Even subtle changes

[JAG10]

DD11 had 2nd ivig 5.5 weeks ago. This past week was interesting. Last weekend, she experienced notable cognitive clearing, commented on how much easier it was to read and become lost in the story, ect. She also experienced great success with Wii games that she had been playing on and off, suddenly unlocking one thing after another she had never done before. DH said with his full gaming effort (insert L on forehead here ), he could not beat her. Well, with this new clarity and skill, came the uptick in gaming obsession. I realize those games are built for typical kids to become addicted, so I observed for a few days, but by the end of the week I told her I was putting the kabosh on the gaming to help her break the obsessive cycle of it all. She acknowledged I was right and did not outwardly object.

 

That was yesterday. I've also shared dd is doing Kumon to establish automaticity with math facts/operation manipulation. She does one packet every weekday and two on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. They are sequential. She did one first thing this morning that should have taken her between 20-30 minutes; it took her 18 minutes. Did I also mention she lost a tooth this morning..... This afternoon, she sits to do the second packet, almost the exact same material. I watched her squirm, sigh, and breathe with anxiety; pull her knees up to her chest and squat like a hen on a wooden chair. After 44 minutes, I took it from her...she still had 6 pages to go.

 

This regression in math ability occurred within a 5 hour period of time. She was pale, warm and eyes dilated. I gave her 2 ibuprofen.

 

This too shall pass, I know. I suppose it is realated to the lost tooth, but maybe not. Who knows? I thought it was interesting to have a two measurements, timed to compare in such a short period for something more subtle and wanted to share. She is on daily Zith and probiotics which I feel has been a better match for her than the Augmentin.

 

Health to us all

Don't forget about your clocks tonight!

 

Jill

[LNN]

Jill,

Sorry to hear about the regression. We've had the same experience. 10 weeks post-ivig at the end of last summer, DS was starting to practice some basic skills to kick start his brain prior to the start of school. One morning, his brain was so scrambled, he could not tell me what 7-0 was (he was about to start 3rd grade). I gave him motrin and we took an hour break. He came back and looked at me like I had two heads - could not believe he had struggled with this problem only an hour before. He was like - "it's 7 - duh..."

 

It always amazes me how an imbalance in brain chemistry can have such a dramatic impact in all areas of our kids' lives. It gives me hope to see him when he's clear but it's a killer to watch it fade away, sometimes in a matter of hours. You have to just burn those good times into your memory and know that that's what we fight for - they are "in there" and we keep fighting so that these times of clarity become permanent.

 

I hope your DDs setback is short lived!

[Malke]

Do you mind me asking why a loosing a tooth affects things? My dd has one loose and 18 more to go...

[JAG10]

Malke- I'm not really sure. Perhaps the "stress and trauma" to the oral tissue affects the BBB is what happened in my dd's case??? When one of her teeth gets a little loose, she's got to yank it out; my other dd will let it hang by a thread forever. DD11 is on full strength abx, so I don't think it is bacteria like some others have mentioned with stubborn tooth infections. But it is traumatic to the tissue so close to the brain, IDK-just guessing.

 

BTW, this morning's Kumon practice she was back to 20 minutes and without all the anxiety. Whatever it was, it was short-lived and minor. Still, it makes it hard to have consistent expectations while raising your children while this kind of fluxuation is a possibility.

[Malke]

Malke- I'm not really sure. Perhaps the "stress and trauma" to the oral tissue affects the BBB is what happened in my dd's case??? When one of her teeth gets a little loose, she's got to yank it out; my other dd will let it hang by a thread forever. DD11 is on full strength abx, so I don't think it is bacteria like some others have mentioned with stubborn tooth infections. But it is traumatic to the tissue so close to the brain, IDK-just guessing.

 

BTW, this morning's Kumon practice she was back to 20 minutes and without all the anxiety. Whatever it was, it was short-lived and minor. Still, it makes it hard to have consistent expectations while raising your children while this kind of fluxuation is a possibility.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. I was just talking with dd5 about why I am more patient with her yelling and outbursts on some days and not on others. She's young but still very aware that my expectations are different on different days. It helps to explain the gray areas (some days I know is just really hard for her, other days I can tell she can use her 'big girl' brain to find words to express herself) and I think our discussions help. The unpredictability of all this is hard on both the parent and the child I think, at least in our case.

[P_Mom]

My thoughts on the teeth......

 

When a child loses a tooth, bacteria that are normally in our mouths are relaesed in to the system. Whether they are on antibiotics or not, an immune system is mounted anyway, hence the flair. But, the child never actually gets any infection...just the immune response.

Just a guess here, too.

[dcmom]

Both of my girls have increases in symptoms with the loss if a baby tooth! So frustrating!

[thereishope]

When does she need to have the packet done by? Don't freak out yet. I wouldn't attempt the packet again today if it can wait. If you need to have ideally completed today, wait hours before even attempting it. When you do, don't make a big deal out of it, just go about it as you always do and secretly observe what happens.Keep us updated.

[philamom]

Jill-

Glad to hear whatever it was - it was short lived. My daughter told me two days after her recent ivig that she has a loose tooth {cringe}. I'm sure it's adding fuel to the fire. She also obsesses about wanting it out of her mouth. I recently told her the store was out of apples because she keeps asking for them to help yank it out. She looked at me like I was crazy. Yup, I told her there must have been a previous sale on all apples. I know...pathetic! I am in no hurry for the tooth to come out.

 

Nice to hear the Kumon is working for you!

Melinda

[thereishope]

See I'm the opposite. I want the tooth out asap so the gum can heal. Is that wrong? I mean once the tooth is loose, can't bacteria already find a way to get in? I'm talking hanging on by a thread loose not a little wiggly.

Edited March 13, 2011 by Vickie

[SSS]

My dd had a rather deep-ish cut between 2 teeth that are too close together, and food always got stuck there, so I'd floss it regulary. Anyway, I couldn't get that darn thing to heal up.

2 days after our HD-IVIG, I went to look in her mouth there to see if food was stuck, and it was completely healed- beautiful, white-pink gum.

$5k for a fixed paper cut.

J/K.

She has lost 4 teeth in the last year, and leaves them all hanging by a thread (shudder) No way, no how was I allowed to touch them.

Even weirder- the food doesn't seem to get stuck between those to teeth anymore (and good, because now I'm afraid to floss it/bring the cut back somehow.)

[philamom]

See I'm the opposite. I want the tooth out asap so the gum can heal. Is that wrong? I mean once the tooth is loose, can't bacteria already find a way to get in? I'm talking hanging on by a thread loose not a little wiggly.

No, I don't think it's wrong. My dd's tooth is just slightly loose...she wants to rock it back and forth while breaking the skin, just to get it out.

 

It is ironic, because I would think with hoarding symptoms she would be more inclined to try and keep it. I think that's why she always had issues with blood draws, besides the anxiety of course.

Edited March 13, 2011 by philamom

[JAG10]

Melinda,

 

So we're sold out of apples here in MontCo, huh???? I LMAO!!!!! Your secret is safe with me

 

My girl does the same thing...the slightest wiggle, then it's out. It is traumatic to the gum.

 

Do you think wanting the slightly loose tooth out could be related to the whole fear of choking thing? I mean, who wants to swallow their baby tooth, right?

 

IDK

 

Vickie, hope you're right about getting healed up quicker!

[thereishope]

My son used to want us to break into the ped's office at night and steal back his strep swabs. He wanted his spit back.

 

 

It is ironic, because I would think with hoarding symptoms she would be more inclined to try and keep it. I think that's why she always had issues with blood draws, besides the anxiety of course.

Edited March 14, 2011 by Vickie