Eureka

OK. So!

The radiologist called the pediatrician last night (and then the pediatrician called me - literal Telephone) and explained that although they did not get as many views of Patrick's brain as he would have liked the ones they did get were fine. He said that he is 100% certain Patrick does not have a tumor in his head. So that's [understatement].

However what Patrick does have in his head are multiple pockets of significant infection. 

It was one of those conversations that I wish I could have had twice. All I heard was fear worry anxiety NO TUMOR birdsong rainbow lollipops. Then she mentioned infection and abscess and the need for something in a massive broad-spectrum antibiotic and I said GREAT! SURE! WHATEVER YOU WANT DR. NO TUMOR and she said she'd call in a day or two when she got the Lyme's results back.

After she hung up and I settled down I regretted not asking where and what and why and how. Like, in retrospect, I'm not even sure if Patrick has abscesses in his head (I think he does) or she was just worried that he might develop them. Also I want to know how his bloodwork looked because I am not sure how we are going to be able to tell in ten days if the antibiotics worked when his symptoms are so... erratic. It would be helpful to know if his CRP continued to go up. Well "helpful" for those of us playing epidemiologist at home.

I thought about the whole thing this morning and decided that it is something of a coincidence for Patrick (who contrary to current events is a pretty healthy kid) to wind up with two major bacterial illnesses (one which got him hospitalized; the other which almost got him hospitalized) two years apart but within an inch of each other in his body. You probably don't remember this but they wound up taking out his tonsils and his adenoids because those seemed like the likeliest places to be harboring the infection and although both the tonsils and the adenoids were swampy disgusting messes I almost wonder if some of the surrounding areas weren't affected as well. Maybe they've been affected ever since or maybe there is some structural issue that makes his head the Deadwood of fugitive bacteria? I don't know.

Anyway, following my Matlock-like hunch I called the office for the ENT who did Patrick's -ectomies and I lucked into a cancellation appointment to see her next Friday. He will just have finished his antibiotics at that point and it will be good to have someone look at him who has the capability to screen his head on the spot if needed.

So there it is. Patrick yet again has a mysterious bacterial infection in his head but this time it is - relatively speaking - really very good news.

Hugs and kisses. I am singing with relief over here. The unknown and potentially unknowable were killing me.

PS I read this over and I think I sound like a fool. I should probably clarify that my relief is limited to the fact that I was seriously concerned that we were dealing with a brain tumor. Relatively speaking an infection seems more easily managed than a mass. I'm still worried about my little sugarbeet.

Comments

[QoB]

ohh, that is such good news. I'm hoping you can all fill in any blanks now and get started on getting Patrick back to 100%.

[Laurie]

Oh thank god. No tumor! Yay! I am so happy to hear this that I am practically puking rainbows. Yay! Yay yay yay!

And yeah, weird on the infection front. EXCELLENT news on the quick ENT appointment, and I can't wait to hear that all is well in Patrick's head :)

[Jane]

Frolicking unicorns! Balloons filled with cotton candy and covered in chocolate syrup! Obama! All the happy things I can think of in one big mush. I've checked back on an hourly basis and am so happy to hear the good news.

[Bethany]

HUUUUUUGE sigh of relief for you from me, another random person in the world who...well... who just cares. I can't wait until his brain is once again the only part of Patrick's head that is mysterious.

[lb]

Phhhhhewwwww..... that is the sound of a balloon of worry deflating in relief over here. I have followed Patrick's exploits since he was tiny and am so very glad to hear all is well. Well, not all, and not exactly well, but you know. Mostly. Pockets of infection and head abscesses don't sound like a lot of fun either, but at least it's only that.

[Ellie]

Sweet bibbity babbitty. Honey.

A serious bacterial infection in his brain??

Not to pop your efferfecent bubble of rainbow joy but: I need to say that in my personal opinion and not wanting at all to upset you (I promise!) -- having had a brain tumor recently myself? A brain infection sounds scary. Very. Am not understanding why they are waiting on treatment. (I mean, I get the whole wait for Lyme's results but .... ).

