Frustration

A week ago today, we went in for the follow-up exam to hear about Little Man's biopsy and bloodwork results.  His skin was completely clear.  All over the body, free from spots and blisters.  No itching, no scratching.  All better.  We were given a follow-up appointment for three months away, and we went away smiling.  Hip, hip, hooray!

Today he's covered in spots and blisters, and in pain.  The spots have been creeping back in for several days, and yesterday Little Man's ankles erupted in blisters again.  A late-night call to the doctor, a visit to the derm clinic this morning, during which no less than FOUR doctors examined him, and still we're no closer to an answer.  The lab tests were inconclusive for Linear IGA, and now they think the blisters don't fit the profile for that condition.

Now they're wondering if he's having some extreme reaction to repeated bug bites.  BUG BITES?  For SIX months??!!  I just want to scream!  

The thing is, the docs he's seeing are experts in their field.  They're the ones training other doctors.  We're at a teaching hospital, and our case is being handled by the head of the dept. and another doc who's a specialist in pediatric dermatology.  So I'm not questioning their knowledge, their thoroughness, or the approach they're taking.  And I really appreciate that they haven't rushed to diagnosis and put him immediately on the drug therapy they initially planned, because it apparently has some side effects we'd like to avoid if possible.  And they've been very helpful in treating the symptoms and making Little Man comfortable.

But at the end of the day, it's very frustrating to not have answers.  So that's where I am today. 

Frustrated