Dr Jeckyl? or puke?

Josh had another clinic visit today. Brenda went with us this week while Jon worked at home. We went in armed with all Josh's Super Heros to distract him from what he hates so much. He didnt seem as anxious this week. I thought maybe since Brenda was with me instead of Jon, he was thrown off track. But it didnt take him long, and one look at the scale, to realize what day it was. Josh would recieve his second spinal tap (LP-lumbar puncture) of this phase (Phase Two - Consolidation - duration: 4 wks). The nurse came in to access Josh's port, as usual Josh was not happy. It's so difficult for me to watch him go through such discomfort and hear him call to me for help, only to sit there and help them poke him. Thank God for the port which makes everything that much easier. So they drew his blood and hooked him up to the IV, getting him ready for the LP. Today the wonderful Child Life Specialist was there to help distract Josh with her own bag of goodies. For whatever reason we didnt see the doctor this week, Nurse Ronnie would do the procedure. It was decided after last week that they would try Ativan with the Fenanyl instead of the Versed which Josh had a bad reaction to the week prior. It didnt take long for Josh to get real woozy and we laid him down for the procedure. He still tried to fight it, but at least it only took the one nurse to hold him down. After the spinal, Josh wanted chocolate milk which they brought in for him. He sipped on that for the half hour he needed to stay laying, and we headed out shortly after that. Josh was still very unsteady as Brenda and I were walking to the elevators which made him that much harder to carry to the elevators as he swayed in my arms. We were teasing Josh because he had the hiccups. I cant remember the last time I heard him have the hiccups. Just before we reached the elevators we stopped to use the restrooms before our long drive home. In hindsight, thank goodness for that, as while we waited in the hall for Brenda, Josh threw-up all over the place.

So back to clinic we went.

Got him all cleaned up -- puked again. Laid back down in the room for a few minutes. He cried about going home. Figured what the heck -- grabbed a puke bucket, a couple of towels and went on our way. Mind you this whole time the Ativan still hasn't worn off and he is way woozy -- too woozy to walk. Could hardly carry him as he was swaying all over. Get him in the van and he finally falls asleep. Doctor had said last week that the amount of meds she gives him would put your average adult to sleep. She cant believe Josh never falls sleep! Took him an hour plus, but he finally gave in.

Usually we stop half way in Grove City to get lunch since Josh has yet to eat at this point, but this time since he was sound asleep we didn't dare wake him. We got home --- 2-1/2 hours later, 4 hours after the procedure, and Josh is still not able to walk straight. Carry him in the house and he hits me cuz I wont let him walk on his own. Later in the day he would hit Halie then cry immediately after he did it. Wasn't until 7 that evening that Josh started to get his land-legs back. I dont think that the ativan was meant to last 8 hours. I don't think that was supposed to be normal. Oh forgot to mention --- when we first got home we sat Josh on the couch and he pee'd his pants. He was heart-broken! He's hasn't had an accident in who knows how long. And around 5:00 he puked one last time.

I know the week before he was in a total RAGE, but at least it wore off in an hours time... I don't know what was worse? Mini-raged puking wobbler for 8 hours, or Dr Jeckyl for 1....

I imagine next week he will have to go to the operating room. I just don't think I want to see him go through one more time like that.