The school nurse called me Wednesday to tell me that one of my son's pupils were larger than the other one. They acted very concerned and told me that I should take him to the doctor immediately. I took him to his ped. who sent me to an eye doctor. The Ped. doctor asked if he has hit his head in the past few days, which he has not. The eye doctor didn't see anything wrong and said if it is still dilated in 3 months to bring him back. I just didn't feel comfortable with that answer so I called Childrens hospital of Atlanta and they said give it until this coming Tuesday to see if it goes away and them make an appt with a pediatric eye doctor. I have researched this on the computer and everything I see about it leans toward it being some kind of tumor in his brain. I know this sounds extreme, but that is what the internet says. I haven't slept in days, I am so worried. Should I request a MRI or other tests, if the ped. eye doctor doesn't see anything? I don't want to panic over nothing, but everytime I look at him to see if it has gone, it is still about 2 times larger than the other eye. (just the pupil). Any advice will be great. Thanks

By Crystal915 on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 12:52 pm:

((((hugs))) I do think you should push this with the doctors, a "blown" pupil is usually a serious thing, I'd be concerned as well. Does it react to anything, or just stay dialated? Let us know how he's doing, and try not to diagnose over the internet, you're just going to freak yourself out and make yourself miserable. Hang in there!!!

By Luvn29 on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 12:53 pm:

I would definitely follow through with this. I am not going to say anything further that may scare you because this could very likely be nothing, but trust me and follow through on this. It's not something you just want to wait out...

By Jtsmom on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 12:57 pm:

It does react to light and outside they will be the same size, but in normal indoor light the left pupil is twice as big as the right. He has no other symptoms. Just the eye. Luvn29, do you have any experience with this? I won't be anymore scared than I already am, but I want to go to the doctor with as many questions as I can. I am thankful that the first eye doctor didn't find anything, but there has to be something wrong. Thanks for your concerns.

By Pamt on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 01:16 pm:

I would call a pediatric neurologist Monday if it were my son. Just talk on the phone and see what he/she suggests before making an appt. Don't think "brain tumor"--there can be many other causes, some are easy fixes, but I would consult a neurologist before an ophthalmologist.

By Kaye on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 04:46 pm:

Just had this happened to a friend of mine. Her docs took it very serious, she ended up in the er with it, they did an mri right then and there. This isn't something to mess with. Hers went back to normal after 48 hours.

By Luvn29 on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 09:30 pm:

Pam, I agree about the neurologist.

Yes, I have had some experience with this, but ours was a "worst case scenario". There are many possible causes, but this was a symptom that my nephew had and some doctors didn't catch it. It wasn't until his leg started dragging and he started stumbling that they did an MRI and found a brain tumor when he had just turned two. That's why I didn't want to say anything at first, but I do think you should really follow through on this, and right away. If nothing more, he could get headaches from that eye taking in too much light.

Keep thinking the best, and it is rare that things like this turn out badly, but it is our jobs as parents to push doctors and be proactive when they don't want to be!

Prayers and hugs!

By Kateg on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 12:25 am:

Prayers and hugs.

By Beth on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 08:40 am:

I hope you can get someone to take this seriously soon. Good luck. ((HUGS))

By Bobbie~moderatr on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 09:49 pm:

I agree, I would be pushing for answers. Go with your gut.. And please keep us posted as you find out what it going on...

By Jjb on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 10:36 pm:

My son had a similar problem as an infant. We went to a pediatric eye specialist who did several tests over a few months. One was called the "cocaine test" where they put a very, very, very small amount of cocaine in the eye to see if it changed the dilation. The reason behind it was to see how the eye reacted without the brain having influence on the eye. After many sleepless nights it was determined that he was fine. He went for follow up appointments for several years. I would definitely pursue testing and be aggressive and proactive with it. I just want you to know that there really is a chance that he's just fine. Hang in there!!

By Jtsmom on Sunday, October 1, 2006 - 11:11 pm:

His eye was not quite as large today as it has been in the past few days. I wonder, should I still pursue it with a specialist or do you think that it is fixing itself? I don't want to push something that is nothing, but I am still uneasy about what it was to begin with. I am leaning toward a neurologist rather than going back to an eye doctor. I have had alot of people recommend me do that. I will keep you all informed and again, thank you all for caring and please any more ideas will be helpful.

