Dental Surgery- MUCH needed!!
I'm trying hard to play catch up. We just got back from our second vacation this summer and we spent 7 hours Sunday reorganizing, putting away laundry, and cleaning up after a massive bathroom remodel. Love summer time!
Our pediatric dentist had been watching several of Hunter's teeth, as they had grayed over the past couple of years. We knew that he had cavities, but she would not attempt to fill them unless he was under anesthesia. We went to the dentist in April, and she was able to get x-rays (with a little struggle) that revealed a quick regression. His cavities had spread down to the root in one tooth, and they would have to do two crowns, as well as repair the root.
Peter and I both thought this recent finding could have something to do with the behavioral regression we had seen over the past few months. Even his big dr's nurse questioned the relation when I relayed the message to her. We attempted to schedule the surgery 3 different times, but insurance had denied us coverage for the hospital procedure and anesthesia.
If you've read my blog for awhile, you know I wasn't about to stop there. We worked with an advocate, after we had sent in two appeals that were denied. Finally, we had Dr. G write a letter indicating the need for him to be asleep for the procedure, as well as a letter from his dentist revealing the extent of his damage.
We set the surgery date for June 15th. We hadn't heard from the insurance, but we booked it anyways, due to the necessity. Peter made a last minute attempt and called his company, who ended up calling us back the night before surgery- and told us they would file it through benefits. PRAYERS answered!! Dental surgery is quite expensive!!
Hunter was scared to go back on his own, but he did a great job going under and actually came out of the surgery OK. I was nervous due to our previous combative experience after his MRI.
Interestingly enough, when the pediatric dentist came in to brief us on the surgery, she said they did find an infection in one of his teeth. Decay itself is infectious, but one tooth needed to be treated with antimicrobials due to the extent of the infection. We continued treating at home for 7 days.
The first three days were extremely rough. One of the doctors had told me it takes a couple days for it to get completely out of your system, and that was definitely the case. But after Monday rolled around, he was ah-maaaaa-zing. I felt like we started to see our little boy again.
He went to summer school no problem, participated in family activities, was sweet and cuddly, and when he woke up happy for the first time in 6 months (no yelling, no searching for electronics, no slamming doors), I knew we had made the right decision- and I also knew that once again, our gut told us there was infection in his body that needed to be treated.
He is still having good days- not all are easy (today was extremely rough at OT after being gone 10 days)- but we are over 3 months post IVIG. We are trying to get to 4 months without IVIG to run bloodwork in two weeks. We want accurate results, and we are hoping to see some answers after the requested tests are run.
We are meeting with Dr. G on Friday to discuss the extent of the tests and his recent progress. We saw an ENT who specialized in PANDAS today, as Hunter failed his hearing screening at his 8 year old checkup. The ENT recommended having his ASO titer ran (anti strep titer), because even though he might not have an active infection, the ASO provides information on the toxins that are left in the body from the strep. He hasn't had a strep infection in over a year, so if the ASO is elevated, then we know the strep monster is still harboring somewhere in his body. It becomes a game of chase, though- the ENT usually recommends pulling the tonsils as a last resort (unless they have multiple strep throat infections in a year).
I'll work on a vacation update soon. Summer days are fun, but long and little time to catch up!
Popsicles and easy liquids for this boy............and then I cracked a lucky 2 yolk egg! There's a sign!!!
Our pediatric dentist had been watching several of Hunter's teeth, as they had grayed over the past couple of years. We knew that he had cavities, but she would not attempt to fill them unless he was under anesthesia. We went to the dentist in April, and she was able to get x-rays (with a little struggle) that revealed a quick regression. His cavities had spread down to the root in one tooth, and they would have to do two crowns, as well as repair the root.
Peter and I both thought this recent finding could have something to do with the behavioral regression we had seen over the past few months. Even his big dr's nurse questioned the relation when I relayed the message to her. We attempted to schedule the surgery 3 different times, but insurance had denied us coverage for the hospital procedure and anesthesia.
If you've read my blog for awhile, you know I wasn't about to stop there. We worked with an advocate, after we had sent in two appeals that were denied. Finally, we had Dr. G write a letter indicating the need for him to be asleep for the procedure, as well as a letter from his dentist revealing the extent of his damage.
We set the surgery date for June 15th. We hadn't heard from the insurance, but we booked it anyways, due to the necessity. Peter made a last minute attempt and called his company, who ended up calling us back the night before surgery- and told us they would file it through benefits. PRAYERS answered!! Dental surgery is quite expensive!!
Hunter was scared to go back on his own, but he did a great job going under and actually came out of the surgery OK. I was nervous due to our previous combative experience after his MRI.
Interestingly enough, when the pediatric dentist came in to brief us on the surgery, she said they did find an infection in one of his teeth. Decay itself is infectious, but one tooth needed to be treated with antimicrobials due to the extent of the infection. We continued treating at home for 7 days.
The first three days were extremely rough. One of the doctors had told me it takes a couple days for it to get completely out of your system, and that was definitely the case. But after Monday rolled around, he was ah-maaaaa-zing. I felt like we started to see our little boy again.
He went to summer school no problem, participated in family activities, was sweet and cuddly, and when he woke up happy for the first time in 6 months (no yelling, no searching for electronics, no slamming doors), I knew we had made the right decision- and I also knew that once again, our gut told us there was infection in his body that needed to be treated.
He is still having good days- not all are easy (today was extremely rough at OT after being gone 10 days)- but we are over 3 months post IVIG. We are trying to get to 4 months without IVIG to run bloodwork in two weeks. We want accurate results, and we are hoping to see some answers after the requested tests are run.
We are meeting with Dr. G on Friday to discuss the extent of the tests and his recent progress. We saw an ENT who specialized in PANDAS today, as Hunter failed his hearing screening at his 8 year old checkup. The ENT recommended having his ASO titer ran (anti strep titer), because even though he might not have an active infection, the ASO provides information on the toxins that are left in the body from the strep. He hasn't had a strep infection in over a year, so if the ASO is elevated, then we know the strep monster is still harboring somewhere in his body. It becomes a game of chase, though- the ENT usually recommends pulling the tonsils as a last resort (unless they have multiple strep throat infections in a year).
I'll work on a vacation update soon. Summer days are fun, but long and little time to catch up!
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| my little sleeping beauty |
Popsicles and easy liquids for this boy............and then I cracked a lucky 2 yolk egg! There's a sign!!!
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