A cold for Ben means lots and lots of tests

Picture of the torture chamber infant x-ray

So, I think I have mentioned before, if Ben gets sick, it means lots and lots of appointments. We had hoped that this time would be different. But, I guess it was not to be. We saw the pediatrician a week ago Thursday. That was when she diagnosed Ben with a bad cold. Then on Wednesday, I had Joe turn his polio shot visit in to a sick visit as well. Just to make sure. They diagnosed him still with a really bad cold that was threatening to turn in to a sinus infection and prescribed antibiotics. We had hoped that would be the end of that.

I should have known, nothing is that easy. Well, as part of keeping communication open, whenever Ben is seen by the pediatrician, they call and send a report to the cardiologist, and vice versa. Well, apparently the cardiologist that worried about every little thing was on yesterday. Oh, I should mention here, yesterday morning Ben had gotten blood work done and a collection container sent home for us to collect a stool sample. This was after a long run around where we first went to CDH. I got there and they did not have the orders in the computer. They said it would be about 15 minutes they could call the dr to get them. Then another 20 for us to register. Then there were about 7 people in front of us that we'd have to wait until our turn. In a germy waiting room. With an 11 mth old who is immunosuppressed. Yeah, I'll pass. So, I called cardiology and had them send the paper owrk to New Lennox. We went there and were in and out. And let me tell you, it is awesomely fun to have to try to get poop out of a diaper and in to a collection container. Yep, loads of fun.

But, back to dr worry wart. So, as per their protocol, the pediatrician had called the cardiologist yesterday to tell them what they saw and that Ben's lungs were clear and no ear infection or anything. Well, I don't know why, but dr worry wart decided this warranted a chest x-ray as well as an additional CBC and BMP. Yeah, we had already finished getting labs done by that point. And no, they couldn't just take it from the blood already collected. It needed a different tube. So, last night, Joe took Ben for his torture chest x-ray. It seriously looks like a little torture chamber, which is why I wanted Joe to go. I could not stand seeing him in it again, all smooshed in a little tube :( Poor baby.

Then, this morning we got to go visit the vampires lab tech again.  She felt so bad for having to stick him again. Plus, it was so much more fun. Because she stuck him on his right arm yesterday, she didn't want to go there again today. But, after trying his left arm, she determined we would have to do his right arm again. It's his better vein. So, the poor little guy has a big bruise on that side.

Well, I got a call from the pediatrician today. She said that there is some inflamation on his chest x-ray which is indicative of a viral process, nothing more. No pneumonia or anything else suspicious. Whew! We are SO relieved about that! I am really really hoping that Dr. Worrywart doesn't see that there is inflammation and get all freaked out and say we need to admit him. I will NOT be happy if that happens! 

So, needless to say, if Ben gets a cold and we have to go through all of this, it would be SO much worse if he were to get something like pneumonia or the flu or anything else. This is why we are asking everyone, please get your flu shot and your pertusis shot if it has been more than 10 years since your last one. And, if we ask how you are feeling or if you have had a sickness recently, please don't take it personally. We obviously want to keep Ben as healthy as we possibly can, and not have put him through all of these tests again anytime soon. Also, if we ask you to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before touching Ben, please understand it is not personal. Also, for those invited to his birthday celebration, this will be even more important since we know that when there are lots of people all in the same room, germs spread more easily. It is all just to keep Ben healthy during cold and flu season, and always.