The first seven months

Thanks to careful notations in my calendar and Facebook status statements where I kvetched about the boy's frequent illnesses, I have a good record of his fevers going back to October 2011 (initially I did not include the October fever in this tally, but now wonder if this was the beginning). The more frequent the fevers, the more information I recorded. Fevers got as high as 104 ℉ and always respond to ibuprofen. Nearly all of these episodes included vomiting, often at the beginning of the fever, as well as sore throat, swollen lymph glands, and a headache. His appetite diminishes and food doesn't taste the same. No mouth sores.

According to comparisons of blood tests from when the boy was healthy and when he was in the middle of an episode, his SED and C-reactive protein rates rose during the fever and went back to normal again during his time of health.

Fever dates are bolded and times in between fevers are in parentheses.

2011

Oct 11-15
(corresponding with his father's hernia surgery: fun!)

Nov 9-11 (29 days)

Dec 1-4 (22 days)

Dec 25-26 (24 days)
very mild

Jan 13-17 (19 days)

Jan 20
Doctor's appointment; since the boy is very healthy in between fevers, reassures us there are probably no immune system issues

Feb 7-10 (25 days)

Feb 29-Mar 3 (22 days)

Mar 1
Doctor's appointment while sick; various tests on four vials of blood; appointments with specialists set up

Mar 7
Pediatric infectious disease specialist; boy looks very healthy; orders more blood work during non-fever time

Mar 9
Pediatric gastroenterologist; boy looks great

Mar 22
Pediatric rheumatologist; boy is very healthy, possible PFAPA diagnosis; prescribes cimetidine (aka Tagamet)

Mar 24-26 (24 days)
Gets fever while on weekend trip; mild at first, fever shoots up when he gets home

Apr 19-22 (26 days)
Complains of headache on April 18, but no fever; fever develops at school and he goes home early