It is one of those catch 22's. While it is an amazing blessing that his health is good enough to only require yearly trips to the peds Cardiologist- that also means it doesn't happen frequently enough for him to remember what goes on there. Plus they moved offices and so it was a new place for him, and the nurse that took us back was new to us. I should have known when we had to tag team him to get him out of the car, but I thought once we were there it would be smooth sailing.
Wrong.
So here is the rundown of his visits. Height, weight, blood pressure check, EKG, Echo, and finally the actual exam. As they told us today they are all 'stickers and cords' nothing to hurt or poke you with there. He cried about taking his shoes off to get weighted, what? And then looked like the ruler was gonna chop his head off when he got measured. And of course they weigh him in Kilos and measure him in centimeters, so have fun doing that conversion- oh fine, I did it for you, he was 44.something pounds and just over 45 inches.
(last year's EKG)
Once we got into the room for the BP and EKG he freaked. Kicking & screaming, and he full on punched me! The nurse was great- sensing a brawl was ensuing he left the room and came back with stickers, a robot toy and a play stethoscope. We calmed him down, after forcibly removing his shirt for the tests and then he was great. He sat still for both and was fine.
After a LONG wait the ECHO tech was ready for us. Can I just say first of all, those machines are the coolest thing ever. And to watch the techs work them is mind blowing. There are a million knobs and switches and a whew, here is a photo. No wonder they go to school for so long just to do one machine! Anyways. After a little scuffle to get him onto the table, biting was involved, it wasn't pretty... But the tech was a tough lady who took NO bull crap and she told him to lay down that they had to get an image. Finally after crawling up on the table with him he settled down and they got a good looking echo while he watched Kung Fu Panda.
After the tough tech we went back to wait for our doc. We had been there for over two hours and I was BORED- luckily Rusty had his Itouch to keep Braden amused and I played on my Iphone enough I ran the battery dead. Sad story. So since Braden's defect is really rare, and his outcome of such great health is even rarer, they always drag any medical students in to see him and hear his heart. I wish I had taken a picture of his chart. This one is about 3 inches thick, and I know he has at least one more chart in storage. Crazy. He listened and listened. They check the pulses in his feet and listen more. Then the med student listens. We are continually blessed and amazed at how well Braden s still doing. He isn't on any heart medication and under no restrictions. We will go back again in a year and then the doc said we may even go to once every couple years. Amazing.
He is such a great doc. He even told us this funny story about how his daughter had done a google search on him and a photo of he and Braden came up, and his daughter thought that he was pretty cool to be on google. So funny. So we are done for another year, the bite marks on my arm are healing, the scratched on both Rusty and I will fade and we will somehow try to think of a way to make it less terrifying for the next time we go! Now we just have to figure out how we are going to get Braden to his consult with the pediatric surgeon he has coming up (for a umbilical hernia that never healed). That outta be fun...
12 comments:
As I read this I thought, wow, the boy remembers something of the difficulties he has had earlier in life. I guess you can't blame him for the fight. Glad all went well.
Dang, poor baby. He had so many pokes, prods, exams, surgeries & other un-fun things in his young life he just can't help but be scared. We are so glad that everything is great with his heart once again. He is quite the little miracle!
You are one brave woman. I am glad you only have to do that particular doctor once a year. Thank goodness he is doing so well. I love your pics in the snow. There just is nothing quite as adorable to me as a tiny kid on a snowboard. Awesome.
I'm so glad he's doing well! I can't imagine how terrifying those appointments must be for him. I wouldn't like it myself.
I'm so glad that you got through the appt and everything continues to look good! How exciting that you might get to go down to 1 appt every 2 years! Collin's is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I am also not looking forward to trying to keep him calm and still for hours at a time! But thank goodness for modern medicine!
Oh my! I am glad you survived, and so sorry that Braden had a tough day. He is so tough though. What a week. My daughter is very much like that.... she has been known to punch and kick the DR or the poor girl who got suckered into peircing her ears... it is not fun. Hope you are well!
You guys have gone through a lot! I would be traumatized too with all of those things on me. I bet you were exhausted after that!
I don't know who I feel sorrier for - Braden who was tramatized and poked and prodded or you who was punched and bitten. You. So glad he is doing well, so sorry he hates it so much. Maybe next year will be better.
Oh, poor little guy, and his poor mom! :) It makes you feel bad to think how terrified he must have felt to act out like that. Glad you survived this appointment, both of you! :)
I'm glad all checked out for Braden. I can't blame him for being scared. I still feel lie kicking and screaming whenever I go to a doctor! Sorry you had to see him that scared. That would be tough.
Geez...it's like the kid doesn't like going to that place or something! haha Ah well, at least it's only once a year. Yea for next time! Aren't you excited?
Max had to do that umbilical hernia surgery too...I'm sorry you guys have to do it but it'll seem so easy and simple compared to all the other stuff you've gone through!
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