Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Really?

Many people think I'm lucky to have the "summer" off to enjoy my children and for the most part they are right except for days like today. Today is one of those kinds of days where I long to be back in my classroom with my eighteen kiddos on a schedule. Where you know that you'll be teaching Math for 70 minutes and the day goes much as planned.

Schedules are wonderful.

Really, they are.
Then there are unscheduled days where I spend the morning at Vacation Bible School (VBS), drop Tyler off at the pool by one and then take Madison to the doctor to figure out what's wrong with her hands. Don't even get me started about Grant's behavior at VBS. That's another blog story.

You see, Madison has had raw, red finger tips for two weeks now. All 10 fingers are missing layers of skin, cracked and sensitive. I've tried numerous topical creams which have helped to no avail. Madison has slept every other night for two weeks wearing gloves (the winter kind) on her hands after I've coated them with large amounts of Aquaphor.

Really, I have no clue why her fingers are so fiery red, sore and bleeding. I am perplexed.

So finally, I decided to cough up the $30 co-pay and see what the doctor says. Madison is complaining that it's painful to use her hands, so it's now necessary.

And guess what....The doctor has no idea either. She said that if it was a fungus, it would have spread. She asked Madison if she touched something hot or something she wasn't suppose to touch and now's the time to confess. Still Madison can't think of anything she would have possibly handled. What I wonder is...if she did touch something, how is it possible it's on every finger, right in the center and above the first knuckle of each tip? The spot that you'd get finger printed at the police station.

Madison could possibly live a life of crime now that she probably no longer has fingerprints, but that too is another blog story.

Really.

So, the doctor asked another doctor and they decided to treat it as if it is a burn. The cream is very expensive, so the doctor frosted and bandaged her hands like this (which, I've fixed twice now in the last 2 hours)...
The doctor wants Madison to wear the bandages for 24 hours to see how she responds to this expensive burn cream. If it works, I'll have to buy the pricey, burn cream. If not, we will try another method.

Really, wear the bandages for a day and to VBS? Doesn't she know we do Arts and Crafts?

I then asked the doctor how is Madison suppose to use the bathroom. Her response, "You will have to help her."

I'm ready to go back to work. Really!

12 comments:

Cheeseboy said...

That is so mysterious and strange. I hope her hands get better soon for her sake and your pocketbook's.

Connie said...

i'm sure she loves being helped in the bathroom! Are those bandages supposed to stay on through all that she does?
I hope you get to the bottom of this mystery. That has got to be miserable for her! Keep us posted!

Trisha said...

What! That's nuts. Gosh I hope they figure something out soon. Poor girl.

mamahasspoken said...

WOW that looks horrid! And not a very good wrap job on their part. I would take her to a dermatologist if this doesn't work. I know what you are saying about the structure vs unstructure of your day. I'm going through it too. Though I am at a two day workshop tomorrow and Friday....

Amy said...

Well...the bandages have already been replaced with 10 band-aids (one per finger) and a pair of winter gloves. After three hours, we could not keep that kind of wrap on. Now if she has to go to the bathroom, I gave her new rubber gloves to go over the winter gloves to do the job. I am not wiping....is that TMI? :)

Mindee@ourfrontdoor said...

I'm laughing but only because the way you describe it makes it funny. You're right - work would be better.

I am very sorry for Madison though. These things aren't supposed to happen in summer!

Cari said...

Poor Madison...how strange! I hope she feels better soon- and I hope that it's figured out! What a weird thing!

Teachinfourth said...

Sounds like something from a Roald Dahl book…maybe she needs some of George's Marvelous Medicine.

Carla said...

Poor Madison. Hope you figure it out soon.

Tracey said...

Amy-
I can't believe it! I hope they figure out quickly what is wrong.
No wonder you want to go back to work...

Penny L. said...

Sakes alive! I hope by now they've figured out what it is/was and that it is clearing up. I feel so sorry for the poor girl! I remember my son had a problem with inflammed hands and peeling skin when he was really young (like 2 or 3? which would be like 13 or 14 years ago) and they tested him for Kawasaki Disease. I'm sure that is a VERY long shot and you don't mention other symptoms, but I just felt I should mention it, because that can be a very serious disease, although rare, and, again, is probably not AT ALL what she has. Take care, and good luck!

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