The Puddles

So today we finished our second appointment in two weeks at Texas Children’s Hospital.  Today was our visit with Dr. Schwartz at the hypertensive clinic.  Last week’s visit made me bone-weary that i procrastination until this week to update the blog with ALL of the new news on Ben’s health.

Our visit with the Heart Clinic . . . 

The morning did not start out the way I (or anyone) wanted it too.  The traffic was horrible.  The tech was rude (rude enough that we are considering writing a letter to TCH).  The ultrasound tech didn’t say two words to Ben or us during the entire exam.  The nurse who did the stress test was fabulous (almost made us sad that Ben doesn’t have to do that test for awhile).  She told Ben that she knew he was going to be one of her favorite patients.

The end result  . . . no surgery at this time. The leaking in Ben’s aortic valve has increased.  But it is the difference between the elevation of Galveston and Houston.  There is an increase, but it is incremental.  The same goes for the rest of the “watch” areas of his cardiovascular system.  Ben’s stress test went stellar.  He soared on this test!  The only issue was the nurse kept trying to ask Ben questions and he was so focused on the tv show that he wasn’t answering.  I told them that when Ben zones like that, I will put my hand in front of the tv and that will break the concentration. She did it and it worked!  In the end, the restrictions haven’t changed.  Ben still has to pace himself.  Ben still can’t go outside if it is over 85 degrees. Ben still has to drink A LOT of water.  And goes back in six months.

Our visit with the Hypertensive Clinic

We met with Dr. Schwartz today.  His numbers are slightly elevated.  His blood pressure is above 109/60.  But only slightly.  The problem is that in his right arm his bp is around 110-114/50.  In his left arm his bp is around 107-109/50 which is good.  So he is slowly growing out of his current dose of medication.  The question is rather she ups his dose now.  She doesn’t want to make his blood pressure too low.   So now we have to take his bp at home every morning and every day at school.  I already have a hard time getting up in the morning and getting everything done in a timely matter.  Ugh. But we will find time to do it.

To top off the visit the doctor says, “And continue his low sodium diet.” What?  We were really suppose to do that?  Apparently, yes we were.  I don’t add salt to my cooking but I need to change the condiments that we use and be more conscious of the sodium in his diet.  Bad mommy.  Ok. we will do that too. And he goes back in three months.

Afterwards the doctor sent Ben for labs. He doesn’t like this part. The tech started the draw.  Ben got nervous.  The needle blow out of the arm while the tech was trying to reapply the tourniquet.  There was a “mess” everywhere.  Ben looked like he was going to pass out. It was bad.  The tech didn’t know what to do.  She still needed blood so she went to the other arm.  Ben was crying by now.  Then she got his arm, filled the viles, and then before she could pull the needle, he threw up.  We were in a little curtain area.  No room except a chair and a rolling cart. The tech didn’t even move.  I asked for towels and she told me not to worry about cleaning up the floor.  I said, “No. For him.  I need to clean Ben up.”  Geez.  It was a mess after that.  It took forever to get any help to clean up Ben, the floor, and we haven’t even started to worry about the fact that Ben is really  not doing well.  I know it was nerves and a combination of other things but he needed to lay down and he couldn’t even sit down.  I was proping him up.  Ok. ok. enough venting.  He’s home. He has a story to tell.  He has new bandages  for George to match the two on his arm.

In the end.

The visits were good.  He is ok.  We just maintain the current regimen and add a few others to the regimen.  And we will see Texas Children’s again in a few months.