Petechiae

While I was putting sunblock on Peyton’s face this morning, I noticed some red spots around both eyes.  Knowing it was Friday and things always get worse over the weekend, I called into the advice nurse.  I was on hold for awhile, and I had to get Brandon to his field trip by 830am.  I was putting sunblock on Brandon (it is supposed to be a warm one out there, and he’s going to an even warmer climate, 15 miles south, and its all outdoors) while on hold.  I got them both in the car, and was hoping the advice nurse would get on soon.  The operator couldn’t make an appointment until Monday, but the advice nurse has more options for appointments.  Finally 805am, she got on.  I described them as “petechiae” for lack of a better term that I knew.  I was hoping I was using it in the right context.  She asked me to count them – I stopped at 30.  I felt it was an exercise like what Brandon does to estimate a certain amount of cheerios in a cup.  Then, the nurse ask if I was “medically trained” since most people don’t use that terminology.  I responded, “Uh, I’m a pharmacist,” sounding not that convincing as to know what I was talking about.  She did have an appointment for me, but said if anything different came up, that I should call back and I may be directed to the ER, but not to be alarmed.   Somehow “ER” and “don’t be alarmed” shouldn’t be in the same sentence.  I was planning on going to gymnastics, and then go to the appointment at 1145am.  She was eating well, didn’t have a temperature, and seemed otherwise okay.  After dropping Brandon off, I doubted my medical terminology, so I googled it.  That was reassuring in one way, but scary in another – some differential diagnoses of petechiae are meningitis and leukemia, among more mild causes like trauma, forceful vomiting, sneezing, and/or coughing, which are more likely in our case, or I would hope so.  So we went to gym, but she was a little fussy and not wanting to participate.  I may have to attribute it to the grandparents of the twins who were there to watch.  Peyton and the twins were not happy to have an audience.  When they figured it out (I give them credit for noticing and asking the nanny if the twins normally behave the way they were), they said goodbye and came back in stealth mode to observe.  Peyton warmed up after they left and was more her gym self.  She was selective about the apparatuses she would go on – only the balance beam and high bar.  No pommel horses or spring trampolines.  She still loves her handstands!  She is getting stronger and stronger – I am holding onto her feet now, not her whole trunk like in the past.  After gym we headed over to the medical center to see if we could get in an earlier.  I took her lunch with me just in case we had to wait.  Good thing I did; we ended up waiting the full hour and then some.  Once being seen, the doctor looked her over.  Peyton didn’t like her ears being checked but otherwise was cooperative.  The doctor diagnosed it as petechiae and thought maybe it was from her coughing and/or crying.  I told her about our disciplining her two days ago and making her clean up Before/while taking this medicine, a person viagra sale loved that must make sure that he takes the tablet with a full glass of water and ignores alcohol consumption. This sexual condition is characterized cialis pills wholesale by the inability to achieve or maintain an erection for intercourse. So even after ejaculation, the erection is cialis in spain going to stay. The active ingredient in super viagra uk on the web. the food she threw on the ground.  She cried for 30 minutes.  The spots didn’t appear until today, so not likely time course, but I think the doctor’s eyebrows were raised a bit as I was recounting our story.  Sounded like Mommy Dearest.  Also the scratches on her back looked a little suspect.  I told her it may have been from my watch after gym.  I swear we don’t beat them!  Especially since petechiae can result from shaking babies!  To rule out anything more serious, the doctor ordered a CBC, lead and iron studies.  We routinely did these on Brandon because of all the old matchbox cars he had and stuck in his mouth.  We passed for Peyton at her last appointment, but now she was going to get it.  She was putting her own pants on before the doctor left the room.  She really wanted out of there.  We didn’t have to wait at the lab, and the techs got a helper to hold her arm.  At first it was a dude, and Peyton was scared.  Then a lady came over and she warmed a bit, until they took grab of her arm and told me how to hold her in my lap.  Peyton started crying big time as soon as they grabbed her arm.  She screamed when they put the tourniquet on.  Then things continue to be not so good as they got the needle in and had to fish for her vein.  I don’t remember them having such a hard time finding Brandon’s vein.  She stopped crying after the needle was removed, and between sobs said, “All done!  All done!”  They got her a toy to choose from – a pink monkey or a purple moose.  Peyton didn’t choose, so I helped her pick.  The moose was a nice, soft stuffed animal.  While I was wiping away tears, she ripped off the gauze and the bleeding resumed.  I was a little shocked, and Peyton started crying again.  They had to re-tape another piece; this time longer and tighter.  I picked her up and we were on our way.  I asked her if she wanted to see Auntie Julie.  Again through tears and sobbing, she said, “Yesh.”  We headed up to go for a visit.  Nina and Mai came out later, and Mai tried to hold Peyton, but she wasn’t having it.  She didn’t cry, and I don’t recall her giving Mai a sour puss face, so I guess that’s a win.  Since we were on the third floor, Peyton was checking out the courtyard below.  While crossing the hallway, she was cautiously headed over to the windows.  She looked like she was afraid she may fall out the window.  Once she saw and touched the window, she wasn’t scared any longer.  In fact, she was cleaning the ledge with her moose.  After a few minutes, we headed out, and back home.  Before even getting out of the parking lot, Peyton had fallen asleep.  While I pulled up to the driveway, I checked my phone and the lab results were already back.  I plopped her down in bed, and checked.  All normal.  The doctor called while I was typing this – such efficient service 🙂   She said it may take up to a week to resolve.  Now she is resting comfortably, and when she gets up, we’ll have a trip to the mall and get her to forgive me for taking her in for all that poking and prodding.