Eli has been sick this week. He's had a bit of a cough, and it was bad enough that I kept him home from school on Wednesday. He seemed to be doing much better Thursday and Friday, so I figured everything was fine.
But he gave me the biggest scare of my life this morning (it probably wasn't even related to the cough, though).
He was in the bathroom, and said he needed some help wiping. So I went in there and helped, then when I was washing my hands, he said, "My brain feels weird. I feel really dizzy." I didn't think much of it, because I get dizzy quite often, especially right when I stand up, and it goes away in a second or two. Then I was helping him get his pants back on, and he said, "My brain feels really really weird" and he seemed to be off-balance.
Then I started getting concerned. I tried to get him to walk into the hallway, and he was able to move, but he was really limp. I asked him if he was okay, and his face went completely white--his lips and everything were paler than I've ever seen them. He wouldn't answer me, and he was just staring off into space, like he wasn't hearing me or anything. (All of this happened within a couple of seconds).
As he stood, he seemed really unsteady, and I thought for sure he was going to faint. I panicked, and picked him up, ran into the living room, and sat him on the chair; then I yelled, "Jerry, get out here now!" (he was sleeping), and he must have sensed the panic in my voice, because he was up in a flash. I grabbed the phone to call 911, but then Eli started talking again.
Within a couple of minutes, he was 100% back to normal. And for the rest of the day, he's been fine. Since the immediate threat was over, I didn't see any use taking him to the ER. Jerry thinks that maybe he just sat on the toilet too long, and when he stood up, he got a head-rush. I was worried that it was an "absence seizure", which isn't very uncommon, especially in kids. I know a couple of people whose kids have had them before.
I am going to take him in to see his pediatrician on Monday, just in case, but he seems like he's totally fine now. It was the strangest thing. (Like mother, like son, I guess! He seemed to be feeling the same as I did before I fainted, and it was just a one-time freak accident). But of course, I still worry.
So we obviously didn't go to the fun run, because we were actually getting ready to leave when the whole thing happened. I told the kids we would find another one soon and they can do it another day. Eli asked if he could still have his medal, so I gave it to him ;)
This afternoon, I got a phone call from my Weight Watchers leader. I had e-mailed her about my goal weight situation, and she gave me a call, which was nice of her. I explained everything to her--my weight loss, that I joined WW Online for the last 20 pounds, and that I want to become a Lifetime Member by losing the last 5 pounds.
She was super nice and didn't make me feel judged at all. She's the leader of the At-Work meeting where Jerry works, but she also does meetings at a WW center on Thursdays and Fridays. I decided to go to her meeting on Thursday mornings--it fits in great with my schedule (the boys will be at school), and since she knows my story, I won't feel quite so awkward being there in order to drop 5 pounds.
Since this Thursday is Thanksgiving, I think I will go on Wednesday instead. But she made me feel much better about going (I was a nervous wreck); so hopefully all will go well. I'm sure it will, but stuff like this causes me so much anxiety!
For dinner, I made one of my fall/winter favorites: cabbage casserole. Everyone always complains about the smell of cabbage cooking, but I happen to love it! I even loved cabbage when I was a kid--especially cabbage casserole.
I did a very short interview on SparkPeople radio recently, if you'd like to listen. You can find SparkPeople radio on iTunes or on their website. The whole segment is about seven minutes. I don't know how to link directly to my segment, but the title starts with Katie... so it shouldn't be hard to find ;)
I had no idea that SparkPeople radio even existed! I'm going to add them all to my iPod so that I can catch up on them. It hasn't been around long. It took me a couple of minutes to figure this out, but there are "full episodes" and then segments--and they are listed separately. So you could listen to the entire thing if you wanted, or you could just listen to short segments at a time (my interview is in episode 4).
Oh my gosh! I am so glad your son seems to be ok! How scary!
ReplyDeleteI have been a Spark member for about 2 yrs and had no idea about Spark radio. I will have to check it out. I like to listen to podcasts on my long runs.
