CLEAR!

Mia just returned from another visit to MERSI where Dr. Hinkle checked her eyes once again for any signs of uveitis. We are VERY happy to report that her eyes are CLEAR! Or, as Dr. Hinkle said, "They are crystal clear."


There was some concern because in the last month Mia has been complaining of seeing "floaters" or "spots." So, when we mentioned this to the doctor he checked her eyes with a scope using a more detailed lens to get a good look all the way to the back of her eyes. He said there is nothing - no cells, no inflammation. Crystal clear.


God is good! :)

Hip Pain

This is a first for Mia. She has never complained of hip pain before...until now. She came home the other night from her cousins' house and kept saying her right hip hurt. So, we did what we knew to do...meds (Indocin), oil (Carlon's Norwegian Cod Liver Oil), heated up her trusty rice sock and put it on her hip, and we prayed (hard). I was hoping this new pain spot was just a result of a very active day and that she'd wake up in the morning feeling great. But, when she woke up it was still there (stupid disease!).


So, I thought, "Let's give it a day or so and see if it goes away." Well, it hasn't. She is still complaining that her right hip hurts. 


I'll be putting a call in to her rheumy today to see what he wants to do. Praying he doesn't want to increase her meds again because I don't like having a crabby zombie for a daughter. :(

Seeing Spots and Hearing Issues

Mia has been complaining of "seeing spots" lately. Thought I'd post about it in the hopes that any of my Arthritis Friends could shed some light on the situation. She goes in next Friday for her every-three-month appointment with the eye doctor to check for uveitis. It is really hard to tell. A few months ago she was diagnosed with herpes simplex virus. So, we aren't sure if it is flaring again...or if it is something else (uveitis). We hope it isn't "something else." 

As I've mentioned in the past, the purpose of this blog is a personal journal for myself...to keep track of everything JRA-related going on in Mia's life. As far has her arthritis goes, she has been doing great lately. We are taking a break from physical therapy again (this is the second time we've been able to do this) and her rheumatologist reduced her meds (3mls of Indocin) from three times a day to twice a day. This helps to reduce the amount of grogginess/sleepiness she was experiencing.

She also goes in this Tuesday to finally have her hearing checked. Ever since Mia's initial diagnosis, she's dealt with extreme sensitivity to sound. We've dealt with so many other JRA-related issues (leg braces, MRI's, meds, painful joints, eye appointments, PT and OT, etc.) that the hearing issues kind of took a backseat to everything else. Normal sounds (i.e. going from inside of the house to the outside, fireworks, indoor waterfall, crowds, etc.) that don't both a normal child really bother her. I recently brought it up to some my Arthritis Friends and another JRA mom mentioned to me, "There are 3 small bones in the ear that vibrate in response to sound waves. These bones have articulating surfaces and can be affected by arthritis. It is rare, but so is each and every one of our children." Very interesting! Definitely something to mention to the doctor next week when we go in for the appointment.

So, that is where we are at in the journey. Taking another "arthritis break" for the second time in three years (hopefully longer...hopefully permanent!), keeping up with the eye appointments and checking on these bothersome "floaters," and getting Mia's hearing checked to try to figure out what is hurting/annoying her so bad.

Will keep you posted!