F
firehorsewoman
Guest
Quick update on difficult children ortho problem.
Saw lots of specialists yesterday. The piece of dead bone and most of the infection are in the growth plate which is not a good place for them to go digging around in. The ortho surgeon wants to put surgery on hold for now. Infectious disease doctor not real enthused about placing a PICC line in a VERY active 8 yr old boy. Also, if he has a PICC line placed he will be out of school for as long as it stays in (several weeks would be the plan.) So, for now we are trialing how doses of oral antibiotics three times a day. The doctor said that regardless of route he will need to be on antibiotics for 6-12 months. yes MONTHS!!!
So, we are going to give it two weeks on oral antibiotics then take some more xrays looking for evidence of further bone damage. If none found will continue with conservative therapy for a long time.
difficult child is off crutches now and back to his out of control self. Actually, as bad as this has all been he has had very few bad days (pain and fever.) Sometimes having a very tough kid with a high pain tolerance can mean picking up serious problems later in the game but on the positive side he has taken each and every test and treatment in stride. Big scary problems he can handle. it is normal everyday life that he struggles with.
Still being wimpy on the lithium dose. Want to sit where we are now on a moderately low dose for the next two weeks while his body adjusts to the huge dose of antibiotics it now has to process. We can increase again after next psychiatrist appointment in a few weeks. He is no longer suicidal or melting down and I am satisfied with those two huge improvements for now. The other behaviors we can work on and maybe once he is at therapeutic dose they will improve as well?
Saw lots of specialists yesterday. The piece of dead bone and most of the infection are in the growth plate which is not a good place for them to go digging around in. The ortho surgeon wants to put surgery on hold for now. Infectious disease doctor not real enthused about placing a PICC line in a VERY active 8 yr old boy. Also, if he has a PICC line placed he will be out of school for as long as it stays in (several weeks would be the plan.) So, for now we are trialing how doses of oral antibiotics three times a day. The doctor said that regardless of route he will need to be on antibiotics for 6-12 months. yes MONTHS!!!
So, we are going to give it two weeks on oral antibiotics then take some more xrays looking for evidence of further bone damage. If none found will continue with conservative therapy for a long time.
difficult child is off crutches now and back to his out of control self. Actually, as bad as this has all been he has had very few bad days (pain and fever.) Sometimes having a very tough kid with a high pain tolerance can mean picking up serious problems later in the game but on the positive side he has taken each and every test and treatment in stride. Big scary problems he can handle. it is normal everyday life that he struggles with.
Still being wimpy on the lithium dose. Want to sit where we are now on a moderately low dose for the next two weeks while his body adjusts to the huge dose of antibiotics it now has to process. We can increase again after next psychiatrist appointment in a few weeks. He is no longer suicidal or melting down and I am satisfied with those two huge improvements for now. The other behaviors we can work on and maybe once he is at therapeutic dose they will improve as well?
