Chloe had been having what we called "episodes" for lack of a better word, so Jason and I took her to the pediatrician on November 1st. Dr. Hodson (the pediatrician) told us that it sounded like Chloe was having seizures and scheduled her for a CT scan and EEG on November 4th. She also arranged for an appointment with a pediatric neurologist up in Carmel on November 15th. Chloe had another seizure the morning before the tests, so Dr. Hodson felt like she should be seen by a neurologist sooner. We were able to get Chloe in with a pediatric neurologist, Dr. Ridel, on the southside (right across from St. Francis South where all her tests were done) on November 4th as well. Praise God for the location and timing!
The EEG was scheduled for 8:00 AM, the CT for 10:00 AM, and the appointment with the neurologist for 1:15 PM. Jason took the day off from work to go with us, and my mother-in-law watched Charlotte. Chloe did very well in all the test, but she was pretty disappointed to have an IV for the CT Scan (they had to do the test with and without dye). I actually intended to bring my camera and forgot, but we had the trusty iPhone to get us through. Only one parent was able to go in with her for each test, so I went in for the EEG and Jason went in for the CT Scan.
Chloe patiently waiting while all the little electrodes were applied to her head.
The finished product! Now the test could begin.
Another shot of all the wires... Jason said it looked very sci-fi.
Almost ready for the CT Scan.
CT Scan in progress.
This was in the neurologist's office. She was showing me the "Brain Power" pencil and brain eraser she got after the EEG.
The neurologist told us that Chloe's EEG was not normal. The right half of her brain was having discharges of electricity that were causing the seizures. Her brain is able to keep things in check while she is awake, but during the time when she is crossing from awake to asleep or from asleep to awake her body loses that control and a seizure can occur. He said that the type of seizure is called a complex partial seizure, and that she has Benign Rolandic Epilepsy. The good thing about this type of epilepsy is that most children outgrow it right around puberty. In the mean time, it can be controlled with medication which he started Chloe on that day. The CT Scan was normal, but Dr. Ridel ordered an MRI to be completely sure that there is nothing else going on in her brain. He said that "a CT Scan is like black and white TV from 1950, and an MRI is like 1080p." So, I will be taking her to Community Hospital South on Tuesday for the MRI. She has to have another IV, so they can do this test with and without dye. She's not too happy about that, but she has memorized Joshua 1:9 and will be "strong and courageous" even in the face of an IV needle... and it helps that she will be able to watch a movie on video goggles during the MRI (Star Wars, of course). She will most likely have a second EEG in December.
We are just praising God that this is something treatable, that she will grow out of it, and that God provided a doctor nearby... who we happened to like as well! Thank you, Lord!
Katie and me
Stacey and me
Stacey, me, Katie
Katie and Josh (enjoying some nachos)
Dan and Stacey (finished with nachos)
I think Jason was explaining the rules to the game Compatibility, but it looks like Dan and Stacey were more interested in what Katie was saying... maybe that's why Jay and I had such a landslide victory! (heehee)
Katie and Jason
Josh with ice stuck on his tongue.
Seated left to right, youngest to oldest:
The adults were NOT seated youngest to oldest!
