Verily, thy name is Vector.

[bloodsong1]

Got a call late last week from Cuteness' school nurse saying her eyes were red and a little watery, watch for conjunctivitis. So we watched all weekend. It was odd, as she would wake up with mostly clear eyes and they would get steadily redder and more watery as the day progressed.

Last night the watery discharge had turned opaque. I made the necessary phone calls.

This morning we went to the walk in clinic.

Yep, conjunctivitis in both eyes. Have some eye drops, keep her home today, she can go back tomorrow if you send this note with her for the nurse.

Mama A prefers to keep her home until Wednesday. Which is fine with me. Her pre-surgery appointment is Wednesday, this will determine if she goes in for ear tubes next week or not.

According to the clinic doc, she's the THIRD kid in today for the same thing. That and strep throat, which she doesn't have, huzzah!

I'll be going into work at noon. She's had her first drop treatment, it went well all things considered.

I need coffee.

Comments

[craig139.livejournal.com]

Conjunctivitis is very contagious. I never had it, but whenever anyone at camp was diagnosed with it, they sent the camper home asap.

A possible alternative to tubes?

[sammisnake.livejournal.com]

Dear lady, I hope you will check out a procedure that I have had a chiropractor, Dr. Allen Perestam, perform on my youngest son and myself. Likewise, my sis-in-law had him treat my neece, and none of the children had to have tubes inserted in their ears, with all the concomitant problems. It is an old osteopathic procedure called eustation tube stripping, though that is not what it does.
Bear with me- in the procedure, the doc inserts his gloved index and ring fingers into the mouth and stimulates a group of muscles around the opening of the eustation tube in the back of the throat-mouth area.This stimulates muscles around the opening of the eustation tube, the normal drainage channel for the middle ear, to contract and open the tube, allowing, in all our cases, built-up crud from reactions to toxins that were plugging the tube and filling the middle ear, causing pressure on the ear drum, to be allowed to drain and restore a normal pressure balance inside the middle ear. Yes, it stings, but for less than 5 seconds. Yes, a gross gush of stuff may be released into the throat, which in Jess's case gagged him; also gone quickly, and within 5 minutes, his ear pain was GONE. He had to have the treatment repeated the next week on the other side, but otherwise has never had another ear infection in his life, nor needed antibiotics for one. I also, have not had an infection since he did this for me over 12 years ago. My neece, who like my son was already scheduled for tubes, had this done as a last-ditch attempt to avoid surgery, and IT WORKED. She also stopped having ear infections and extended courses of antibiotics after this treatment.
I SO wished I had listened to the old fire chief who told me about this when my older children were young. They both had serial ear infections and both have ADHD as well as other problems,and there is a straight correlation between frequent ear infections and ADD/ADHD. Well, the research tells us THAT, but doesn't mention that it could ever possibly be the fault of the repeated extended courses of antibiotics for those ear infections, now do they?
Hope I'm not sticking my nose in too far, but whenever I hear the word "tubes" used in regards to young children's ears. I want to scream, "They already HAVE tubes! Eustation tubes! And sometimes they just need a little help to work right because they get blocked up because of our reactions to our toxic environment!!!"
Really, inserting a piece of plastic to try to imitate what the ear can do naturally by itself- how very American. I do not know if any chiropractor other than Allen is doing this procedure in the area, and am desperately seeking information on it for my own grandchild. If not, I can say it is worth the trip to Owego, and whatever he charges for the results I've seen. And really, what is there to lose? If it doesn't work, she had a single 5 minute unpleasant experience, you are out a few bucks, and they can still do the tubes.
Hope this was helpful-I know I do tend to rant!!!!!

Re: A possible alternative to tubes?

[bloodsong1.livejournal.com]

Well, given the conjunctivitis, they may reschedule the surgery anyway. I will see what the doc says tomorrow. Cuteness has avoided the actual infections, but there's been constant fluid behind the eardrum for about six months now.

If they reschedule, I will call Dr. Perestam and find out if he takes CHP. If not, I will get price quotes and make a decision then. I currently have over two grand in medical bills on myself, I'm waiting on the tax return.