I really hope they get him on the anti-bios ASAP, and a clear and conces diagnosis as to the nature whereof etc etc.

Continuing to keep you all in my prayers.

[Clarity]

I never thought I would feel RELIEVED by the prospect of brain abscesses but when tumors are the counterweight it's a wonderful to hear that the scales tipped in the right direction. But yeah, what is up with THAT? Time to hose his insides down with bleach!!!
So glad to hear your good(ish) news....

[Ellie]

Okay wait, stupid me: he is on the antibiotics? Okay phew! Sorry! Crawling under rock now.

[Momsy]

Whew! Thanks for letting us know.

[Monica C.]

Wow! I'm happy that you're getting news - and at least it is not bad news (or it could be worse, put it that way). So, they are certain that it's not the Valley Fever that so many of your readers pointed to? Oh well, infection, inshmection - bring on the antibiotics and let's party. :)

[Nancy]

This would be a really long shot, but has Patrick had a TB test? TB can manifest strangely in children, and can strike neurologically. It's unlikely it would be that, but if they are working it up it's worth ruling that out. They might not have checked as your family is not in a risk group, and it is indeed a very unlikely scenario, but possible.

Glad to hear they're starting to figure it out!

[Laurie A]

Whew...end tumor worry.

Errrr, wait...begin infection/abscess worry. I'll still be checking in here multiple times a day until you send out the all clear signal. And, of course, sending prayers and good thoughts.

[Emily]

Thank Goodness!!!!!!!!
Have been so worried right with you. Give that amazing boy extra hugs for all of his virtual cheerleaders tonight!!

And pour yourself a giant drink.

[Sheridan]

Yay! But yes, still a concern. Thinking of you all!

[Barb]

So relieved. Hugs to all of you. What a stressful time. Thank you for keeping us posted.

[Janet]

Wonderful news!!

[Rachel]

SOOO incredibly thrilled for your family that Patrick's brain was tumor free! Honestly when you mentioned those wake up/vomit episodes a few posts back that's the first place my mind went - though I tried not to allow it for long! (I still remember my neurologist being very specific when he asked about whether I was waking up with headaches often).

I would still definitely be worried about the infection in Patrick's brain (is he trying to be an overachiever in the head fungi area!?), but I too would be so relieved that this is something treatable with a right now, take this medication.

With Patrick's CRP level... don't be too surprised if it hasn't gone down now, or has even risen considering one of it's main purposes is to measure inflamation in the body and I would definitely think that pockets of infection in the brain would cause inflamation.

Will definitely continue to pray!
Again, so glad that no tumors were found!!

[tree town gal]

tears, joy, frolicking here... so happy!!! babble away, sister... you deserve all the silly relief you can muster...

[Cheryl]

Hooray!!! Birdsong, rainbows and lollipops, indeed. Hope the antibiotics take care of the infection toot sweet.

[Melissa K.]

Hooray for NO TUMOR - and there was much rejoicing amongst the Internets! You don't sound ridiculous at all, you sound like a Justifiably Relieved Mom. And now, They (you know Them) can beging to DO SOMETHING! The best, best, best news.

Julia, thank you for posting so quickly as all of us out here who know your kids only because you let us know them are worried and we care and your fright is our fright just as your family is now a part of our families.

Bless you all! Keep us posted! :)

[Owlfan]

So glad to hear that the MRI scans were good enough and that Patrick doesn't have to go through that again. I hope the antibiotics kick the infection out of there!

[Lori]

I absolutely understand your relief and share it with you. Infections are scary but not as scary as the other possibility. Hoping for quick results from the strong antibiotics!

[Betsy]

So so so so relieved to hear the no tumor word. YAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!

I know there is still the infection thing going on; but I agree that it somehow seems more managable. I'm glad you're following up with the ENT, though.

Please keep us posted... although now I'll have to hit "refresh" about eleventy million times next Friday until you tell us how it went!

