Friday, December 10, 2010

Pre diagnose days of Abbey Ellis (8 yrs old)

When I look back on the things that lead up to Abbey's illness, I realised that she was unwell for quite a long period of time. She was diagnosed with 'exercise induced asthma", she didn't have any wheezing but she just couldn't breath properly.
Then she came down with a virus which was treated with antibiotics...she was well for a couple of weeks, then the virus came back, this persisted for over 3 months and took about 4 different lots of antibiotics. All the while she was not the same active little girl she used to be...she started sleeping a lot more and was always tired. I felt there was something really wrong . Abbey was always thirsty and would drink lots of water and go to the toilet all the time.
The few days before diagnosis she wet the bed, which she hadn't done since she was 2 years old.
The actual day of diagnosis I was taking her to school, she had rugged herself up saying that she was freezing. It was actually a pleasant temperature.
The next time I looked in the mirror, she was asleep, I knew she was sick again!
In the afternoon I took her back to the doctors and he was about  to give her more antibiotics,as we were about to leave, Abbey casually tells him, she wet the bed..so he sent us to the toilet for a urine sample.
When he returned he said to me "we have a big problem" I think it is diabetes.
"you need to take her straight to Princess Margaret Hospital, I will call and let them know you are coming.
I did not know anything about diabetes but I  knew it didn't sound good.
That evening the 16/09/2oo9... Abbey was diagnosed - Type 1 Diabetes.

3 comments:

  1. We have a lot to thank our Dr for, if he didn't take the time to listen to Abbey and delve deeper into what was happening to her then the story would be very different not a day goes past that I don't think of what he has done for us.

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  2. Thank you for sharing your story. Just found your blog. Looks like you are just getting started. I look forward to getting to know you better and reading more about your journey with T1.

    My daughter, Ally, is 7. She was dx in Feb. 2009. You can read more about us at www.boxofchocolatesblog.com I have not had the time to blog as much as I'd like, but I'm working on it :)

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  3. I think a lot of parents look back and think wow they were sick for such a long time in the lead up to diagnosis.

    I felt a big guilty that I didn't take more action for Tom sooner but also know that the doctors didn't realise how seriously ill he was until he lost a lot of weight in less than 24 hours.

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