Re: Back from Chicago post-casting with questions

August 11, 2007

Sandi,

It does all sound pretty normal. Matson has been congested after his

cast for the first day or two...if it lasts longer I would call dr.

Also, Matson had a hard time adjusting to his first cast, he threw up

on and off the first two weeks. We had to feed him small meals

several times a day, as he would be burpy and then vomit. So we feed

him every few hours and give him liquids on and off all day long, we

still do this now. The shoulders on Matson's cast are also high, but

they do adjust and I believe as they grow it allows for the growth.

The first cast for Matson was plain old miserable, I won't sugar coat

it, but his second cast has been a dream. He is back to his normal

happy self and doing all the things he was doing before plus

more...he even learned to walk in his cast (he wasn't walking prior

to casting).

We do use the duct tape. We put the moleskin petals all around the

edges of the cast and then we cover it in colored duct tape (got it

at Joann's Fabric). It helps make the cast more spill-proof (much

easier to clean up and not soak the cast), and it looks better. It

also has helped to prevent urine/poop from soaking into the cast, as

we still have a few times when the diaper doesn't keep everything in.

Hang in there, the first two weeks are definitely the toughest. He

will be back to himself in no time. Just remember it will all be

worth it! Keep us all posted on how he is doing...and you too!

Steph

Tyler 4

Matson 17 months

Lily 6 months

> >

> > was casted this morning in Chicago and I have a few

> questions.

> >

> > First, he's very congested in his chest now - I assume this is

from

> > the breathing tube? Is there anything I need to do for that?

Will

> it

> > just take time for that to clear up?

> >

> > The shoulders on the cast are super high and he can't turn his

face

> > from side to side - will he adjust or will that eventually change

or

> > something?

> >

> > Is the cast breathable? The casting person at Shriner's who

helped

> us

> > recommended duct tape over the outside (it is now covered in satin

> > tape and the shirt underneath has been modified to cushion the

> edges).

> > However, before I do that I'm wondering if the duct tape would

> allow

> > less air to circulate and if we should make just try to make do

with

> > what is on there already.

> >

> > Is it normal for him to be gassy/burpy after general? He seems

to

> be

> > very gurgly. Again, anything I can/should do for him or will

> this

> > subside?

> >

> > Lastly, he is just miserable - he has been so grumpy and crying or

> > sleeping most of the day. This is not at all how he reacted to

the

> > general for his MRI, so I'm just wondering if any of you have had

> > similar experiences.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Sandi

> >

>

August 13, 2007

Sandi,

Jack is adorable. Love the scrunchy face smile at the top. Glad you all were

able to get to Chicago!! Such a blessing.

Shellie Grant

" *\\o/* San *\\o/* " wrote:

Here you go, Aekta - here's Jack's blog with more pictures than you

could ever want

http://jacksonb.blogspot.com/

If you don't want to read the novel-length post, you can scroll all

the way down and there are pictures there of just the red cast.

Much love to you and Max,

Sandi

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August 13, 2007

Sammy complained of itching with one of her casts and we gave her some benadryl

before bedtime to help with it. We also ran a humidifier in her room--it was

winter so we thought the dry air might have been the culprit--whichever it was

it worked.

________________________________

From: infantile_scoliosis

[mailto:infantile_scoliosis ] On Behalf Of babymaxpd

Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 11:23 AM

To: infantile_scoliosis

Subject: Re: Back from Chicago post-casting with questions

,

Thank you for the information. He seems to be doing okay with his

stomach, however he keeps complaining about his back being itchy. I

just came back from the grocery store today and he was crying in the

cart with 2 cookies in his hand screaming itchy and leaning forward.

He never soes this especially with TWO cookies. He tries to reach

for his back and obviously can't. He kept saying " home " . After some

distraction he did better. I am very concerned that when they

trimmed the cast some fibers may have gone down his back. I tried

the low dryer on cool, but it still doesn't seem to help.

Fortunately he sleeps on his stomach and sleeps well. It's when he

has to sit up against something like a car seat or his booster seat

at the dining table when he complains the most.

A good thing I did notice is he has no rubbing of the cast

anywhere. If it wasn't the itching, this would've been the best

cast ever!

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on this? This has

never happened to him in the previous 6 casts.

Thanks for everyones help,

Aekta

> >

> > Thank you all so much. Tina - it was nice meeting you and

Sophia

> (and

> > Aekta, too!!!) I'm sorry you guys had to be the learning

group. I

> > think we were lucky being the first on Friday because it seems

like

> > they all sort of had to figure out the methods on their own

after

> > Thursday - they did mention to me that they had " some problems

in

> > recovery " and that Dr. Sturm was " not happy " with the way one

> looked

> > (which must have been Sophia's).

> >

> > - we got down to 38* in the cast (down from 64*).

> YAY!!!

> >

> > He's still really, really grumpy and miserable today. We got

some

> > calendula cream to address the burns/abrasions on his neck

from the

> > over the shoulder parts. The edges are already handled (,

who

> is

> > AWESOME, in casting pulled the t-shirt out of the openings and

> padded

> > the edges with cotton before rolling the edge over and taping

it

> all

> > down with silk tape. There are not only no sharp edges, but

the

> edges

> > are now soft and only natural fibers are touching his skin

from the

> > shirt). But, the silk tape does not stick very long/well - so

we

> keep

> > having to put it back down. They gave me an extra roll and I

think

> > I'll use one length and mummy-wrap it to the best of my

ability so

> > that it doesn't keep coming up at the edges. We'll see how that

> > works. I've been also giving him motrin for any muscle pain he

> may be

> > having or inflammation from the aggressive repositioning on the

> > table/traction. His neck seems very sore and I don't know if

it's

> > just topical from the abrasions or if it's muscular (or both).

The

> > motrin helps, and he seems much happier since we've put the

> calendula

> > on as well.

> >

> > Miss Mehta also recommended arnica, so we'll try that. (It's a

> > homeopathic remedy - sold at Whole Foods and similar stores -

that

> is

> > very helpful in healing).

> >

> > Thank you all

> > Sandi and a new, improved who is not feeling quite

back to

> himself.

> >

>

August 13, 2007