you must have been feeling too. I'm sending hugs to you both and hoping that it all gets straightened out soon. :hug:

...right? Nowadays some docs don't treat otitis with antibiotics, but with all that's going on with your son, he must have gotten some. Keep us apprised of the treatment. It's useful for other parents to know.

Hope he feels better.

I hope you're both doing better tomorrow, and that you'll have the pleasure of seeing both your son and this country take a major turn for the better.

She's wonderful at comforting me. And so are you guys, and I appreciate it.

:loveya:

I hope your son gets better very quickly. He sounds very brave to have gotten through that spinal tap as easily as he did. I am sure glad to hear that it wasn't meningitis!

Rebecca

I appreciate your good wishes. :-)

i *freaked* when they took blood from my then-baby son's foot ... i applaud you, and i'm glad things are under control. :(

so I bucked up for him. But when he was curled up in fetal position so that the doc could put the needle in, I lost it--as quietly as I could.

When he had his tonsils taken out several years ago, the drip came out of his hand, and blood spurted out. I fainted cold on the floor.

It hurts to see our babies go through this stuff. :(

any more word? what's going on? how did he do? :(

my mom brain is thinking about you.

I have an eleven year old boy and he is my life, I can only imagine the feeling, my prayers and thoughts are with you.

I'm watching him sleep now. He is my life...can't imagine anything without him being a part of it. :-)

I hope you've calmed down since the ER experience. Thinking of you.

I've got a big sectional couch. My son is on one side, and I think I am going to lie down on the other side. Morning will be here soon.

Thanks for your nice message above. :loveya:

he wants). I join my wishes to all the others that he's better soon. That is one very tough young man.

Sorry I didn't see this when I responded to you...tell my buddy we're all rooting for him...oh and keep some popsicles handy...popsicles feel great when you're sick...oh and let him watch whatever he wants on TV...manipulating your mom to get what you want when you're sick helps a lot too....hugs to you and the little man. :hug:

He was on some pretty strong pain meds, so he's sleeping now...rolling around a little bit, though.

I am sure his back will be tender tomorrow. Yes, I will provide him whatever he wants. He's the prince, you know. :-)

I'm so sorry for what he and you and your family are going through. I remember that he had pneumonia earlier this week. I have two children of my own. Take care of yourself - I know you are taking wonderful care of him!

You're a good mom, jchild.

I can relate to what you've been through - I had not to get my kids through that ordeal, but my mother.

A few years ago she had suddenly become very sick and obviously psychotic. She was hallucinating heavily, was agitated and very much in fear. And in uncontrolled fear of doctors, too, to make it worse.

To sort out meningitis/encephalitis she had to get a spinal tap. We had to restrain her with several peoples help, while she was screaming, and I was trying to talk her down. Luckily, I have some experience working with mentally ill people, so I could somehow get some distance to the horrible procedure.

Well, it was not a meningitis, but turned out to be a fever delirium from severe pneumonia. She had to be taken to a psychiatric hospital, because we could not provide permanent surveillance and were pretty strung out. She (mentally) fully recovered within the next three days. It was a pretty traumatic experience to her, because she remembered parts of the episode, and pretty embarassing to her, since she always was proud about her sanity. With some counselling she finally could see it as some kind of learning experience ...

Good luck with your kids recovery, and yes, you are entitled to some relaxation!


- Some spelling errors edited.

There is nothing worse than a sick child. :hug:

after some sleep. Tell your little guy I'll be thinking of him when I say "Goodbye Whistle Ass" in the voting booth. Best wishes, P.

and let him know I DID think of him! Get better, little guy. You've got a great mama & lots of friends here.

Spinal taps are brutal, Trust me, I have had them and have had to assist in doing them. I am sorry for the pain he had to endure. At least it wasn't a Bone marrow biopsy, that is the most brutal and painful thing I have ever had to endure. Barring either child needing bone marrow ever, I don't care if they are sure this time that I do have Leukemia, they can stuff it. It won't happen unless I am unconscious. even then It will be under protest. I am so sorry. Did they at least give him something for pain? if not, I recommend Motrin, but use it with the dosing on the bottle. I wish him and you the best.

