Scary Morning

Charlotte slept in this morning so Parks went to wake her so I could get going to take Kate to preschool. When Parks layed her on the changing table he noticed her eyes darting back and forth, like a spasm. She was coherent and scared and bothered by what she was feeling. She began saying, "I dizzy". He moved her to the ground. The eye movement stopped and then started again. Once it stopped we stood her to dress her and she was obviously dizzy. She couldn't stand without help. We called the dr's office to let them know we were coming right in. The eye darting happened again once more while in her high chair before we left. She threw up on the way into the office but the dizziness and eye movement seemed to have stopped. I felt like my breath was held all morning.

After seeing Charlotte and doing some more reading after we left it seems that Charlotte has Benign Paroxysmal Vertigo. It is really rare in children but the symptoms line up to the T. Her "eye darting" is called horizontal nystagmus. Here is what I have read & learned. You can tell by the language used that some of these are not my thoughts, but are from medical articles :)

The condition is thought to be caused by displacement of otoconial crystals (Ca carbonate crystals normally embedded in the inner ear). This displaced material stimulates hair cells in the posterior semicircular canal, creating the illusion of motion.

Symptoms included sudden episodic sensations of spinning (vertigo) without hearing loss or tinnitus, loss of balance and staggering, expressions of fear, pallor, diaphoresis and occasional vomiting.

It is provoked by changes in head positions.

It is often accompanied by migraines. The doctor told us that migraines could develop, but not necessarily. We are praying that they won't!

....So, all in all, it doesn't seem so bad. It was really comforting to have our doctor read to us from a medical book a case that sounded exactly like our situation with Charlotte this morning. We are thankful to God that she seems to be okay.

We will be seeing a neurologist from UNC in the next month to get a specialized opinion. I thought of my sweet friends, the Laniers, all morning and the journey they've had in the last 6 months with their son's health. Daily reminders to trust that our little ones are in God's hands, that they belong to Him.