I was surprised to discover it, too--but it hasn't been around very long, so there are only 4 episodes to catch up on.
DeleteGlad Eli seems ok. Hope his dr visit on Monday goes well!
ReplyDeleteWould you mind sharing your cabbage casserole recipe? I love cabbage! I clicked on the link you provided thinking it was the recipe, but it only linked to a larger picture. I'd love to try it. :)
Deletehttp://www.runsforcookiesrecipes.blogspot.com/search/label/cabbage
Oops, I meant to link to the recipe, not the picture! I fixed it, and the link should take directly to the recipe now. :)
DeleteOh my goodness, that is really really scary! I hope he's better!
ReplyDeleteScared me out of my mind, for sure.
DeleteHope he is ok! Totally unrealted but if you add a very small pinch of baking soda to the cabbage water it will smell less and be more tender.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there isn't any liquid to add it to when making cabbage casserole... but I will keep that in mind for other recipes!
DeleteI'm so glad Eli is okay. I'm new to your blog and I just love how honest you are. I started the C25k program and am on week 5. I can barely run 2 miles in 30 minutes, but hoping to keep getting better. I've got 40lbs to lose and am down just 5. Hanging in there!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Made the cabbage casserole a few weeks ago from your recipe blog and it's so delicious!!
"I can barely run 2 miles..." YOU CAN RUN 2 MILES!! You should be very proud of that. But it will get easier (and you will get faster) as long as you stay consistent. Congrats on your weight loss as well :)
DeleteWow, how scary. I think kids live to scare us. Um, cabbage, I still remember that smell from when my parents were on some horrible cabbage soup diet back when I was a kid. I haven't been able to eat cabbage since.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that kids live to scare us. I don't worry too much about Noah, but Eli is going to give me an ulcer! ;)
DeleteI think a lot of people have that memory of cabbage. Jerry despised cabbage when we were dating, but after having the cabbage casserole once in a while, he now likes it. ;)
Katie - if he had just had a large bowel movement it could have just been a vasovagal response. It is actually pretty common. Definitely take him to the doctor to make sure it isn't something else (I am not a doctor, this is the internet, etc, disclaimer), but you probably have nothing to worry about. It's a common hazard that nurses look out for when we put our patients on the toilet! http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12051/1/Vagal-Nerve-Fainting.html
ReplyDeleteTy, that's very helpful! Thank you. I remember reading a little about that after my fainting incident, but had totally forgotten about it.
DeleteOh my God...what a scary moment. I'm glad he 's better now.
ReplyDeleteGood you are taking him to the ped on Monday.
Very scary, indeed!
DeleteI'm so glad Eli is better. They all have something to have us fret over. Charlie sleepwalks and Chelsea has had hallucinations due to a high fever. Even now that they are 14 and 16, they still worry me. It never ends.
ReplyDeleteI was going to say exactly what Ty said. I have had several patients who have "vasovagaled" and it is very scary! Glad he is okay!
ReplyDeleteI wish my family would eat cabbage. I have always loved it. My granny used to make it and we would make a meal off of it!
That must have been so scary! I hope and pray that there is nothing going on and it was just a one time incident.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Brandy and Katie! :)
ReplyDeleteyummm that cabbage looks good!!!
ReplyDeletealso - maybe your son was dehydrated?? a couple of years ago, i had started to feel sick and weak from a little after thanksgiving and never felt 100 % and then on christmas day, i ended up fainting in the bathroom and stayed home from my family christmas. a few of my friends told me to just drink more water which actually helped. hope he's ok!
Scary! I'm glad your son is okay! I'm definitely going to look for the Spark podcast. I love listening to podcasts and am always looking for another good one.
ReplyDeleteI have two children that had absence seizures for some time before it was discovered - but then it was sooo obvious. Kai particularly felt 'wierd' and 'displaced' and sometimes nauseated usually when he was having multiple in a short period of time. Took a brain scan to pin point it though and before his sister had been diagnosed it wasn't even discovered! Hope he doesn't it can effect so many things.
ReplyDelete