When
babies are born they have a blood test done the very
first day. It is called a newborn screen, and it tests for 22 or 29 diseases, two of the most common found at birth is
PKU and CH (congenital hypothyroidism). Vincent had his done and when it came back and everything was fine except for that he has slightly elevated thyroid hormone levels, indicating CH. He went in to the doctor right away to have a second screen done because it is very often that it is a mistake or it it didn't read right.
With CH they test your T3 and T4 levels, those are both thyroid hormones. This is a website that can tell you more about how the T3 and T4 is tested and what the hormones do:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/thyroid-hormone-tests. Ch can cause delays, mental retardation, and some other things. Vincents second test came back and the first test was correct and either the T3 or T4 was elevated by 2 points higher then it should be, and the other one was normal. So we were slightly
relieved because my doctor said normally when you have CH both the T3 and T4 are elevated and when they are elevated they are like 100 or 200 points above whats normal. She said being that only one was elevated by 2 points it didn't seem likely for CH to be a diagnosis. She said it is very common for some of the mothers thyroid hormone to cross over in gestation and to be
absolutely sure and rule out CH we would do another blood test at 4months old. We were very relieved and thought nothing of it.
At his 4 month check she gave me the papers to get his blood test redone. She
reassured me that everything would be fine she was sure it was nothing. I took him to the first place and waited for 2 hours at a Lab Corp. We finally got in and the lady was very nervous. She said it might be hard for her to get his blood. She got his little arm ready and started feeling around for a vein. She told me he is very fat and it was hard to keep tract of where the vein was. That should of been my first sign to tell the lady to get the hell of my kid, but I knew we needed the test for a piece of mind. She stuck the needle in his arm and nothing, except tears and crying. A cry I had never heard him cry before I could
barley stand it. She took it out right away and bandaged him up and I just held him as close as I could. It didn't take long for him to calm down. And then she told told me that there was nothing she could do because he is too fat! She told me to go to John C Lincoln hospital that they had a special light to put under the arm for situations like this.
I was mentally exhausted at this point and decided to wait a couple days to try these whole thing again. My mom came over and watched
JJ while I ran Vincent over to the hospital to see about getting this done. I had a
weird feeling on the way over because I have been in the medical scene for a while and had never heard of such a light. But I am also not a doctor so I figured who knows. But i just had that gut feeling on the way over. Sure enough when I get there before I even explain anything about the light they get insurance info. After a couple minutes the lady explains to me how they don't even take our insurance. But she was positive that Arrowhead took it. Extremely frustrated I left and headed home. I decided to give it the weekend and try again at Arrowhead Monday.
Monday came and me and my mom and the boys headed over to Arrowhead. After 20 minutes of waiting they take my insurance info and kindly explain to me that they don't take his insurance for
Lab work!
I call my doctor and tell her how irritated I am and she sends me to another place where she said it wouldn't be a problem that that is where most of the parents go. So last week I headed over there with him. They take my insurance and the wait wasn't even half bad just about 45 minutes. We are called back and
they get him ready. She puts the needle in and nothing, except for tears and crying again, she takes it out and does it again, nothing! She did it twice more before I said Enough! We really
needed the test so I told her to get the other Nurse in there and try the other arm. The other Nurse got it right away, no problem. I could have beaten that nurse. I t is amazing the adrenaline that comes over you when a situation involves your child. The saying, "Never come between a mother bear and her cubs," brought on a whole new meaning to me. I was so relieved though once it was done and all we had to then was wait for the results. We decided not to
really tell anyone because we were sure everything would be fine and that it was nothing.
A nurse called me with the results this past Monday. His thyroid levels were elevated. The nurse told me we would have to go to an
endocrinologist. I were shocked, thrown back, and shaken up. I was home with the boys and just started crying.
JJ came over and rubbed my back and in that sweet little voice said, "
kay, Mommy?
kay?" I took a deep breathe but it didn't help. I called the Nurse back that had called with the results and told her I needed to speak to the doctor directly.
The doctor called me back who knows us very well and have actually become quick fond of, she takes care of my niece and nephew too. And has been the kids doctors since both the boys were born. And she knows exactly how I am, over thinking every medical aspect of my children's lives. She told me it had
stil only come back 2 points over the normal and only on the one hormone level. She said it could
stil be nothing, she said or it could be the beginning of something. She said we could wait 2 more months and test again but why wait. So we have and
endo appt. the 26
th of December. So we will just have
to take it day by day and see what happens. He seems fine
though eats, sleeps and poops normal and is happy for the most part except when
JJ is teasing him, and even that he finds funny sometimes. Keep him your prayers please!
Vince driving JJ around
Vince the Cabby
Polishing the ride
Christmas morning!
