We took Mikie to see Dr. Mauldin, his neurologist, Friday.  Dr. Mauldin agreed that 3750 mg of Valproic Acid per day was much too high, especially if it was ineffective.  The liver panel test was not back yet, though Dr. Young’s office got it the next day.  It did show that levels were slightly elevated, but still acceptable, whatever that means.  We’re not sure why, but the Valproic Acid was just not getting into Mikie’s bloodstream.  The good news is that he continues to improve as we lower the dose.  Doc said to take about a week or more to wean him off it, just to be safe, and watch for reaction.  So far we have yet to see a seizure and he just doesn’t seem to have any abdominal discomfort.  Doc said we could increase his other seizure meds, Tegretol and Klonopin, if necessary.  We increased his Tegretol by 5 ml per day.  I have noticed that Mikie’s heart rate is usually between 90-100 most of the time, except after he gets one of his doses of Lopressor.  We thought maybe we could just give him the Lopressor is needed but it seems now that we should give him the two prescribed doses of 50 mg each at regular intervals.  I checked and 100 mg per day is the usually starting dose and he could go up to 450 mg per day.  Lopressor is a beta blocker, much like the Inderal that I take for my familial tremors.  Lopressor would be the medicine you would want to have on hand if you were experiencing heart failure.  We dissolve a pill in water and give it in Mikie’s J-tube and within seconds you can watch his pulse come down on his heart monitor.  After taking it Mikie’s heart rate will be from 70-80 for several hours and then it creeps back up.  It has taken it lower but it is unusual. 

The site were Mikie had the central line is healing nicely and Lorraine was able to actually get him in the bath tub this past week.  He didn’t play with the water like he used to do but was pretty relaxed.  It was just good to let him soak in the tub again.  Nothing like a good soak in the tub.

Mikie is still reaching and grabbing and last night he was patting Lorraine’s hand.  We’re starting to think that we may actually get our old Mikie back.  We even talked about sending him back to day care in the near future.  I have a day off for President’s Day coming up and if it goes well we are going to take him to Hope Bridge that day and see how he does.  His little trip to the doc went great and I think he enjoyed getting out.

Things are looking up!  Thank you Lord Jesus.