Peritonsillar Abcess...and Erik

On Monday, Erik started to complain of a sore throat. By Tuesday, I looked in his throat and was AMAZED at what I saw: swollen tonsils, but one was SO SWOLLEN, that it went ACROSS the 'dangly thing' in the back of his throat! So I called the dr. The nurse asked how long he's had the symptoms. When I said 24hrs, she said, let's make an appt for Wednesday, and cancel it if he feels better. If anything, his throat seemed to get more swollen and painful as Tuesday went on.

Wednesday rolls around and I pack up my FIVE children to go to the drs. She takes one look and is concerned. She leaves the room to call an ENT. She returns. Rather than rush to surgery, which has been the traditional treatment, they decide to take an aggressive with drugs treatment first. Because of age/weight/required dosages, Erik needed FOUR BIG HUGE PAINFUL shots...in his rear end. Dr. S offered to admit Erik to the hospital to take the drugs with an IV. She said if it was 1 or 2 shots, she'd recommend we take care of it in the office. But FOUR is a LOT for anyone, especially an 8 year old!

So we go to the van, get the stroller, and walk ACROSS THE STREET to the hospital. This time, we're on the 1st floor. Elisha was born on the 2nd floor. We are admitted to a room and the FIVE children start to watch the Disney Channel. We get the pre-IV numbing cream for 30 minutes, then the IV, then the STEROID push and antibiotics. TWO HOURS after walking in the door, we leave.

We're home now. Taking MORE antibiotics and steroids. We go back to the dr tomorrow at 9. We'll do the hospital thing AGAIN, then likely go see the ENT to have the abcess drained...surgically.

We'll keep you posted.