The news for today

I took Annie to get her VNS ramped up again yesterday, and then today we saw Dr. B. to discuss the results of last week's blood test. (She passed.) We are going to try fludrocortisone again--it's a medicine to keep her hydrated, and to hopefully have a positive effect on her seizures. Like I said in the previous post, I think that her Addison's issues complicate her seizure disorder, and if she is more perfectly balanced, maybe her seizures will go away, or lessen.

The endocrine & metabolic systems are so complex and are constantly making adjustments to maintain a perfect balance in a normal person's body. But Annie's systems are artificially maintained with hydrocortisone and now fludrocortisone, and I believe when she's the least bit out of whack, it causes more seizures. At least that's my story this week.

So:
Better hydration = less seizures.
Less seizures = more alert Annie.
More alert Annie = more functional gains.

That's what is so neat about that picture with Gretchen--when she's alert and paying attention, she is THERE. For instance, this evening while I was dressing her after her bath, I said, "stand up," and she stood up immediately. I also heard a couple of different sounds today...I really believe that if the seizures go away, she will talk. And, yes, I am an "eternal!" optimist.

Jean

I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27