Thanks to Karen for taking Lauren to soccer this week, Joey for taking Lauren to the park, Monica for watching Carmen and playing with Lauren and Jacy for the play date for Lauren. Lauren had a great time!
We have our second Make-a-Wish meeting tonight, in about an hour. We are excited!
Carmen update: Carmen is doing OK. She is breathing well and doesn’t have much congestion. We increased her seizure medication, Phenobarbital, to 11ml (44mg) twice per day and that has helped decrease the seizure activity. She continues to swell and have diarrhea.
I have asked the doctors several times if Carmen could have ulcerative colitis. The doctors keep saying no, C-diff is causing the diarrhea. Now that the doctors don’t think C-diff is causing the diarrhea, I am going to ask again about ulcerative colitis.
A friend of mine, who incidentally does have ulcerative colitis, was over yesterday and commented that Carmen has the same fingernail discoloration that she has. I’ve never noticed Carmen’s nails looking different but sure enough, they do have a brown arc where the nail separates from the bed. Anyone know what might cause this? My friend’s doctors haven’t given her an answer as to why her nails have just started doing this either.
Here’s a picture of my friend’s and Carmen’s nails.
Lana and Dave,
I enjoyed reading about how you met (again). Dave’s perspective was interesting. A “bonus.” I’m glad he wrote it. I’m proud of you both and very glad you married. I know God is giving you everything you need to take care of Lauren and Carmen. Whatever the cause, Carmen has unique fingernails.
Love,
Dad
Interesting nail finding! But alas, I have no insight. Does Carmen have bloody diarrhea?
Lana/Dave
Web MD ( I put in dark distal fingernail beds in child) the second slide looks similar to your photo of friend’s nails with Carmen’s nails. Your photo says nail beds to this “old RN” since May 1974. Seems to look connected to malabsorption rather than malnutrion. We know that your friend and Carmen are getting plenty of food but their chronic intestinal abnormalities(inability to absorb the broken down food which is formula in Carmen’s case) can prevent the body systems from receiving necessary nutrients. The Creator made us so that when one part of the body hurts the entire body knows it, didn’t He?
Your Dad got a new lease on life after the amazing results of the tissue biopsy. Yesterday, Lana’s Dad repaired our 30 yr. old bath tub water pipe to faucet.. It hadn’t worked in 3-4 weeks and now it gets hot water and cold water. Then Larry mowed and edged the entire yard(nothing like my 7 acres in East Tennessee).
Lauren, the baby peaches are size of a ping pong ball.
The tomatoes are the size of mommy’s fingernails. Granddad saw a bird eating the little flower blossoms on a tomato plant. The blackberries are loaded. Granddad wonders if he will get any or if the birds will take them all?
The LORD bless you and keep you,
Dad/Granddad/Nancy
My DH has UC and has perfect nails, so no assumption there. Not to throw added concern at you, of course, but have you thrown food allergy at your doctor as an idea? I ask in part because I spent two hours at the allergist on Thursday trying to figure out my 20 month old’s intestinal and skin issues.
Hope you figure it out, that’s got to be hard on her poor skin!
Danielle, no bloody diarrhea so I guess that rules out ulcerative colitis? Lots of mucus though.
Would a food allergy start that quickly? Literally she went from constipated and on three constipation meds to chronic diarrhea from one day to the next.