By Jtsmom on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 07:10 pm:

bump

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 07:30 pm:

I do think a neurologist would be the best idea, given that the condition is continuing (even though it is a bit better). Did you see an opthalmologist, by the way, or an optometrist (both are eye doctors, but an opthalmologist is an M.D., and can do tests an optometrist cannot do). The "eye doctor" you would see at the hospital would almost certainly be a pediatric opthalmologist - an M.D. specializing in eye conditions in children, and accustomed to testing and examining children.

By Luvn29 on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 08:46 pm:

Even though it seems to be a bit better, I'd still try to see a neurologist just to be on the safe side. The problem is still there, even if it isn't as bad...

By Jtsmom on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 09:31 pm:

It was better, until he got home from school and I noticed that it was very large again. We did see an actual MD eye doctor. I have been on the phone all day today (it feels like) trying to get an appt with a pediatric neurologist and they certainly don't make it easy. My ped. doctor has to fax over some info and now they are saying that it can take up to a week to get an appt. I am not satisifed with that. I know this probably isn't an emergency but the waiting game drives me nuts.

By Dana on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 09:52 pm:

That is nerve racking. Let us know how things progress. Prayers for you.

By Debbie on Monday, October 2, 2006 - 09:59 pm:

I hope you get in soon. Keep us updated on how he is doing.

By Tunnia on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - 09:13 am:

Oh, Joelle! I hope you are able to get him in very soon and also that everything is ok! You and your family will be in my prayers.

By Jtsmom on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - 01:55 pm:

Thanks everyone. I finally got in touch again with the Childrens Health Care of Atlanta and they said they were backed up on appts until May 2007!! How crazy is that!! So anyway, I was lucky enough to get intouch with another doctor about an hour south of me. We are going on the 12th. Once he tells me everything is fine, then I can put this behind me and quite worring!!

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - 03:28 pm:

Wow. May 07? What problem, that anyone could have, could wait for 7 months to be taken care of?

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - 03:44 pm:

I'm glad he is getting in to be seen so you can let this go and get on with life when you guys are told everything is fine !

Dawn, you would be surprised at the backlog of patients at a lot of places. I found that out when I started having my major medical problems!

By Kaye on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - 03:51 pm:

Good job staying vigiliant! If it gets any worse, just take him to the er at teh childrens hospital. They will take you serious and get you into a neurologist.

By Jtsmom on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - 07:10 pm:

Kaye, I haven't even though of that. I don't know where my brain is sometimes. We are only about an hour away from Egleston Children's Hospital, which is an excellent place to be if you have any problems. Hopefully everything will be just fine in the end.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, October 3, 2006 - 07:21 pm:

Yeah, the children's hospital ER would probably be a good place to start.

By Jtsmom on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 12:59 pm:

UPDATE:
We went to the pediatric neurologist yesterday and he assured us that everything was fine. He said some people are just born with this and the ones that are, are prone to have migranes, but that is the only effect it will have. Thank goodness. Thanks for everyone's concerns.

By Kaye on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 02:07 pm:

Good to hear! I was just wondering about yall!

By Amecmom on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 02:26 pm:

I'm glad for you. I might make an appointment with someone else for a second opinion - just to be 100% sure ....

Ame

By Mia on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 01:38 am:

Jtsmom, what the neurologist said is interesting. I suffer from migraines (since age 12/13) and waaaaaayyy back when I was in HS a teacher stopped me and asked very seriously if I was on drugs because he could see that my pupils were larger than normal. I was so embarassed that I asked my mom to take me to the eye doctor. Dr. said I was fine, that some people just have larger pupils.. but he never mentioned migraines.

I know your son only had one larger pupil, but I still find the connection interesting. I wonder what the connection is about? I hope your son never gets the migraines, and I'm glad he's okay now. You're a good mom for following through on everything.

By Conni on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 07:20 pm:

OMG, this is an interesting post. I am glad you took him in and they said he is ok!!! How scary.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 07:22 pm:

Joelle, thanks for updating us with the good news. I know that sometimes when you take all the trouble (and expense) of going to a specialist and hear just what the other doctor told you, it can be frustrating. But if it had been me, I would definitely have gone to the neurologist just to be sure - that's one of those better safe than sorry situations. I agree with Mia, I sure hope your son doesn't get migraines, but at least you know to be watchful for them.