Last night, Rowan developed another rash, completely different than the one we’ve been dealing with. We thought it could just be a bit of an irritation or heat rash from his bath, but as we got him dried off, we found yet more of his first rash. He had been on antibiotics for over 24 hours and it was still growing. I had put a call in with our doctor earlier that day, and it was right around this time of discovery that she returned my call. After chatting for a few minutes, she said she would happily get us in the next day around noon.
We dropped Dekker at school, took our time in the morning, and got to the clinic just in time. Being that we were an added appointment at the end of her morning, we waited quite a while before we got in, but it was ok. Just to slip it in here, Laela weighs 29 lbs, Rowan weighs 27 lbs, and Solly weighs 20 lbs 12 oz!!! I love learning their stats 🙂
When Dr. Guselle came in, she got into it right away. She checked Laela’s throat and unlike our experience at the walk in clinic, Laela cooperated perfectly! She wasn’t defiant at the walk in, to be clear, but she cried and cried through her entire exam. This time, she opened her mouth, hung her tongue out, and then answered all of the questions herself. She and Solly both had red throats, and Solly has a fever, but it seems like we all have a bit of a virus. Brady, myself, and Laela are all improving. Solly is just starting his cold, and Dekker still seems pretty healthy. (Though observing him trying to get into his winter gear at school, weeping on the floor, I think he’s pretty wiped out as well :/ )
Rowan was the main event today, and he did wonderfully!!! Dr. Guselle is so gentle with him while being super thorough. She looked over every single cluster of spots and bumps, pointing out their similarities and differences. We discussed the few things we’ve considered it could be, the diagnosis from the walk in, and a few other possibilities. She was incredibly knowledgable, as usual, and told me why she wasn’t convinced it was this or that. Her biggest suspicion is actually that Rowan has chickenpox! Yes, he has been vaccinated for it, but it can still happen. Because he’s been vaccinated, though, it presents differently than the chickenpox we all experienced as kids. That would be an explanation as to why its mostly on his limbs but not necessarily on his trunk.
A positive about this is that chickenpox aren’t terribly scary. They are contagious, but the masses of them that were on his legs (the worst area by far) are hardening and peeling off. This is great to know, because that indicates drying out and healing! So less contagious anyway.
I was SO proud of Ro. He had a few good blisters on his hands that weren’t entirely crusted over, and Dr. Guselle asked our permission to open one up and swab it so she could send it for some tests. Ro sat very still, and she just nicked the top of it and swabbed it up. Easy peasy, he didn’t even cry.
The new rash that he came up with last night is entirely different, and she said it looks like one of two things. Baby measles (which aren’t actually measles, don’t worry) or it could be a reaction to the medication he was taking for the impetigo that he doesn’t have. So to be on the safe side, we’re stopping the antibiotics. I really don’t want him to be allergic to antibiotics for his whole life, so Dr. Guselle said we’ll go forward with a small allergy test in a few years. No rush on that. Until then, its a “maybe” in his information.
All in all, I feel SO much better after todays appointment. And not for the reasons you might think. I am not 100% confident that Ro has the chickenpox. I’m not 100% confident that he is allergic to that antibiotic he was taking. But I am 100% confident that we are going in the best direction for his health. I know why Dr. Guselle is thinking what she’s thinking, and I know the results of the tests could show something entirely different. Once we had talked for a good long while, she asked me “So how does this all feel? What else can I tell you? What other questions do you have?” She didn’t want me going anywhere feeling uncertain or uneasy. None of this “This is your diagnosis. Trust me, I’m a doctor.” I LOVE that about her.
You guys are probably getting bored with these posts about what Rowan has or doesn’t have, and just watch us never actually find out! Hahaha! Oy, let’s hope we get answers soon! These are big days for us, and Brady is back to work tomorrow. The five of us will happily hang out in our quarantine for the next little while 🙂 Making the best of it!!