It's Becky's Day

Becky got a cold last week and it was nothing of consequence right up until Saturday morning when I was merrily sewing away and Josh came in to casually inform me that Becky fell down. I figured I'd better go check because in what universe is a brother concerned about his sister? (If it happens in yours, don't remind me how dysfunctional we are.) Becky was sitting up on the floor, crying and disoriented. She just blacked out, and the next thing she knew Josh was asking if she was alright. Strange indeed. She wasn't fevery, so I had nothing else to go on. I figured a trip to the ER was in order. Kids her age don't have any business passing out.

On the way to the hospital I questioned her in depth about it all. Turns out that she's dizzy for a few seconds when she stands up, and has been for years. YEARS. Nice to know there, hon. Also? She passed out Friday night and didn't' say anything to us about it. NEED TO KNOW BASIS HERE!

The hospital visit was one of much hilarity. I should be ashamed of saying that, but if you'd have been there you would have laughed, too. My daughter, the germaphobe, was freaked out that she had to put on a hospital nightgown. Someone else had that on! It didn't matter that it was washed between wearings, it didn't matter that the laundry detergent used kills 99.999% of all germs, and it didn't matter that it was state regulations that things be sanitary. It did brighten her outlook a little when I said that they washed it in GermX. It only took a few minutes for her to realize that they don't make GermX laundry soap. Then she commenced with the freak out.

She also freaked because the doctor left the end of the otoscope on her bed. It didn't matter that it was used to look into her own ears with. It was gross. And unsanitary.

She freaked when someone in a hospital gown walked outside to smoke. The germs they were bringing back in were off the charts, she was sure. I mean, his whole back was exposed! Apparently germs stick to skin much more than they do clothing. It was gross. She was certainly contaminated.

The person next to her was being tested for MRSA. She freaked. My word, she'd be dead by the time she was released. We informed her that Micah was tested twice for it. She became noticeably paler, and the concern for her own health and well being was wondrous to behold. The concern for her brother was nil. We informed her that he was negative, and she was just fine.

They brought a portable x-ray machine to scan the MRSA tested patient, and tossed a vest shield over her lap. When she learned of scatter radiation I thought she'd die for sure. Sam was highly amused. His daughter was that worried about scatter radiation and afraid for her very life, and he lives in it daily. We laughed until our sides ached. We'll be accepting our prestigious Worst Parents of the Year award now.

All her tests came back normal, so we followed up with her pediatrician on Monday. He was just as concerned as we were and ordered an EEG. Yesterday I picked her up from school mid-day (on her birthday, no doubt) to have her brain scanned. That, too, was normal. Always good to know.

I guess it's one of those head-scratchers that parents must endure. We're attributing it to the cold, not eating much because she doesn't feel well, and low blood pressure in relation to it all. Here's hoping that we're right.



And in other Becky-related news, she's got a request. Her youth group at church is going to summer camp (because that's what youth groups do) and in true youth group fashion, they're doing fundraisers to help offset the cost. The newest one is to collect $1 from 25 people. She wanted to go into Wal-Mart and ask random shoppers but I had issues with that. She asked how on earth she was going to get the 25 donations that she needed if she couldn't ask strangers, so I had to get creative. I've convinced her that it was infinitely better to ask strangers on the internet than strangers in a store. She's now excited to see where all the dollars will come from. I'm gonna need help with this one because it was my hairbrained idea to involve the internet. We've given her the first $5 (because we're her parents) so she only needs 20 more. If you're game to pledge $1, there is a donation button on the right sidebar. She'd be grateful.

18 comments:

Suburban Correspondent said...

What? Why aren't her youth group leaders suggesting something a little more useful, like offering yard work labor for a cut-rate price? They are telling them to ask for money? Is this weird, or is it just me?

Granted, those rip-off fundraisers other groups do are so ridiculous I sometimes just hand them money. So, maybe your daughter's group is simply cutting out the middleman.

Michelle said...

If it makes you feel any better, I get dizzy when I stand up on a regular basis. I've just got really low blood pressure and I have to be careful how quickly I stand. Fingers crossed there's nothing more to it than that for Becky -- and it sounds like there's nothing worse. Although the germophobe thing cracks me up. I didn't know that about her.

Gotta love all those fundraisers. Our churches J2A group is doing monthly cake raffles. Now THAT I can get behind. Oh, and Mister Man won the last raffle and then refused to even try the cake. *sigh*

Shellie said...

Don't pass out yourself, I'm actually back and commenting. Somehow I fell off the blogging bandwagon. But I was here in spirit. Always nice to know your daughter's head is normal, especially after she's freaking out like that. Too hilarious! Glad she's o.k. and hope she doesn't keep passing out.

Gina said...

I hope Becky is better soon. I actually used to have those spells when i was her age. They blamed it on low BP.

I donated some $.

Trisha said...

How scary for Becky and for you - passing out isn't fun at all! I experienced that when my doctor gave me blood pressure meds - I have LOW blood pressure so the meds made me pass out every time I took them. Needless to say - didn't take them too darn long!

the planet of janet said...

both z-man and drama king do that dizzy thing.

they stand up too fast.

hoe she's doing ok.

Karen said...

I hope Becky is feeling better. I was a germ phobe as a teenager too. Infact, I didn't really get over that till the tenth time I had my first childs bodily fluid all over me. Now.....I see somebody goes to barf...I will actually put my hands out to catch it. (Like that is going to help!)

justmylife said...

Both of my SILs and my neice all do that passing out thing. They have never really figured out what causes it. Hope she is feeling better.

Lynn C Mama to 3 said...

That had to be pretty scary, when you were done laughing at her of course!

Michelle said...

I'm sorry to hear she's been having those dizzy spells...how frustrating it must be to not know what is causing them! At least she did get the all clear from the tests though.

pghrugbyangel said...

I also have a "fainting" issue - if I get too warm - ie. summer time in the high humidity. The MD's blamed it on low BP. Hasn't happened in a while, but I take precautions during super warm times of the year, or when in Florida.

pghrugbyangel said...

By the way, you might want to ask her what happens "just" before she faints. For me, I would lose my hearing first, then my sight, but still be totally standing up... But once I lost both hearing and sight, I was gone. I've stopped the fainting in the past after the hearing went by grabbing ice or something cold and putting it on the back of my neck...

imbeingheldhostage said...

Frightening-- thank goodness you have good medical people that take things like this seriously. I do the dizzy thing too-- I have really low blood pressure. I'm sure they tested for anemia?

And Becky was justified-- hospitals are nasty germy places to be. That's where sick people hang out! (I've got your back, Becky)

JennyH said...

Sounds like a fun trip to the ER! Glad she seems to be fine.

Krista said...

My daughter (16)fainted at school a week ago Friday and that was the 2nd time in 10 months. Both times the ambulance was called! It's always a worry. I'm thinking maybe we need to bring smelling salts back! My daughter is also a germaphobe - I thought I was bad. She won't eat anything anyone else has touched - including me. And I have to say tongue in cheek that your daughter is a germaphobe but wearing a hoodie with bird droppings on it! Ha! (I tease my kids all the time about that!)

caramama said...

A belated happy birthday to Becky!

I hope she is feeling better and not passing out anymore. That must have been scary. Also, very funny about the trip to the ER! Did they check her thyroid? I'm not positive, but I think if it's off, it can cause dizziness. Not positive though.

KG said...

I'll give $1!

PS - Did I ever order shirts from you? I don't remember paying you. I wasn't sure if I actually ordered them or was just hallucinating that I ordered them.

*hangs head in shame*

KG said...

PPS - Am I blind? I don't see a donation button ... maybe 20 people already donated?