:hug:

:hug:

I cannot imagine. I have an almost 5 year old myself...we had to take her to the ER before and to see her blood drawn was enough for me.

Many many healing vibes being sent your DS's way and many hugs to you guys.

:hug:, darlin'.

Hope everything turns out ok. I had to have one of those as the final test of my MS. (Final confirmation type of thing.) I had no problem from it, but i was a good boy and stayed rock still on my back for the required 3 hours.

Hope your son did the same. If he did, the infection will be far worse than the ST. Good luck to you both.
The Professor

HE WILL (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUG))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

You know, kids are remarkably tough critters. Often almost as tough as their moms. You should probably both be proud of each other for handling things so well. ;-)

The one very scary experience I went through was when one of my boys was a baby, he had a terrible bout of RSV (a severe virus if infants get it, they are usually hospitalized) and what kept him out of the hospital was that daddy was a pediatric specialist in respiratory therapy, but he also worked nights for years. I had one night alone with this little 8 month old baby where he just could barely breath and his lips were getting blue (CPR does nothing when the airway's swollen), so it was Winter and we went outside and when the cold air hit his lungs, he started to breath better and after I gave him a breathing treatment with epinephrine and bang- all was well again- well he slept anyway, I stayed up just watching him. To this day, I'm amazed just how calmly I did all this.

Anyway, I am so thankful I have never had to go the spinal tap route, but I know that feeling that only a mother can have of shear fear and pain of seeing your child hurting, suffering, and feeling almost helpless at the same time. I'm so sorry your son is going through all this (and you along with him) and he'll continue to stay in my thoughts. Extra big :grouphug: to you both today.

:hug: jchild.

Sounds like he held up better than you did! Hugs and best wishes to you both. :hug:

sorry, I know today is hard enough as it is... hang in there :)

I've had to watch mine go through some ordeals, and know how hard that can be. My prayers are with you both... take care of yourself. I'm so sorry for both of you.

:hug:

I hate to see a child suffer through a procedure, but thank goodness we have LP's (lumbar punctures) available as a diagnostic test for something as serious as meningitis. I guess your child is going to be on some nasty antibiotics for awhile. Prepare to repopulate his gut with friendly flora. Take good care of the little guy, and don't forget to take care of yourself. You might call for some help at home, too, if someone is available. This would be the time to do that.

Big, big hug to you. :grouphug:

and I did have menigitis. I passed out during the spinal tap. But the pain doesn't linger and your fear is probably stronger than his pain. Hang in there. :hug:

Poor kid--hope he gets well very soon.

When my son was 5, he was put into the hospital for a blocked intestine. He screamed non-stop for hours at a time, even after being given pain medication.

Any parent who has had to see their child in pain and can do nothing about it will know how I felt. It was indescribable. Of course, I had to put on a calm face for my child, but when he would eventually rest, I would go into the bathroom and sob, holding back my own screams.

My experience was just a small taste, I'm sure, of what parents of terminally ill children have to face daily.

I'm so glad your son's test came back negative. Best wishes for his speedy recovery.

I cannot imagine how frightening that would be, not having kids of my own. But I can't stand to watch a child suffer, or frankly even hear about one in pain. :cry:

Poor little guy being tough - I've hurt those things hurt like hell. I can't even fathom how scared you must have been, and still are for him. :hug:

The pain was excruciating (from the meningitis) I thought my skull was going to explode.

Good luck.

The kiddo is doing better today. His grandparents sat with him while I ran some errands--I picked up that video game he has been wanting that Santa was supposted to get him. He's feeling well enough to play it.

All of your messages are so very nice--DUers are the best, most compassionate people in the world.

:loveya: ALL. Each and every one of you. :loveya: