trusting your instincts

I often wonder about the life of a blogger outside of blogging…

When I first started The Clever Carrot, I wasn’t sure how personal it was going to be, especially when it came to my kids. With that said, I had a recipe for you today but I am not going to publish it. I’m feeling compelled to share a different kind of story, one that doesn’t involve any food at all. In doing so, I hope to inspire those who might find themselves in a similar situation. Because when it comes to your kids, they trump everything.

(Go get yourself some coffee and a snack… this is a long one).

Two days ago, Jake woke up with a really nasty bite on his upper thigh. It looked like a ‘bulls-eye’. Was it a tick?

We went to the pediatrician to have it checked out.

She wasn’t convinced.

Because he showed no other signs that pointed to Lyme disease (fever, rash, pain), the doctor suggested it could possibly be an infected mosquito or spider bite. She wanted to run some tests first before prescribing treatment. I understood where she was coming from, and appreciated that fact that she wanted to approach with caution. But for some reason, it just didn’t sit well with me…

3 hours later, Jake got a fever. Then a rash.

I called the doctor again, but it was after hours so I could only speak to the nurse practitioner. She told me that he would probably need antibiotics, but only the doctor cold make that call… in the morning.

I protested. This can’t wait! Should I take him to the ER?!

She said no. It would be absolutely fine to wait until the morning.

Again, another response that didn’t sit well with me, but I was caught between overreacting and trusting my instincts.

So, we gave him some Advil for the fever, made a little nest in our bed, and watched him like a hawk the whole night.

The next morning, I got all packed up and went straight to the doctor.

Ugh. I had no gas.

When I finally got there, just my luck- walk in hours were over. I missed it by 3 minutes! The earliest I could get an appointment would be at 11:15…

OMG. Are you kidding me?!?!? Can’t you just squeeze me in?

So now, back in the car mentally cursing out everyone in that office, my cell phone rings.

It’s the doctor.

Jake’s test came back negative across the board. No Lyme disease. No bacterial infection. But what about the fever and the rash? She concluded that it was a ‘viral coincidence’ and these things happen more often than you’d think. No treatment was necessary.

Coincidence? I think I stopped listening to her at this point.

No mother or any parent for that matter, wants to hear that their little child with a fever of 102+, a skin rash that’s spreading, and a bite mark consistent of a tick was just a coincidence.

I needed a second opinion.

I ended up taking him to a walk-in urgent care facility right by our new house. I needed an immediate answer.

Coincidentally, this pediatrician had done personal research on Lyme disease as her best friend had it for 5 years (undiagnosed). She explained to me how very little is known about this disease. Most tests are horribly inaccurate, and cannot detect the infection in its early stages. In Jake’s case, even though his test came back negative she felt strongly that he needed treatment for Lyme disease based on his current condition.

And exhale… Now I was starting to see the light. I just knew something wasn’t right.

So, where do we go from here?

Jake will need antibiotics for 3 weeks, 3x a day to blast this out of his system (sigh…). Thankfully, we caught it in its early stages and can be fully treated. I don’t know how or when the tick got him, but I’ve learned that ticks are everywhere- not just lurking in tall grass and on deer. I’ve also learned that Lyme disease tests are only about 25% accurate. Request a ‘Western Blot’ which is an additional test that helps to detect a false negative. When in doubt, just ask.

As I scroll through Instagram tonight, trying to drain my brain before bed (while simultaneously devouring a box of Trader Joe’s mini biscotti), I contemplate whether or not to post this. Then, I thought about my life as a blogger and I knew that the pork tenderloin I made for dinner could wait. Like I said, kids trump everything. I hope that this story finds you well, and if anything, inspires you to keep your little ones close, hug them tight, and to always trust your instincts. ♥

In addition to speaking with the doctor who suggested treatment for Jake, we spoke with a handful of industry professionals including a pediatric doctor for infectious diseases (thanks to my husband!) and my dear friend who’s a nurse. They all agreed that we did the right thing. We are forever grateful for their encouragement and support.