Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Swallowing problems and full-time working

On December 31, Zachary had a barium swallow study that showed that he had silent aspiration. Essentially, his swallow is delayed because of a low trigger point and he aspirates thin liquids. The recommendation was to thicken his liquids to the point of honey-thickness. This didn't go so well. I have abandoned it because he was not aspirating or showing the vomiting symptoms with eating that initiated the study in the first place. And for the last month, he hasn't had an episode. Until this weekend. It seems that there is a connection between congestion, coughing and the vomiting. I don't think the aspiration issue completely explains it. And at this point, I am not exactly sure what course to follow. Sigh.


TO add to the fun, at the beginning of January, I returned to work full-time (although only four days a week). As I predicted, I hate it. And it's only going to get worse, since in February, it will be five days a week. I could rationalize two (or maybe three) days a week in my head that I was still spending the majority of Zachary's waking hours with him. And now, I'm not. Additionally, I feel like I am in a constant rush. Rushing to get him to daycare in the morning and get to work, rushing to leave the office in afternoon, rushing to get him something to eat for dinner when we get home. Always thinking ahead and not living in the moment. I hate it, hate it, hate it.

1 comment:

E said...

Oh, sorry to hear about the aspiration issue...Is this something that HAS to be treated or will he outgrow it someday?

And how is the working going, now that it's 5 days again? It's really rough, I can feel your pain! I did 4 deys a week starting when Timothy was 1 year old, and yes, always rushing here and there, feeling like you're getting torn in two, and no time to just process everything. I still feel like that on days I work. Make the most of your time when you ARE home...