My 7 year old

[Ellette]

So, the other day while talking, my son mentions that he hears fire engine sirens all the time, even when they aren't there.  I quickly made an appointment for him to see the doctor.  I have tinnitus and have ever since my epilepsy hit me.  I don't want him to have to deal with it if he doesn't have to, it can make you go crazy.  I can't sleep without some sort of white noise.  Even when I'm freezing I have to have a fan on.  During the day, I have either music or the TV on pretty much constantly because I have to have some noise to distract me from the ringing in my head.

Between the time I made the appointment and we got in, he came and woke me up one morning with a rather serious nose bleed.  I got it stopped after about 5 minutes.  Thankfully, if he's actually hurt or it is something important like that...he's really calm.  You can generally tell he's not seriously injured because he'll complain more.   

We saw the doctor and he said that Liam has a lot of fluid behind his eardrums causing the ringing.  He also has a "significant and sizeable" polyp in his left nostril.  5-7mm, and in a little bitty nose, that is pretty big!  The doctor was actually quite shocked by it.  He said that he must have had allergies for quite some time for it to be that bad and for him to get that much fluid behind his ears.  Dang stoic kid!!!      

So, we have to get him to an ENT for the polyp and get him in to an allergist as well.  We are going to have our younger one tested too actually.  We are hoping that this will help Liam with his concentration, which has never been good.  We are also hoping that maybe something T is eating might be amplifying his comprehension problems.  The appointment was just for Liam and me...T was just along for the ride but not getting checked out other than we found out he's not quite at 10% for weight still, even with shoes on!  When he gets sick my mom says he looks like gollum because he gets really skinny.  I'm not excited by the idea of medicating my kids, and I've heard wonderful things from several people about acupuncture for allergies, but getting acupuncture for my back made things worse, not better.  I'd limp out of there and sit in the car fighting back tears before I went home.  I'm not keen on the idea of trying it out on my boys in case they are odd like I am.  I react weird to everything really...I have literally had more than a dozen doctors say "wow, I've never had that happen to anyone else the whole time I've been practicing!".  Hopefully he won't be allergic to bees like my mom and me.  She dies in 3 minutes if a honeybee stings her.  I've never been stung but was tested before we went on our mission trip to Albania since the doctors there generally buy their medical license rather than earn it.  Liam knows how to give me an injection, but I'd rather not have to give him one!

The doctor though is quite worried about the polyp.  He feels sure it is what caused the nose bleed, and is concerned that it could cause one which would require an ER visit.  He gave us a medication for Liam in case his nose starts bleeding again.  Supposed to spray once in each nostril, hold his nose for 15 minutes, see if it worked.  If it didn't, have him blow his nose (seems counter productive) and then give him another squirt on each side and hold his nose for another 15 minutes.  If that doesn't work, head straight to the ER.  Think I might head there before the second 15 minutes was up and just hold his nose in the car since it takes about 10 minutes to get to the ER at night, 15 during the day.  Have to call the ENT on Monday.

[Larry Hanna]

Ellette, sorry to read of the ordeal that your little one (and thus you) have endured.  Hope the doctors can solve the problems and that they are nothing truly serious that will results in new problems.  It can be very scary to be a parent. 

[Marilyn]

Praying here.

[melody]

Praying for your son

[JudyB]

Elette you have had more than your share of trouble this year.  Know that I am praying, and know that He is listening.

Have you got an update?