7 year old with complex l and lll defect

Posted: November 11th 2008

keefe

I have a 7 year old daughter with a complex l and lll defect diagnosed 18mths ago in Atlanta.  She has microcephaly and short stature, gross and fine motor issues, choking episodes, speech delay expressive>receptive with voice quality concerns r/t muscle tone, profound visual impairment, "autistic features" by some folks estimation, GERD, severe constipation, ataxia, SI disorder, precocious puberty, and ketotic hypoglycemia.  Despite all of her challenges she appears to have near normal cognitive function.  Since diagnosis we haven't had much follow up and are feeling a bit lost. 

This September Lily developed severe anxiety related to school and as a result has been unable to attend.  She is now being tutored at home and we discovered that she is more fatigued than she has been in the past.  Her tutor finds Lily unable to sit in a chair as the effort of supporting her body drains too much energy.  She makes it through two hours of tutoring daily, some days go very well and other days consist of multiple breaks and listening to stories while lying on the bed.  Usually she naps a few times daily.  Therapies are arranged in the afternoon 1-2 times weekly and she has difficulty participating due to fatigue.  We finally have an appointment for follow up at the mitochondrial clinic at Boston Children's Hospital and are looking for guidance about what questions to ask.  To date it seems the answer to every question is "there is no way to no, every child is different."  This answer has left me feeling very much in the dark...it seems a very reactive rather than proactive approach. 

Does anyone out there have a child like Lily??  Perhaps a suggestion on questions I could bring along to the upcoming appointment??? 

**She did have an echocardiogram about 15mths ago which was normal.  Her heart rhythm is a bit irregular and skips a beat now and then, I don't know if it has always done that? (just listening with my own stethescope).  She also has a past history of mildly decreased oxygen saturation 92%-94% daytime, perhaps a bit less during sleep.   

MotherWhimsey's picture

my son has complex III with

Submitted by MotherWhimsey on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 11:27am.

my son has complex III with smaller deficiencies in complex I and II. He has normal intelligence too. I think one of the phrases I hate most (second only to "but he looks normal") is "there is no way to know, mito is so different in each person." I know it's true, but it drives me nuts. Have you guys done a sleep study? We found out my son was having some really big desaturations at night as well as during the day. Once we started him on oxygen he made up for a lot of his delays. Before the o2 he just laid in his stroller and didn't talk or do anything. Now, as long as he's on o2, he has normal speech and can walk some and is just so different. I don't know if it would be the same with your daughter, but for us the oxygen was our magic treatment. It just takes him way too much energy to keep his sats up himself.
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Courey mom to Aniyah, 4.5 and Linden, 20 mos. Linden has Mito complex III deficiency with slight deficiencies in complexes I and II. He is o2 and tube dependant.

www.lindenberriesandrosebuds.blogspot.com

We actually tried the sleep

Submitted by keefe on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 12:39pm.

We actually tried the sleep study but because of Lily's sensory issues and fear she could not tolerate the necessary electrodes, etc.  For this reason many tests have never been done such as EEG, EKG, repeat MRI.  We know about the low O2 sats because I asked for a home monitor for a while after her speech therapist noted the voice quality issues.  She will tolerate an O2 sat monitor on her toe with alot of effort and tape.  At night she goes down to 85-88%, daytime she hovers around 92-94% (occasionally she gets up to 95-96%) but not for long.  Her pediatrician was not concerned because she was able to self correct.  Hopefully the Boston Clinic will be able to help us with this.  Thank you so much...Oxygen was one of the things I have been thinking about quite a bit lately and hearing from you makes me feel much less in the dark!

MotherWhimsey's picture

does she sit at 85-88% at

Submitted by MotherWhimsey on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 10:56pm.

does she sit at 85-88% at night?
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Courey mom to Aniyah, 4.5 and Linden, 20 mos. Linden has Mito complex III deficiency with slight deficiencies in complexes I and II. He is o2 and tube dependant.

www.lindenberriesandrosebuds.blogspot.com

KayJay, we are coming to

Submitted by stperron on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 8:50pm.

KayJay, we are coming to Boston in December. It would be so fun to have some inside information on fun places to see. Do you live in the Boston Area? Or do you travel to see KOrson as well?
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Stephanie Perron

Caringbridge.org/visit/teddyperron

As far as I know she bounces

Submitted by keefe on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 9:12pm.

As far as I know she bounces from the mid 80's to low 90's at night but I don't know for sure. She would benefit from a more thorough study I guess. It will be at the top of my list of questions. She had a good day today overall, but is not eating very well. I have started offering her some pediasure if she refuses a meal for the past couple of days. We will see the pediatrician Friday to discuss. For KayJay...We live in Western Mass but spend little time in Boston when we go, to much commotion for Lily. The Aquarium is very nice though.

Lily sounds a lot like

Submitted by stperron on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 10:01pm.

Lily sounds a lot like Teddy. He is 8 years old. In the third grade, but we are considering a modified school day for him. Just two days ago he fell fast asleep in school. THe weather in MN is changing, and that is so hard on him. The cold...We just saw Dr. Korson at Tufts...they adjusted his "cocktail" and were very helpful with suggestions for school. You are so correct that it seems this disease is only mangaged reactively. However, we have found that by monitoring for triggers, we are able to offset some of the fatigue. Does Lily use a wheel chair. Teddy has been using a powerchair for a little over a year, and that has been a HUGE help. Plus I think that he has some stimulation for the brain by the movement he is able to do from the chair. Similar to horseback riding. Teddy does have SI disorder, and movement was always resisited, so it was fun to see him whiz around, and enjoy it! Keep coming to the forum board, there is lots of helpful parents out here, blazing the trail. Stephanie
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Stephanie Perron

Caringbridge.org/visit/teddyperron

Lily does have a chair, but

Submitted by keefe on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 9:54am.

Lily does have a chair, but it is a stroller type. She has used it only for distance to date, but perhaps things are different now. Each day it seems I notice something new, like I think she has developed mild ptosis in the left eye. I am finding myself wishing the Boston appointment would come up a little faster!!! Thank you all so much for responding, it is good to not be all alone.

Hi Stephanie, We travel

Submitted by kayjay on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 9:36pm.

Hi Stephanie,

We travel about one hour to see Dr. Korson.  I lived in the Boston area for quite some time and have many idea's.  This link below has a lot of fun idea's.  I know the link sounds rather inappropriate but I assure you it is not!  Hope this helps!  Kayjay

http://www.sleeping-around.com/boston/fun_for_kids_in_boston.shtml