Results Are In...

I finally heard back from the Sleep Doctor on Friday.  I had been calling their office practically every day-- not necessarily to get the results of the sleep study in its fullness but more to see if there was any seizure activity recorded.  See, when we arrived for the sleep test I was thrilled that an EEG was part of it and have been anxiously awaiting the results of that portion of the test ever since.  The rest I hardly thought about, I figure that her snoring was from the chronic sinusitis which has since been controlled by 10 mgs. daily of Claritin.

Before I give the results, I'll fill you in on the test.  When I scheduled the test, I let them know that due to Sophie's school nurse's recommendation she is now going to be at 7:30 each night.  The earliest they do the tests is 8:30 so we kept her up extra late and she and I drove to the clinic in our jammies, teeth brushed, faces washed and ready to go.  (I also have to mention that on the drive there I received the most heart-warming voicemail that had been left earlier in the day from a member of my church, assuring me of her prayers and honoring how difficult our journey has been).  So, at long last we arrived to the clinic and were told it would take about an hour to get her ready.  They were right, at about 9:45 the nurse completed all the wiring, pasting, and gauze-wrapping as Sophie sat in a chair nodding off to sleep.  I knelt on the floor in front of her, assuring her it would only be moments, and preparing to catch her should she truly fall asleep.

As far as I knew, she only woke up once, calling out for me.  I slept in a room adjoined to her, just like two hotel rooms with a door between.  Her's full of cameras, computers, and wires; mine just full of, well, me...and my Kindle...oh, and the sleep number bed--I'm a 35.  Anyway, when she woke up the nurse came in with a flash light and allowed me in the room to calm her back to sleep.  Next thing I knew, a voice was coming through the speakers saying, "Sophie, time to wake up."  And we did.  After about 20 minutes what took forever to paste on to her was off and we were free to go.

So, six days later the doctor called.  The great news--No Seizure Activity noted!  She did clarify that it wasn't a full EEG, but from the areas of the brain that were monitored there were no Absence Seizures that night.  What a relief.  I had been so nervous that although we don't see them during the day anymore, she might still be having them at night!  The not-so-great-news--she has Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  The sleep doctor stated that after we come in to go over the results more fully we'll be referred to an ENT.  She noted, "I'm not a surgeon, so I have to refer you to one."  I'm guess this translates to surgery being our next step.

I'm hopeful that this will only help Soph's mood.  It is one more step towards a good night of sleep for her.  One more time that we get to joyously travel through anesthesia with her--neither Joe nor I am looking forward to that experience again!  But in the end, we're getting closer.  At times I've been wondering if there might be some bigger picture we're missing with all these diagnoses, but I'm hopeful we're almost done.

Other Updates of Note:  The second opinion we got on her vision came out clear.  No glasses needed, her astigmatism is tiny and does not require corrective lenses.  She doesn't have to go back for 18 months!

Also, we had an appointment with the neurologist this past week and he is very pleased with her progress.  He believes all is going as planned and he's happy she's putting on weight.

I'll update again when we have a set plan regarding the Apnea.