SWEAT Test

We did not leave our appointment with the pulmonologist, a couple of weeks ago, feeling good. 

In fact, despite our foray at the Disney store, Adam and I felt sick...sick with worry.

The pulmonologist felt pretty secure in her assertion that Charlotte has transient asthma - Reactive Airway Disease; asthma that she will likely outgrow. 

And for that, there are plenty of preventative medicines they can prescribe that should help in preventing every runny nose from turning into bronchitis or pneumonia.  But - that didn't change the fact that Charlotte has been diagnosed with bronchitis 12 times and pneumonia 3 times within two years and she has had two hospitalizations for upper airway distress...again, in two years. 

Charlotte has had three chest x-rays taken in 6 months.  The doctor reviewed those.  Everything looks normal except for all of the mucus plugs.  Mucus plugs...

...prevalent in children with cystic fibrosis.  And given Charlotte's medical history, she needed to be tested. 

Cystic Fibrosis. 

And all I'm thinking is, I don't remember requesting the prenatal screening for Cystic Fibrosis when I was pregnant with Charlotte...Georgia didn't start screening newborns for the disease until January 2007.  Children with C.F. tend to have hive-ish rashes...Children with C.F. can have speech/articulation problems...

Panic.  Sleepless nights.  Crying fits while closed up in the bathroom.

Stop thinking about it, stop thinking about it!  Paint!  Pack!  Organize the closets!  Distract yourself.

We drove up to Egleston yesterday, for the test. The only definitive test for C.F. is a sweat test. People that have the disease have a higher salt content in their skin, they also have an excess amount of mucus in their lungs and digestive tracts.  It wouldn't have shown up in the blood work.
Sweat test sucks.  They attach electrodes to your arms, one at a time, to stimulate your muscles, and they leave them on for five minutes.  Then they attach another device to your arms, wrap your arms in cellophane, dress you in a fleece-lined sweat suit and send you outside to exercise (AUGUST) for 25 minutes.  Then you go back in and they collect the sweat.  If there isn't enough sweat, they have to repeat it. 

CHARLOTTE HATED IT.  We talked about it beforehand, I told her it would tickle, I explained the process, showed her a (kind of spooky) you tube video.  She was ready.    It's not suppose to be painful...just uncomfortable...but to those of us with a minuscule pain tolerance, "uncomfortable" always means "painful".   I also told her after the test we would head straightaway to the GA Aquarium.

Charlotte was excited about it.  Then they stuck the electrode on her arm.  Then the told her to go exercise, after spending a solid ten minutes screaming about the electric current being shot through her arm...she has to go outside and exercise in a sweat suit in August for twenty minutes.  But I'm out there shouting orders at Adam, 'Get her off  your shoulders!  God, Adam.  RUN!  Make her chase you!  HURRY! Don't head towards the shade!  STAND IN THE SUN!!!'

Because if they don't collect enough sweat, they have to repeat the whole thing.  I know it's August, and she's been crying and they stuck electrodes on her arms and she's in fleece and she's outside, but still, I wasn't taking any chances. 

Afterwards, we headed to the aquarium.  We're headed back to Egleston next Wednesday, and then we'll have at least one more appointment there, two if we're lucky - ANNUAL PASS to the aquarium.  Air conditioning.  Just the right size.  Almost impossible to get lost.  Fish.  Beer in the cafeteria.  I love the aquarium.

Her doctors would have the results by that afternoon.  We arrived back in Columbus at 4:30.  With every minute that passed I became more convinced the results would be disastrous.  I called the office five times, the hospital, three.  Finally, at  5:30 the nurse called.  I laughed with relief, immediately, when she introduced herself.  Obviously if the nurse is calling, the results are good. 

And they were. 

Charlotte does not have cystic fibrosis. 

I welcome allergies and asthma with open arms. 

Hallelujah.