The Lemon and the Lyme

Over the 4th of July weekend, we all came down with a bug. It seemed to hit Liesel the worst and for about 36 hours she was unable to keep anything down-- even water or just Pepto Bismol. It's actually pretty unusual for Liesel to get very sick. She and Brent seem to have the hardiest constitution and I credit her early years in daycare, where she caught every bug imaginable. 

Liesel was terrified of the blood draw so they put numbing cream on the site to help. See how she's balancing on her left leg? 

Before Liesel was sick, she complained her body ached. I figured it was the early signs of that nasty bug making its way through her system. Then the aches didn't get better even after she'd been feeling fine otherwise. Finally, the pain seemed to localize in her right knee. Liesel began mentioning it more and more until she was limping, and crying constantly. She woke up everyday in tears and Liesel... well... she just doesn't do that. She's not the type of girl to make a big deal out of physical maladies for attention. Furthermore, I noticed red patches of skin on her torso and limbs flaring up and then disappearing only to flare up in another area. Children's Tylenol didn't help at all and my gut instinct was telling me something was really wrong. I phoned her pediatrician's office back in Illinois and the nurse on call advised me to have her seen as soon as possible. 

What is it about my child getting x-rays that makes me want to bawl my eyes out? Is it the juxtaposition of the super technological equipment and my delicate little girl, trustingly laying on the table? Is it the apron they have to spread over her vital organs to keep from destroying something important? Is it the fact I have to step out of the room and smile encouragingly through a small, mesh, glass window? I dunno, but it gets me every time.

I ran through the symptoms with a local pediatrician who ordered blood tests and x-rays to really get to the bottom of things. Some of the tests came back immediately and they were all inconclusive. No JRA (her cousin has that), no signs of cancer, nothing off the charts really anywhere. As a precaution, the good doctor ordered a prescription for Amoxicillin as her symptoms seemed typical of Lyme disease which is on the rise in Iowa. I recalled Liesel's Kindergarten class going to Lake McBride on a field trip so it was a distinct possibility.

A proud Liesel who survived getting 6 vials of blood taken. The phlebotomist pointed out her body would regenerate it all back within 30 minutes. I hate needles so this part of the visit earned us both a cupcake afterwards. 

 Throughout the week, more tests came back and we still didn't have any answers. Finally the Lyme results came in and she was positive for the first test but negative for the second, more sensitive test. However, the pediatrician said her symptoms were so typical of Lyme, she was pretty sure that's what was going on. Liesel was probably bit by a nymph which is why there was no obvious bite mark. Aside from Liesel's palest of pale skin, I also bathe her almost every night and I definitely would have noticed an adult bite.

The picture Liesel drew while I talked (and talked and talked) with the pediatrician. It's both of us at a birthday party with a dolphin balloon. She was so happy with it, she asked me to take a picture. 

After 4 weeks on Amoxicillin, Liesel is back to her old self. A follow up with the pediatrician tells us this one is unlikely to rear it's ugly head again. Honestly I would have felt much better with a definite diagnosis and a complete assurance Liesel is in the clear.  My dear friend Natalie once told me that the whole medical profession is a guessing game and for now I'm going to have to square with that.