The knot/lump in leg - help? update: now it's huge!

[nia82]

DS had his second DTaP (Daptacel) on Tuesday. He is 4.5 years old. He had his first at 2.5 years old with no lump or any other reaction. I'm a bit concerned. It is quite red, looks like a mosquito bite (so 0.8cm diameter). It is tender. I know I have heard of this before, but I never read up on it. I didn't expect it as nothing happened the first time.

What can I do to alleviate the issue? I think I faintly remember bentonite clay on it? How do I do that? He doesn't want to be touched there, should I put it on a bandaid and put it on there? This has me really worked up.

[prosciencemum]

Sounds like a pretty normal immune system response - he's reacted more to the second one because of the immunity he developed from the first one. So at least you can be convinced the vaccine worked!

Have you asked your doctor for advice about dealing with the reaction? It's not something I've dealt with personally, but at a guess its just go away by itself over couple of days. If your son prefers you leave it alone that's probably fine. It wouldn't need covering I don't think. I don't know anything about bentonite clay.

[nia82]

I find it concnerning as it feels quite hard. I can't get a hold of them until today (docs), but I'm sure the nurses will say blabla normal. I don't think it is normal though - nobody ever had it in our family. I will ask my SIL today if her daughters had it. From what I understand, the lump can last months. I hope during our titer test in August his DT titers will be nice and high so we don't have to worry about it until in years when it can be a DT only booster. I know I always have high titers and I am very reactive to viral vaccines (meaning the severe reaction part of the package inserts; my DTP reactions despite being on the East German schedule that did only one at a time starting at 9-10 months was 40 degree fevers which is not as bad as my MMR reaction). I was so hoping to avoid reactions by slow and delayed vaccines but now this. At least DD showed no reaction so far. But DS is quite unhappy about his swollen leg. I really wanted it in his arm but they say under 6 they always use their legs, which is kind of stupid - I know back home and from Dr. Sears that 4.5 years is plenty old for arm injections. DS is a big boy (he's been wearing size 5T for a while as well as size 116 from Europe).

Update: now it is red all around and hard to the touch, about the size of my hand.

Edited by nia82 - 3/14/13 at 7:31am

[prosciencemum]

I think you should talk to your Doctor about it. It does sound a bit alarming. Hope it's all OK in the end. :)  

[LLQ1011]

My son has that every time. In fact he has one now. It sounds normal. You can massage the bump to hep aleviate the muscle knot or cold compress.

[The4OfUs]

A red hot, hard lump that has increased from an insect bite size, in 14 hours' time, to the size of your hand = trip to urgent care, in my book.  Please get it looked at SOON.  That screams the picture of cellulitis, from my experience, and needs treated.  We had some experiences and used both alllopathic and essential oil remedies with great success.  Good luck. 

[nia82]

He won't let me touch it. The doc claims it's normal and to medicate with Tylenol which I won't. I will mix bentonite clay and get some homeopathic thuja. It's maddening they inject legs anyways I will request arms from her on out or no shots nursie poo

[LLQ1011]

Thats way too swollen. I would take him in.

[nia82]

Unfortunately, I'm with Tricare, and they refuse to see us and to give as a referral to urgent care. If I went to the ER they would just send us home saying give Tylenol (plus I'd rather have a regular doc look at it). It is very frustrating.
I put a clay bandaid on it, he's resting now and I will continue to monitor it. The swelling doesn't show. But it's hard to the touch all over where it is red.

[LLQ1011]

My sons leg looked just like that. I did a cold compress. I was picturing something much larger.

[pek64]

OP, you may want to post about this elsewhere, to get more input. Perhaps the Health forum has more folks knowledgeable about natural and other remedies. Not everyone posts or reads all threads. I don't know anything about clay, either, but I'm sure someone, somewhere does.

[OrmEmbar]

Clay compresses may help move some of the stagnation (inflammation).  Keep them moist and use fresh clay every few hours.  

You could also do alternating warm and cold compresses, using water or salt water or herbal teas (I would choose Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) or Calendula officials or Chamomile to make tea).  Lavender essential oil could also be used. 

I remember the hard knot and extreme soreness of this vaccination.  Fortunately, you have some options to help clear the swelling and are alert and will know if you need to take further steps.  

