I'd love to say that I haven't updated because things are going well, but that just isn't true. This has been a hard fall for Bug, and honestly for myself as well.

Bug has been struggling with migraines. We've been through several medications to treat the pain with little success. She is now on a daily preventative and (knock on wood) it seems to be helping.

She also is still in two ankle braces due to ankle instability. We had to stop physical therapy a few months ago because she ran out of visits, and insurance said "she does not show enough improvement" to allow her additional visits. I want to scream at them that how can you say that about a 9 year old, but I haven't... yet! Anyway, PT at home is not anything close to the same as PT at the Dr...

This week she started having problems with her right hip. Both times she insisted on going to school. I don't know that letting her was the right thing to do, but she has missed a full 15 days so far and hates missing any school. We have an IEP meeting coming up soon and I suppose this is something to address. She will be starting back to physical therapy right after Christmas. That was the soonest they could get her in for a new evaluation. At that point we'll find out how often to treat her, but what stinks is that our insurance reduced approved visits down to 20 this year (from 24 last year). Which unfortunately means we have to take that into account as to how to treat her, instead of doing what the Dr. says which is constant treatment. (she also still has posture issues, and ankle problems)

On top of that, we're not even through two full quarters of school. I am feeling guilt because she is missing so much and I also am missing a lot of work. (I work at a different school) I love my job, but I feel bad for the kids I work with because I've missed a lot, and I feel bad for Bug because there are times that I would have insisted that she stay home longer if I was more available. But I can't stop living for this, and neither can she. I just wish I knew if this was a rough patch or if we are going to continue along this way. With both the EDS and migraines they say she will likely get worse during puberty. Hopefully we can hold off on that as long as possible!

In addition, I spent two months in physical therapy after seeing the orthopedist (same one as Bug) for my own ankle and knee pain. As it turns out I have OA in both knees, Achilles tendinitis, a heel spur, five bone spurs in one knee, three bone spurs in the other knee, plus most of the cartilage gone in that knee. I knew I had a lot of pain, and a high pain tolerance, but it wasn't until taking 1000 mg of Tylenol a day plus two alieve and getting ultrasounds for pain that I realized how much pain and how much it was effecting me. WOW. I was told by the orthopedist to come see him again when I need him. I was also sent along to cardiology and genetics. Its been long suspected that I passed the EDS on to my daughter, and with the OA and severe spurring at 33 it's time to find out. I also have been having issues with going from kneeling or squatting to standing with getting really dizzy like I'm going to pass out. He wants me checked for POTS. So - I guess maybe I'll start getting some answers soon too.

So like I said, it's not a good thing I haven't written. At the same time, I felt that I owed some kind of update to let you all know Bug and I are still around, I just haven't felt like writing about it lately.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!

We saw the GI last week for Bugs 6 month follow-up. I explained that while she has been doing well with the reflux, that she was still having these episodes of severe stomach pain that even additional reflux meds don't touch. I reminded them that our food allergy tests were negative (for the things they tested for) and that I still thought there was something else going on but I didn't know what. Well, the next thing I know they are asking about things like noise sensitivity, headaches, and other migraine related questions. I kind of chuckled, and told them that I had it on my list to talk about the new pedi in two weeks about some headaches and spots she sees.

Well, as it turns out they think she is having abdominal migraines. I had never heard of them! The symptoms fit Bug to a "t" - but I was still hesitant to jump on board. We've had so many "this could be it" diagnosis's with her stomach that I just hate to buy right in. But, again, the symptoms fit so perfectly - it was hard not to get excited. Also, kids who get stomach migraines also tend to get regular migraines as they get older - and Bug's head problems have just really started during this past year. The severe stomach pains started as young as 5, and looking back at my notes I can even see the same pattern then as we have now. That pattern is everything is fine, then she gets a sudden stomach ache that keeps her from doing anything. They last 1-4 days. Just the same as abdominal migraines.

So - the GI told us to give Bug ibuprofen the next time she has a stomach ache. I looked at her like she was crazy, but she told me that was the way to treat it. She gave me a script for a different med if that doesn't work, and talked to me about a daily med as a last resort. I left the appointment feeling a cross between hopeful and totally shocked that this existed, and elated that we might have an answer.

A few days later Bug got a horrible stomach ache. We gave her ibuprofen, and within 15 minutes she was a different kid. She was singing, twirling, happy as a clam. Prior to that she was barely lifting her feet to walk, or hardly speaking. I was excited that the ibuprofen had worked, but still not convinced that was the solution. A result has to be repeatable to be sure that's what did the trick.

Less than a week went by and another stomach ache came full force. Bug said she had a headache too this time, and I gave her ibuprofen. Within 15 minutes the headache was gone, and between 20-25 the stomach ache was gone too. I was in shock.

So - while I do not want her to have another stomach ache, part of me is waiting for one, because if the ibuprofen works again I'll know we have our answer. An answer we've looked for for three years. Yes, she has GERD, there is no denying that, but I have always felt there was something more to it. I just never knew or would have thought it was actually related to a migraine!!!

The other news is we dropped her generic Prilosec in half. If this abdominal migraine stuff continues to solve her problems we might be able to wean her down even more. That was music to my ears!!!