Texting from the Doctor's Office

Cody's abdominal pain continued, so yesterday I took him to the doctor. Cody is for the most part very healthy, and he was not happy that he had to go to the doctor. He was even more unhappy when the nurse said she had to draw blood--not a finger prick, but from a vein in his arm.

He was apprehensive about the procedure, but rejected my offer to hold his hand, or even stand near the table he was sitting on, when the blood was drawn! He did, however, have his cell phone in a death grip . . . I guess that was his way of keeping his friends close and getting their comfort.

Between the doctor and nurse going in and out of the exam room, waiting for test results, and so on, he was texting his friends about his "ordeal." I added to his "torment" by continually asking him, "Who are you texting now? Tell them your mom says "HI". " He showed me the text; "My weird mom says to tell you "HI." What was funny was that his friends then texted back, "Tell your mom I said "HI" too!"

After an exam by the doctor and his reading the results of the blood tests, the verdict was in . . . Cody has mono! He said he would have rather had appendicitis (which was a possible diagnosis, given his symptoms) because he could have had it taken out and been better in a few days. However, the doctor put him on a very reduced schedule for at least two weeks. The doctor also said he needed to avoid all type of contact sports, because his liver and spleen are inflamed.

The doctor likened his inflamed spleen to a water balloon--"sloshy" and unstable. He said Cody should avoid anything that could cause an injury to it, like "sledding down a hill and running into a tree." The doctor and Cody then spent a few minutes laughing and listing activities he should avoid. Cody suggested "belly flop contests". The doctor countered with "bull riding" and so on. The doctor was great--he talked to Cody (not just me), answered his questions, and explained the reason for the need for rest.

Thankfully, there are no cattle shows for a few weeks, and since school is out, we don't have to worry about that. If he had to get mono, this was really a good time to get it! He's on steroids for his inflamed liver and spleen, but otherwise no medications.

Cody was glad to take it easy today . . . I'm afraid it will get more difficult as he feels better, but for now I'm thankful for a cooperative patient. He is watching a movie right now; I just offered to watch it with him, rub his back, or just sit by him . . . his reply was, "Mom, you can go do your own work. It's OK." I guess his cell phone is good enough company. Sometimes, however, I miss the demands of a sick child for hugs and just being by his mom!