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Mystery Diagnosis

Today, Ashley begins her fourth month with a mystery cough. We have seen an allergist who found Ashley very interesting but couldn't find a thing wrong with her. We did find that she doesn't have any allergies yet nor does she have asthma. Then a week later an Ear Nose and Throat Specialists examined Ashley. Again, couldn't find a thing wrong with her but prescribed a steriod inhaler because we had tried everything that we could available over-the-counter. We did learn that Ashley's hearing is perfect, which is great because now she has no excuse for ignoring me. And because I am deaf in my left ear; I have an excuse for ignoring her. So what's wrong with Ashley...now that's a mystery still needing to be solved.

Just this week I took Ashley to the pediatrician again because Ashley is now complaining of a headache. I am getting calls at work from the school just about once a day because Ashley is in the clinic complaining about not feeling well. But when I ask Ashley what's wrong, she can't explain why she feels bad; just my head hurts. Today in fact, I received call from the school nurse. Ashley was in the clinic complaining of stomach ache and she said she threw up. However, no fever not even a low grade temperature. It's aggravating not knowing what's causing her ill feeling. Sure it could be nothing but a lingering virus; do we ignore it and let it go? Having a child with a chronic illness, we can't assume anything is normal until proven.

What's next you ask? After talking to Ashley's liver doc, we have decided that Ashley will see a pulmonologist and have a bronoscope. Hopefully, this will give us an answer. However, now Ashley is really sick. She has a horrible congestive cough, a runny nose and just has no energy but so far no fever so the pulmonologist will have to wait. Who knows maybe this real illness will make the "throat-clearing-cough" go away. We can only hope.

Next in Ashley's liver world. Ashley will have labs and an ultrasound in November. Then in January we will see her liver doc at the transplant clinic at Shands Hospital and have an MRI. Did I say we...I mean Ashley! Believe me if I could trade places with Ashley, I would in a heartbeat!
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