What a great immune system your little guy has!  Don't forget to provide extra rest, good food and extra water, just as if he is battling with these 3 illnesses.  I'm sure he'll be bouncing around in a few short days.

[nia82]

Thanks. The pic doesn't do the swelling justice. Odd angle. It's pretty hard. Let's see how the clay did. I just want him to be comfy again.

[Taximom5]

Is it possible for you to get a referral to a pediatric dermatologist?  If not, can you call a pediatric dermatologist, explain the situation and your concern that the pediatrician insists it's normal, and ask if they can get the referral from your pediatrician on your behalf, "just to rule out a serious problem and ease your worry?"  Or is there an urgent care office near you that will let you pay up-front, without billing to your insurance?  My understanding is that most of them do that.  In your case, I think it would be worth it, and you may be able to get compensated by your insurance company if you have proof (like your phone bill) that you called your pediatrician and they told you it wasn't a problem when it really was.  But even if it turns out that it's not a serious problem, I'd think it's worth it.

I have had more success using those quoted words ("rule out a potentially serious problem and ease my worry"); I think they give the doctors the idea that they will be proven right, I will be proven wrong, and everyone will be happy.  And I can only remember one time (out of literally dozens) when there wasn't really a problem, and I was wrong.

Also, in my experience, the specialists and urgent care folks ARE better able to recognize vaccine reactions than the pediatricians.  But I don't know why that is.

Please keep us updated, ok?

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Nia, I want to second the suggestion that you post this in a couple of forums because you may find that our INV (I'm Not Vaccinating) members may have some good input for you. I know that as a MV mama a reaction (even if mild by some opinions) can be of great concern and the standard feedback can be of very little help. If you feel like you'd like input from those members you are welcome to post another thread in INV (I'm sure your thread would be welcomed there) or if you prefer you could also post to the Discussion and Debate forum. 

I hope your baby feels better soon, mama. 

[nia82]

Thanks Taxi :) I did get an appointment for tomorrow. I feel it got less hard with the clay. Overall to describe it better it feels like a CD under his skin, and that's not just a small knot. He was a trooper today and played a lot. It's hard on the phone as you only ever get to talk to RNs and they hate me anyways for doing things differently (literally they show their disgust). tricare won't reimburse you without referal number obtained upfront. Guess how often I just went to the ER because they refused it for the kids or me (because they will always pay ER bills, dumb i know). Just 9 more weeks with the military and we're out, thank God.

Btw it's not a ped's office, it's a FP. The particular doc we see is nice and open, but it's a huge practice so if you don't have an appointment upfront, you see whomever...

[prosciencemum]

Many of the regular INV people seem to be already on this thread, so it seems she'll get the opinions here anyway.

Hope it gets better soon. Must be worrying.

[Taximom5]

Originally Posted by nia82 

Thanks Taxi :) I did get an appointment for tomorrow. I feel it got less hard with the clay. Overall to describe it better it feels like a CD under his skin, and that's not just a small knot. He was a trooper today and played a lot. It's hard on the phone as you only ever get to talk to RNs and they hate me anyways for doing things differently (literally they show their disgust). tricare won't reimburse you without referal number obtained upfront. Guess how often I just went to the ER because they refused it for the kids or me (because they will always pay ER bills, dumb i know). Just 9 more weeks with the military and we're out, thank God.

Btw it's not a ped's office, it's a FP. The particular doc we see is nice and open, but it's a huge practice so if you don't have an appointment upfront, you see whomever...

I don't suppose there's any chance that you could request that the doctor call you and  speak with you at the end of the day, so you can find out what (s)he would like you to do?  I know some practices do have the doctor call when requested, but you have to wait until the very end of the day.

[prosciencemum]

I'm curious how this turned out. Hope it cleared up with no long term problems. Please update us if you have time.

[nia82]

The clay did clean it up within 2 days, with a residual pea sized lump for another week or so. The doctor's office was no help. My PhD MD sister in pharmacology (yes, she is provax on schedule apart from never ever HPV, chickenpox later only and flu shots only for at risk people, otherwise she does like 6in1 vaccines and MMR at 12,13 and 48 months, so by no means an "antivax" nit wit) was quite concerned about that reaction and called it in no way normal. I'm glad someone listened to me.