It happened again early this morning, only 6 weeks since the last time...

[bailey0919]

I was awakened by a startled scream coming over the baby monitor in my bedroom at exactly 3am this morning.  Our master bedroom is on the main, and the girls' room is upstairs, so I still keep a monitor on at night to hear them.  As I rushed up the stairs, half asleep, I vaguely remember telling myself to prepare for the long 4, 8, 12, or even 24 hours that would be ahead of me.

My three and a half year old little girl suffers from migraines with aura (in addition to her heart condition, developmental delays, GERD and various other issues).  She began having them at nine months old.  Nine months with migraine?  Yes, and it has taken me nearly three years to finally convince her doctors that she has the sudden spinning, pounding headache, pain in her eyes, sensitivity to light, sound and movement; oh, and the nausea.  My God, the nausea and vomiting that can go on for between 4 and 24 hours.  I do not suffer from migraines myself, so I can only witness my baby's nightmare and cry with her while I hold her for the endless hours until her pain eases.

 As I reached her bed, my daughter was crying and laying on her stomach gripping the bottom sheet of the bed with both of her little fists.  I touched her head to let her know I was there and I heard her say, barely audibly, "spinning."  At that moment I knew for sure that this was indeed another episode.  I sat with her gently rubbing her back and reaching in the darkness for the cloth diapers I always put at her head so that I can change them out when the vomiting starts.  Within 20 minutes it did.  For the next hour I sat with her and changed out the cloth diapers to try and keep her little face out of the emesis.

 At 4 am, I returned to my bed.  She was sleeping again and so I would try to sleep a bit more as well.  Sleep for both of us lasted until 6am when she was crying and spinning again.  This was my cue to pack her up and take her to the ER at Children's Hospital of Atlanta.  The drive was over an hour in morning rush hour traffic.  Thankfully, she slept most of the trip.  I dropped her twin sister off at the baby sitter's on the way, since my husband was already on a plane for the week.  He would have stayed if I asked him to, but being a veteran at this, I told him I could handle it.

I had packed three bags...one for Kayley to have in case she had to spend the night at the babysitters, one for Kristyn to have a change of clothes and toys once she was feeling better, and one for me, just in case Kristyn and I have an overnight stay at the hospital.  It seems the better I am prepared for a hospital trip, the less likely it is to turn into an overnight admittance.

Once in the ER, Kristyn was marked priority Red, because of her heart.  If there is any upside to having a child with a heart condition in addition to other issues, it is the "front of the line" treatment we receive in ER.  I have to find some silver lining, right?? The ER Pediatrician was johnny-on-the-spot and very anxious for me to tell him what the protocol would be for the day: IV fluids, IV Zofran, Toradol, then wait... He made the appropriate orders and then we began the wait.  Today, thank goodness, the Toradol did the trick. By the time it hit her bloodstream, she was perking up.  Two hours later we were on our way home.  No overnight stay tonight, and I'm really glad.

So I picked up my second daughter and brought them both home.  Tonight you would never know how sick Kristyn was earlier today.  I will give both girls a bath after dinner and put them to bed at about 8:15.  Then I will also go to bed and head back to work tomorrow and our regular routine.  We will carry on for the next 4, 6, or 8 weeks until the next time...

[ivansmom07]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 6:43 PM

Oh my heart goes out to you and your little girl!  I suffer from migraines and it's the absolute worse!  I can't even begin to imagine how paiful it must be for your little girl!!

HUGS to you and your family!  I hope your little girl gets better soon.

[Momof3cuties]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 6:49 PM Oh goodness. I cannot imagine the strength that you have in dealing with this with your daughter. It's got to be so difficult to see your child in so much pain & for it to happen so often. You sound you are rational & well prepared for the events but still...reading your posts makes me think how blessed your girls are to have such a strong mommy. I hope that she outgrows the migraines. They are terrible but I have never had anything as bad as what you describe she goes through. So small to endure so much pain. ~Hope

[Susamii]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 6:58 PM

 Wow. That must be tough to deal with, but I see you handle it very well. She's lucky to have amom like you. A true sign that everything happens for a reason. *_^

 

[daisy975]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 7:57 PM I am so sorry that your daughter has to go through this.  *hugs*

[ErikaRobin]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 8:00 PM

Your poor baby!  That's horrible.  I'm thinking of you.   Hang in there.

[JoyeAustin]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 8:14 PM That was painful for any mother to read, and then to imagine actually enduring it by your daughter's side, oh that's heartbreaking. I really hope you find a treatment that eases her troubles.

[Rebeccalynn_dj]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 8:17 PM I am sorry for your baby.  Hugs to you.

[RanaAurora]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 8:25 PM

Your poor little girl!  Migraines like that are so hard for adults with comprehension of the condition to deal with, much less a poor little munchkin.

*hugs* 

[J-M]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 8:31 PM How absolutely awful.  I can only imagine your anguish in watching your child suffer so. 

[cleanaturalady]

Jul. 14, 2008 at 9:05 PM That is so horrible.  I have suffered with migraines since age 6 myself, so I literally feel her pain.  You are  a great mom to handle everything with such care and compassion.  Hugs to you and your daughter.