[victoria]

You're funny, and nice, and smart, and you love your kid. I'm glad it's not a tumor and I hope all remaining uncertainty gets cleared up soon.

[wombat]

WONDERFUL! Best news I've heard in a long time. Recently my son was ill and the doctors ran some tests and I since I'm a biomedical scientist, I KNEW they were looking for cancer, even though they didn't tell me so. I tried not to think about it, but OH!MY!GOD! the relief when everything came back normal.

Breathing a huge sigh of relief for you all. Just wonderful. Here's hoping the infection clears up nicely. We've had big scares with those too, but if the Dr. thinks it will be straightforward, it sounds like good news.

[Melanie]

Has he been to a dentist lately? How does a kid get an infection in his brain? Through the sinuses? Or through the bone? Don't the docs need to know what type of bacteria is causing the infection, in order to select the correct antibiotic? What a puzzle.

Btw, good work with being persistent and getting some answers and a course of treatment established! You are a good mom.

[Kristi]

So happy to hear from you about it! Although yes, your post is all over the place and i'm not sure I would cheer either about infection In. The. Brain.!?? What? But dude, no tumor, so that is definitely magical unicorns soaring over rainbows and stuff.

Blah. But yay.

[SusanOR]

Soooooo happy it's not a tumor.

Tonight - you & Steve should sit down & make a list of what questions you might have asked last night if your brain wasn't frolicking over the NO TUMOR (YAYAYYAY). Then:

Just call the ped tomorrow morning & say, ok now that I can really hear what you have to say about absesses & such, let's talk further.

This would be totally reasonable from a medical perspective and you would get your questions answered.

[mellie]

Well, that answers the question, "How do you make a Brain Infection sound less scary?" Answer, "Say it isn't a Brain Tumor!" So, anxiety level shifts over and down, ever so slightly. Still, it's good to have a diagnosis that will potentially get you guys out of the proverbial woods soon.

[Jan]

As someone who freaks out and panics regularly to the extent that I don't ask the questions I should or take the actions I should, in spite of being extremely intelligent, as we all are here, of course, I understand why you didn't ask more questions about the infection, abscesses, etc., but you do need follow up on that, as most commentators above me have said. Tomorrow is just fine to do that, but please do it. No tumor, HURRAY!

[Anne]

So very glad. Thank you for posting. All best wishes.

[Jan]

p.s. of course, getting the appointment with the ENT was, in fact, an immediate and correct response. Brava!

[Jen]

I'd agree with the call the peds again asap tomorrow! Ask these questions again and find out if there are any other restrictions he should have.

Oh dear, I feel bad not to be jumping on the rainbow bandwagon (doesn't that sound pretty?!) but an infection in the head is worrisome, along with the abscess word at all. I'm sure you've googled it all by now and have seen things like "should be in the hospital until resolved" and all. I'd be inclined to keep calling people every few hours to keep at this!

Hating to sound like this, but I confess I'm more worried now. I was sure that the MRI would somehow lead to a migraine diagnosis (I just knew there was no tumor!) and this seems a lot more unknown than either of those two things.

Fingers crossed that those antibiotics are swirling around up there wiping out the bad bugs like crazy. Do they give anti-fungals to children? If it is a fungal infection, that's not going to be touched by the antibiotics, is it?

Okay, I'll stop being a nervous nellie now and just imagine those medicines wiping out all the infections!

[Karen]

Thank you for posting, this is good news indeed. And go you on the ENT appointment!

[Kathy W.]

Here's a good article on pediatric brain infection:

www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site656/mainpageS656P0.html

I had also heard that hospitalization and IV antibiotics (or antifungals if necessary) was not optional.

I hope Patrick is well soon.

[gwen]

Unicorns, rainbows, whiskers on kittens, singing turtledoves, blissfully stoned pandas, THANK GOD.

Sending more good thoughts and hopes for Patrick's quick recovery your way... the Internets are with you!

[CaraH]

Amen, amen, amen!!!

