It started on Sunday night when I spilled Ryan’s methadone (a narcotic) all over the kitchen floor. A narcotic is something that must be weaned. If you stop cold turkey, your body goes through withdrawal (think coming off heroine). I’ve seen him on too fast a wean before and it’s heart breaking. I stared at the orange liquid on my kitchen floor in disbelief trying to figure out the best way to get it back in the bottle… syringe it up? dab it up with a napkin and squeeze it out over the bottle? spoon it up?
Then I thought of how long it’s been since I mopped the floor.
I looked in the bottle and it looked like I had enough to get through mid-day on Monday. I made a note get a new Rx on Monday morning.
I did not have a night nurse on Sunday night. Ryan slept well until about 4 a.m. at which point he became increasingly fussy and agitated. I held him. I rocked him. I changed his diaper. I went down and got his swing, found a quarter to open the battery panel, used surgical scissors to remove new batteries from their packaging and changed the batteries in the swing. He didn’t care.
I swayed with him. Bounced with him. Walked as much as his oxygen leash allowed me to.
N o t h i n g. N a d a. Z i p.
I gave tylenol. I rubbed his gums. I applied lidocain on them.
S t i l l c r y i n g!
I patted his rear. I rubbed his head. I hugged him tight. I unzipped his outfit and put a cold rag on his head to ward off a fever from all his crying.
Three hours later I wanted to cry. Instead, I laid him gently in his bed, turned on his music and shut his door behind me. It was time for a sanity break.
He was still crying on and off at 9:30 a.m. (note: I did not leave him to himself all that time. I repeated some of the above to no avail.)
I spent the entire morning on the phone or computer with his cardiologist, the pediatrician (for a new Rx), my friend (to get the Rx filled – a life saver!), the pharmacist at the hospital (with questions on the narcotics wean), the insurance company, and in person with his PT. It was a crazy, busy morning.
Unconsolable agitation is a symptom of withdrawal from narcotics. It seemed a possibility he could be not tolerating his most recent decrease in dosing. But he didn’t have any other symptoms like loose stool, fever and sweating. When he conked out at 9:30 a.m. and woke up pretty happy for his PT appointment I started doubting withdrawal.
But something wasn’t right. It just doesn’t make sense for him to cry like that and for so long. He also has a little rash on his face and I noticed more on his chest this morning. So we took a trip to the pediatrician.
Two words….. ear infection.
It’s his first one. Our family’s second. Natalie had one when she was just shy of two. We think the rash is unrelated.
I tried to get a picture of our sick boy so you could see how miserable he is. But he kept smiling.
I promise, this is not what he liked Monday morning from 4 – 9:30 a.m.
I emailed his cardiologist the diagnosis. She congratulated me on Ryan being a ‘regular’ kid now. I think that is the first time anyone has ever referred to Ryan as regular. I can get used to that!
(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (21)
wouldn’t you know, it was just an ear infection….way to go with mother’s intuition, knowing something just wasn’t “right”. sorry about the sleepless night!
This mom has been through two children with severe ear infections, three sets of tubes, and I could recite every word to Cinderella because that was the only thing that would calm my daughter down. We wore out one video and had to buy another… This has been 15 years ago but I still remember it! I will be praying for you!
Oh that does not sound fun. But at least it is easily fixed…I hope he feels the relief soon.
Prayers for you and all you are handling.
You have no idea how happy it makes me to see him smile. It never gets old to me. He makes me smile. He is such a blessing. You are doing a great job with your ‘new’ normal.
I am so happy that Ryan is home with you guys. He is so adorable! I have had an ear infection this week. Although I wish I didn’t have it, I am sort of glad because I remember now how painful they really are. Glad you figured it out!
Awwww…poor little boy and poor Mommy!!! That’s the worst, but ear infections can sure do it! We’ve had our fair share, so I’m am most certainly going to PRAY that this is his one and only one!!
Congratulations on being Normal! It has taken a while, but you are finally too busy looking for the big stuff and miss the obvious! What a fabulous “milestone” for you and Ryan to reach! Keep up the great work and being a AWESOME Mommy!
Yay for normal but boo for ear infection! I sure pray it clears up fast. He looks way too cute in his pictures!
Aww poor baby. Father God please touch Ryans ears and heal them so he feels better. Thank you Jesus
Poor little guy-ear infections are no fun, but congratulations on a normal childhood thing! Yay for such a simple fix as an antibiotic! You’re a great mom-stay strong!
awe! still praying for all of you, glad to hear the new word “regular kid” in the vocabulary now 🙂 awesome job, Leighann! 🙂
oh poor little baby ryan. ear infections are no fun. hooray for normal problems though. get better soon ry!
katie
An ear infection? Wow! That’s so normal! I’m so glad it’s just an ear infection and I know you were so relieved! He is such a cutie!!
Hi Leighann,
I have been sick recently with sinus congestion pain and ear problems too and they really bothered me.
I can only imagine how much they would hurt a baby and how he would just cry from the pain and frustration. You are a smart mommy and I am so glad you figured out that something was different and that he needed to be checked out.
I have prayed for him and I hope he will feel better real soon, and that you and he… can get some sleep tonight.
I do think it is so wonderful that he is home…that’s such a blessing!
Love you,
Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
Oooh Mama. We’ve been through the drug withdrawals, too. And the ear infections, for that matter.
I really wonder which is worse (partially kidding).
Hooray for a milestone that so many see as nuisance You see as a joy (again, partially)!
Much love,
k
Aaaw that smile is too too cute!! One time we went down on Sophia’s narcotic dose too fast and she screamed for two days and two nights straight, without stopping. I didn’t even know that was possible. I mean zero sleep for two days and two nights?! Another time we spilled a whole bottle of straight up oxycodone – something that cannot be called in, something only certain doctors even have privileges to write a script for, and we were out of state. And it was Saturday. Her awesome pain specialist met us in his driveway at home and wrote a new prescription. Hope you get some rest, awesome mama!!!!!!
UGH…good job though mom, don’t beat yourself up…AGAIN! Yes he was trying to tell you something and you weren’t able to interpret his cues, but within 24 hours you had it worked out!
DO not beat yourself up Leighann, you knew something was wrong, walked away when you needed to then eventually sought out help. Hardly a CPS call. 🙂
He sure looks great for not feeling well!
Wishing you memory filled days and restful nights…
Well I agree but I contemplate the post should secure more info then it has.
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