What a grim morning.
First, I had to take the Tadpole to see a radiologist for x-rays of her right arm. The childminder sheepishly mentioned last night that she had heard a ‘cracking’ noise when she struggled to prise loose the Tadpole’s hand from the swing at the playground. Tadpole refused to use that arm/hand all evening, so (panicking slightly) I called SOS Medecins, the home visit service. Five minutes of the Dr’s time and 58 euros later I was left none the wiser. There was no swelling, no sign of a dislocated shoulder, she could move her hand but wouldn’t. Doc’s reponse was: ‘it’s probably nothing, but if she’s still acting like this in the morning, use this prescription to get her x-rayed.’
Morning came, with Tadpole still refusing to use her right arm and crying when touched, so off we went to the laboratoire handily located in my street. I had to stand over the Tadpole and attempt to pin her down to the table while she was being x-rayed, so I’ve had a healthy dose of radiation today. It was not a very successful exercise all in all, as with only two hands it was virtually impossible to hold arms, bucking and wriggling body and head all still at once. Add to this to a soundtrack of piercing screams. 200 or so euros later (no bill as yet), radiologist said he couldn’t see anything broken, but if she was still refusing to move her arm on Monday, we should go back for more fun and games.
Is it not possible to get a straight answer from someone in the medical profession these days? Are they so worried we’ll sue if they make a mistake or miss something that they can never commit themselves? Or do they just see anxious new mothers as big fat cash cows to be milked until they run dry?
And if the Tadpole is fine, what on earth is she playing at? I’m starting to wonder if she could be devious enough to realise that if she keeps up her wounded soldier routine she’ll carry on getting unlimited Teletubbies and all her favourite foods…
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petite anglaise 
Euros sounds such an innocent word.
Hope all goes well.
Comment by Watski — October 7, 2004 @ 12:29 pm
she may well have ‘torn’ a muscle or something (not quite that, but that’s the only way i can describe it when it happened to me once when i fell over. nothing came up in the xrays but my arm hurt like hell. several weeks with it in a borrowed sling and i ‘mended’ myself – but it really hurt.)
i wouldn’t worry too much if there’s no swelling – but then, i’m not a doctor. hope it stops hurting soon.
Comment by zed — October 7, 2004 @ 4:48 pm
poor tadpole… give her lots of slmey wet kisses from two portuguese tadpoles!
blooming litigiousness, I’m sure you’re right, that’s why doctos won’t give any anwers any more.
Comment by vitriolica — October 7, 2004 @ 6:54 pm
Just found you via Messy Christian, and happened upon this first post. How old is tadpole? My oldest was 2, I think, when I pulled a little hard getting a tight jumper off over her head. She screamed and started holding her arm, wouldn’t use it. We rushed her to the ER, they took xrays, and didn’t really have a definite diagnosis. But the pediatric specialist on the floor told us that it was probably nursmaid’s elbow — an evidently common problem among young toddlers. It seems their tendons are quite supple, and their elbows can be dislocated quite easily. It happened 3 more times by the time she was 3 (once on Christmas Day!), and we haven’t had a problem since. We just kept her quiet, gave her lots of extra love and attention, and it managed to go back on its own every time. It was scary, but after the first couple of times (the Xmas incident was the second time, we were on the way to ER when she reached with the “bad” arm for a tissue I was handing her — she was fine!), we knew to just stay calm, it would be fine. Hope this helps a little!
Comment by Jema — October 7, 2004 @ 10:23 pm
*counts on fingers*
16 months
I think it’s slightly better so I’m calm. I may be less calm when I get the bill on Saturday, but at least I’ll have some nice photos of her insides.
Comment by petite anglaise — October 7, 2004 @ 10:38 pm
Don’t underestimate the possibility of deviousness. My kid sister is a lot younger than me. When she was a toddler I went with my mum to get her first pair of shoes. Her eyes lit on the most expensive pair of shoes on the rack, bright red and shiny. My mum being practical figured she would probably have the shoes about a month before growing out of them and wanted to buy a cheap pair. Anyway, sis had quite a vocabulary and each pair we put on her feet ‘pinched her toes’ ‘hurt her foot’ were ‘much too small’ etc etc until, of course, the expensive red ones ‘fit perfectly’. Hmmm.
Anyway, hope the Tadpole is better soon.
Comment by Claypot — October 8, 2004 @ 6:55 am
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your writing (thanks to Messy Christian). I do hope the little Tadpole will recover quickly. Barney does wonders for my little boy of two whenever he is in a bad mood. Enjoy your weekend.
Comment by Snoopy — October 8, 2004 @ 9:59 am
Barney does wonders for a 31 year old male when he’s in a bad mood too.
*I love you, you love me….etc”
Comment by Watski — October 8, 2004 @ 10:48 am
Who or what is Barney? Is it on BBC Prime? Can it be imported into France legally?
Comment by petite anglaise — October 8, 2004 @ 11:34 am
Barney is that dreadful purple “dinosaur” from american TV.
I’d like to believe it can’t be legally imported.
Comment by Sarah — October 8, 2004 @ 3:54 pm
hasn’t that purple idiot become extinct yet?
Comment by vitriolica — October 8, 2004 @ 4:28 pm
Barney is the opiate of the toddlers. Off with his head!
Comment by Nigel M. — October 8, 2004 @ 7:41 pm
Balamory is the UK’s antidote to Barney. Every minority is represented. The policeman is as camp as a row of tents, the two female shopkeepers live together and one of them is in a wheelchair, the inventor wears a fetching pink jumper and kilt, etc.,etc., if you haven’t seen it it’s on the BBC sometimes. My two tadpoles love it but if my own Mr. Frog ever meets Miss Hooley (the teacher with odd teeth) he will probably strangle her with his bare hands so as never to hear her extremely irriating song again :roll:
Comment by Suziboo — October 11, 2004 @ 12:38 pm