[Vanessa at He Gives Hope]

yes, infection is infinitely better than tumor! yay!

[Katerina]

Welllllllll thank goodness!!!!!! Give yourself the rest of the day off, and worry tomorrow . Does Patrick understand what a load has just been lifted off your mind, i.e. what The Big Worry was? I hope not, for his sake.

Antibiotics are wonderful, wonderful things. I sm everso grateful we have them.

And BLESS YOU for the update. It's 3:14 am here and I can't think of anything I'd rather be reading on my iphone than this.

As others suggested, a stiff drink may be in order for you (and Steve). Cheers!!!!

[Jen]

Not a tumor!!! Phew. (The words "it's not leukemia" had a similar effect on me recently.)

Hoping the antibiotics kick in soon and get rid of all the nastiness, and that you all can get some answers soon.

[Kelli]

I'll dance on the side of those who are glad there's no tumor. No matter how scary it is, infection is not as scary as tumor. I'm sure your doctor would have ordered him to the hospital if they felt it was necessary.

As a parent who has seen a child through a sea of unknown medical issues, congrats on having some solid leads and the potential for resolution. Nothing is worse than wondering what if. Having an answer and a direction is always relief.

[Kristin]

Thank God for no tumor but how freaking scary that this is going on. I think your instincts are right on the money and the two big bad infections are probably related.

[yasmina]

Julia, thanks so much for updating the internet family. I am not a frequent commenter but I consider myself as part of this family for years.

As a medical researcher whose daily life involves in dealing with disease, I have to say that I had not suspected brain tumor based on your previous posts. That just to explain why I still very concerned about his infection simply because this happened in such an undesirable place. I wish you and your Dr. will be able to figure out where the bugs came from so that you could try to be away from the source.

I know that you must have known this already but I still want to remind you one more time here: kids are much much much more plastic and resilient than us old dogs.

Wish your precious have a speedy recovery!!!

[sharon]

Yay for no tumour!!!!!

Boo hiss for the pockets of bacterial infection, hope the ABs empty them out fast! Fingers crossed (still) that the source of the mystery bacteria is found and eliminated so that Patrick (and the rest of the family, of course!) can continue to enjoy life free of pain, vomit and worry ;-)

[lolismum]

I am glad your son does not have a tumor. But abscesses in the brain or generally brain infections are usually treated with intravenous antibiotics. Will he take pills instead?

I am glad it's not a tumor, but do observe him carefully because brain infections and abscesses can turn extremely serious. Best of luck.

[Alexicographer]

Yay to no tumor and many thanks for the update. Keeping fingers crossed that now that you (phew!) know what the problem is, it will be resolved quickly.

[a different Julia]

Yaay! Thanks Julia for telling us.

As we all wait and worry about the infections, one thing to remember is that nobody said there were BRAIN infections, just that there were infections in Patrick's head. They could just as easily be sinus infections as anything else. Not to belittle sinus infections, but certainly they are less worrisome than brain infections.

And a huge hooray for the radiologist and the pediatrician for calling last night instead of waiting for business hours this morning.

[sarah k]

Good news. Hope all becomes clear soon on the way forward, and that the infection/abcess issue quickly vanishes.

[Heather g]

Thank goodness it is something treatable. Good on you for following up.

Get well soon Patrick.

[Susy]

Damn, what a relief! No one ever SAID tumor in the comments but I think we were all afraid of it (though I had my doubts--one can't help but fear the worst).

Not that this really has anything to do with Patrick because it was a hamster, but I'm remembering several years ago before we had a child we had hamsters. One of them took a flying leap out of my hand one day and smashed his head. About a week after that he started having seizures and walking around with his head hanging to one side. We took him to the vet and she said she could CAT scan him but it would be really expensive...She was pretty certain he had a brain tumor but on the off chance that it an infection resulting from the injury incurred during the fall, she gave us antibiotics. ZING! Hamster was fine within a week and went on to die of old age.

So, Patrick will be fine in a week and live to be 107!