[tri-med] New problem...fluid in chest cavity

  Hi all,

  Caroline had an appt with an ortho dr on Friday.  He did an x-ray
to look at her spine and hips and found something unrelated and
disturbing.  Her right chest cavity (not lung) has a lot of fluid and
her lung is very small.  He was shocked and said they often see this
with a trauma case when the lung colapses.  We immediately went to
see her ped.  The strange thing is, Caroline really didn't seem any
different at all.  She is getting over a bad cold, but that is it.  

  The ped examined her and is stumped.  He can't find anything to
show a problem other than the x-ray that was done for a completely
unrelated reason.  He ordered more x-rays and confirmed a large
pocket of fluid in the chest cavity.  He didn't feel we needed to do
anything immediately since she isn't in any distress.  He advised us
to watch her carefully over the weekend and call him on Monday.  We
will be setting up an appointment with a specialist.

  I am so scared.  My limited internet research has found nothing to
really explain what is happening.  We have noticed, over the last
MANY months, that her breathing is more rapid and a little (very
little) wheezy.  It made me worry on one occasion about pneumonia,
but her lungs were clear.    Maybe this was the cause?  I can't
imagine what is going on.  She has a VP shunt for her hydrocephalus. 
Could that be the cause?  I am sick and stumped.

  I am assuming Caroline will be hospitalized for this, at least for
the testing.  I can't imagine how we are going to handle this.  I
have a newborn, I am breastfeeding, so I can't leave Kallie for any
length of time (the hospital is 2 hrs from home).  Thank GOD my
husband is a teacher and is off for the summer so he has the time. 
However, I can't just sit back and let him take over.  I need to be
with my sweetie as well.  I also have obviously, as a stay at home
mom, been much more in charge of Caroline's care and there are some
things he may not be as knowledgable about.   I need to hear and see
what is going on myself!  I also know we can't bring Kallie into a
hospital room, so that makes things tough as well.  

  I don't know if anyone has any clue what could be going on, but I
would love to hear thoughts if you do.  

  I will keep you updated....please send prayers....thanks.

  Irene

  Christina (3 1/2), Caroline (2 with partial T17p) and Kallie (born
6/23/05)
                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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