Seven positive strep tests within a 12 month period between 2007 and 2008.
The pediatrician who was treating my daughter at this time used a paper/folder system - no computer. I asked this pediatrician, "Will you do a count of how many positive strep tests came back over the past 6 months?" She counted three. I insisted she look further; turned out, she found three additional positive test results for strep. It was time to remove her tonsils and adenoids.
We made the surgery date with an ENT specialist. The day before her surgery, the surgeon called and said, “Your daughter’s platelets are too low and surgery at this time would be too risky. She needs to be admitted to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis for this surgery.” My stomach turned sour.
Thrombocytopenia is the medical term used to describe a low platelet count. Allie's platelet count was 120,000 platelets per microliter. Normal range is between 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of circulating blood. The anti-seizure medication, Depakote, was making her platelets low which is a side effect of many anticonvulants.
We made the surgery date with a new surgeon at Children's. During the week of the surgery, Allie received another positive strep test. That made seven positive strep tests within the past 12 months. The surgeon said we needed to postpone the surgery until she finished the 10-day antibiotic treatment and received a negative strep test; then we could reschedule the surgery.
It took an additional two weeks to finally get her into surgery which took place on June 24, 2008. Dr. Timothy Lander was great! My daughter has had only four positive strep tests since her surgery in 2008. Not a 100% cure…but way better!
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