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The Story of the Delivery
March 19, 2011 // 56 Comments -
Guardian Article
November 14, 2009 // 36 Comments -
What's God's plan for May?
November 25, 2011 // 35 Comments -
Milestone for May! Her first steps! (VIDEO)
July 18, 2012 // 27 Comments -
The Amazing Half-Brained Baby blog has been taken over. ...
January 30, 2011 // 24 Comments -
May made me cry today. My amazing half-brained baby.
September 19, 2011 // 24 Comments
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Why I'm grateful for socialized medicine
June 13, 2013 // 4 Comments -
Scenes from the hospital
June 7, 2013 // 4 Comments -
How is May post-op?
June 5, 2013 // 13 Comments -
Tomorrow is the day I've been dreading
June 2, 2013 // 12 Comments -
The one good thing that happened between all the puking ...
May 30, 2013 // 1 Comment
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You have been in my thoughts over the last two wee ...
June 16, 2013 -
I can't believe how much older May looks in that p ...
June 16, 2013 -
It is nice with all the NHS bashing going on out t ...
June 15, 2013 -
Stacie, Very happy to know that the surgery was s ...
June 14, 2013 -
Thanks for this - I'd love to contradict you and s ...
June 9, 2013
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Thanks for entering!
May’s seizures are back
I would like to say that a seizure for May is unusual, but it is not. When she was a year old, she had over 100 a day. It’s a grizzly fact, and I only mention it to contrast her recent seizure activity. Until late July, she was down to one a month. That is a miracle of modern medicine.
This lasted until late July, when she suddenly began to have 10 – 12 a day. We put her medicine up and they went down to about 4 a day. That’s still not great, but better.
May’s medicine will need to be adjusted like this for a long time. May eats better now and is gaining weight. More weight means the delicate balance of her seizure medicine will be disturbed. The same will happen if she has a growth spurt. Or later, when she starts puberty. Physical changes will require an adjustment in her medicine throughout her life.
This week, May terrified me by having a seizure at school that lasted over two minutes. They normally last about 30 seconds. This seizure was four times longer.
I was frantic and I phoned the Boss’ PA to get an appointment. She is on vacation. I phoned the ward directly. He is on vacation too. They put a Pediatric Registrar in Neurology on the phone. He said there would not be an emergency appointment for ten days.
“Ten days! No one can see her for ten days?” I pleaded.
“That’s right. We are fully booked.”
“What do you advise us to do in the meantime?”
“If she loses consciousness or has a seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes, I suggest you bring her into the Emergency Room.”
“That’s it?” I asked, preparing for war.
“Yes. That’s all I can advise.”
“You are telling me the only thing we can do is wait until our daughter needs an ambulance? Do you have any idea how stupid that sounds? That is completely irresponsible! Put someone on the phone who will help my daughter so she doesn’t end up unconscious in an emergency room!”
Then, I spoke to someone who raised my daughter’s seizure medicine so that she does not end up unconscious in an emergency room.
Sometimes, I speak to doctors and I think I’m speaking to a complete idiot.
Want more? READ: There was no Plan B when my girl had a seizure on Stacie’s blog on BabyCenter.
So sorry your last few days went downhill on the medical front. Does May have regular doctors that you can call and either they are available or someone in their practice? Is this not the way in England? I think it is sad that you have to explain or fight to see a doctor for either of your children. I know of no one here had to be denied treatment for 10 days. Please explain why this happens in your situation. I would have to go through May's history every time I try to see a doctor. I want someone who knows her or at least has her chart at hand or available.
If she needs a doctor, yes I can speak to other ones. But, May's neurologist is a big wig at the hospital. Everyone is intimidated by him (personally, I think he is amazing) but I even said to this guy, "Are you not raising her prescription because you are concerned about what he will say?" For specialised treatment, it is true that sometimes it is hard to come by. But, when you get it, it is usually very good. And as far as her chart, the hospital have all her information on computer and a massive file on her, so when I spoke to the second neurologist, she used that info to establish whether we could safely raise May's medications.
I'm with Madgew. I too would like to know why you have such a difficult time getting in to see doctors. And what's the protocol for going to the ER? Do you end up having to pay for it, totally out of pocket? Is it a bigger hassle than it's worth? Is it truly reserved for near death situations and you'll be sent home by the front desk? My GI doctor tells me, and other patients, to go to the ER if/when your truly sick without waiting for an opening in the office -- like if you've had a fever and can't hold food down, or something like that. And, specifically because my doctor works in a hospital, if I go to the ER, I'll probably still end up seeing him because he would be called down to the ER.
Adrianne
Here if you need a doctor out of hours, you either go to an out of hours clinic or the emergency room. My doctor's office is joined up with several others in the area and I different nights of the week, each offers an evening service until 8. In regards to May's neurologist, normally it wouldn't be a problem, and if he wasn't available, I'd speak to another one - like I did. But, in this case, the one I spoke to was an idiot. The next one I spoke to wasn't. She was very helpful.
Thanks Stacie for explaining this. I am glad you are getting the help May needs without fighting all the time to be seen.