What's New & Mysterious

Well, it's been quite a week. Thanks for all the concern and kind thoughts for my daughter. She is still coughing, still miserable, but otherwise healthy, except for bloating and mood swings from steroids. We are at a very mysterious and perplexing place with the diagnosis. After scoping her throat, the ENT doc determined the cough to be neurogenic, also known as laryngeal spasm and vocal cord dysfunction. Google mania also determined this to be post viral laryngeal neuropathy. In short, she is stuck. Doc said he's seeing more of this, particularly in young patients. More google-fu reveals it is most often seen in young, athletic, intelligent, previously asthmatic or allergic reaction, near onset of menses females. Bingo.

That's the good news. They know what it is. The not so good news is the treatment is anti-depressents usually given for neuropathy, and I'm not going there yet, or speech therapy for breathing control. We see the speech therapist on Tuesday, and by then, she will have coughed nonstop for 20 days. Usually, it is an intermittent thing, like recurring hiccups, but she has always been an overachiever.

She just woke up and I hear her coughing and I promised homemade, healthy waffles. Just wanted to share what I know and say thanks again, for the hints, the help and the kindness. Especially to Michelle, for offering her love and expertise and helping to guide me through this maze, and keep the panic at bay. Yes, the universe is abundant. And mysterious.

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks, the world outside my door. My little camera is refusing to focus lately, and the batteries won't hold a charge, so like my brain, the images are a little fuzzy. But they tell a story anyway.

Stay warm and well out there.