Flu and tummy cramps. Please help!!!

[larrythelamb]

Firstly, let me apologise for spelling/gramming, as I have had had horrendous past week and am exhausted.......

The day after Boxing day myself and Eva came down with a nasty flu. I have had flu in the past and this was the worst I have had, so I knew Eva was suffering. Whilst Eva was getting exremely bad tummy cramps and diarehea, I was vomitting and we were both completely floored. I was giving her calpol every 4 hours and myself paracetemol, although for myself this didn't do anything. In the 3rd day Eva started breathing as though she was panting and flaring her nostrils so I rang my doctor who came and told me she had to be taken in hospital as he suspected pneomnia, so he rang an ambulance that took her into the children's ward.

After 3 hours waiting a doctor came along and informed me that she would not need an xray, blood or urine test because she thought it was a chest infection that could be resolved with some stronf antibiotics. I was ok with this after not sleeping or eating for 3 days and trying to get over just having the flu I was just happy that Eva had been seen to and had some antibiotics for her chest. We got home and after 2 days Eva could breath properly again and walk without hunching her back (iykwim). 2 days after this and and the next to last day of her medicine, Eva was back to walking funny and nostrils slightly flaring when breathing with again bad bad tummy cramps and fever. I was really concerned so I took her back the the Children's ward. After another 3 hours waiting (and Eva was the only child on the ward) I was old by another doctor that because she has had a virus I should let it run its course. Eva wasn't given an xray, just told to have another 2 days on antibiotics. So I brought Eva home and although she drinks plenty of fluids (and I mean LOTS) she still has tummy cramps along with a fever of 37.8.

It's 6am as I type this and Eva is sat across from me with some hot water and a fever along with tummy cramps. What should I do? is it a case of letting it ride out? Should I still be giving Eva calpol after 6 days (although not every 4 hours) but it still a long time. As you can imagine we are both exhausted as well so we just want this to end, I am at the end of my tether and feeling very anxious, but feel like I am being paranoid and that I am wasting the doctors time. Can someone please shed some light on this, will this end soon? and is it normal to have the tummy cramps and fever for so long.

Can I just add to the above that yesterday Eva had a hard poo (no diarrhea for 2 days)

Thanks for reading x

[belgo]

How old is she? What is her temperature at the moment and has she had calpol today?

It sounds like you've had a really hard time, is anyone there to help you?

[larrythelamb]

Hi. thanks for replying. Eva will be 5 on Sunday. Her temp is 37.5 at moment gone done without any calpol since 10pm last night. She woke after sleeping for 2 hours last night just after midnight with tummy ache and went back asleep after toilet (wee) around 1.30ish. Woke again with tummy ache at 5 and been up since. Yes I am having a hard time as I'm trying to get over flu myself but would feel much better if I knew she was getting better. She hasn't eaten since yesterday, which is ok because she had a sandwich and crisps and a biscuit yesterday. She is now playing moonsand in bed, if she gets up to walk she is tired.

Tina x

[larrythelamb]

I will also add that although I have a very large family who live very close, they are also down with flu and my parents who are elderly are helping but I won't let them come into contact with us so its a case of bringing essential ie bottle water, toilet roll etc to the door, I know this sounds extreme but the last thing I want is for them also to be ill. I live alone with Eva x

[belgo]

It sounds like you are doing everything right, and you are very considerate to your parents.

So she still has tummy cramps but no diarrhea? It's a good sign that she has had hard poo yesterday.

37.5 without calpol and the fact that she is playing in her bed is also good. From what you say it does sound like she is slowly improving.

But I do think you should speak to a doctor, because you have no one else there to see her and to independently assess her.

[larrythelamb]

on the first day of Eva being poorly I took her to the doctors who assessed her and said she had a gastro flu and fluids/time would correct that. The same night I took her to A&E as her temp increased and she was very lethergic, they told me her obs were fine and rest would improve her. The day after I got flu and could barely walk myself so 3 days after that I saw eva was developing breathing problems I phones my GP, the nurse answered and was very off hand telling me that a doctor would not come out as I have seen 2 and just let it run its course. However, the doctor called me and arranged to make a call in the evening, when he did he phoned an ambulance for her to be taken to hospital. since then as I've said above I've been back twice to the children's ward with concerns only to be told she'll be ok. The fact is I am scared of ringing my GP now because it looks as though I am ringing for nothing, but they are not here when she is in agony with her stomach and her temp is 38. Is it still safe to give calpol even though its not been every 4 hours but now on nearly 7th day. Thank you so much for your help.

[belgo]

Ignore what the nurse says. You are not wasting anyone's time by being concerned about your daughter.

The fact that she does still have a slight temperature after 7 days does mean that you should speak to a doctor.

[beanlet]

Sounds like your daughter is well on the mend to me. 37.8, by the way, is within the range of normal, so nothing to worry about. I completely understand how tired and distraught you both must be, but flu is a serious illness, and you've both pulled through - well done!

[slartybartfast]

are you still giving plenty of fluids.
although the hard poo indicates diarrhoea has stopped is it hard because she is now constipated?

[larrythelamb]

Ok, its Bank Holiday today (just had to check) lost my days in all of this. So I will have to ring tomorrow. Even though I think she should be much better by now as I know my daughter, the doctors at my hospital and consultant seems to think it is ok for her temp to be slightly high for so long so this is what's confusing me. I will ring tomorrow morning and in the meantime get through the day with hope of a good nights sleep tonight lol. thanks again for your help, I actually feel a bit better with you saying it sounds like she is slowly improving, this believe it or not is a big boost x

[Sirzy]

That isn't a high temp though really, certainly not worryingly high. From what you have said she is thankfully well on the mend but it does take a while or flu to clear up. I have had it twice and both times I was ill for 2 weeks and it was a month before I was back to normal

[belgo]

Stick to the BRAT diet for her - bread, toast, bananas, cooked apple. Nothing rich as this will irritate her tummy.

[larrythelamb]

The only thing is is enjoying at the moment is plain crisps on bread, tangerines, prebiotic yoghurts and biscuits. She drinks lots of cool boiled water, and flavoured bottled water with ice.

[slartybartfast]

if she is eating that is a good sign

[larrythelamb]

I know, I thought this. It's just tummy cramps especially in middle of night and slight temp that concerns me :) thank you

[larrythelamb]

Just to let everyone know that on Monday after days of worry and after seeing 5 doctors who told me not to worry and it will run its course. My daughter is now recovering from Pneumonia. I took her into the Children's Day Surgery on Monday and insisted on a chest x-ray. The doctor decided it was time to give her one and they found a massive cloud on her left lung. She was fed antibiotics intravenously for 2 days and it was absolutely awful, she was very poorly and I am very angry, frustrated, upset and exhausted. I have now developed pleurisy which stems from the flu we both had. It has been a traumatic experience for both of us, especially my little girl who is now recovering from home WITHOUT a temperature.

Something I have learned from this is always trust your instincts. I feel as though I let Eva down because I was listening to people who I trusted, I was lucky to get a good doctor on Monday who followed up an xray and got to the bottom of it. So we are both now going to have a good rest for a week or so and do absolutely nothing but watch movies and eat good food. Eva woke up this morning in her own bed and I was waiting for her to see how she was, I was greeted at the top of the stairs by the little girl I know with a big smile on her face... priceless!!

[beanlet]

God, how absolutely AWFUL for you I'm so sorry. Also glad that Eva seems to be getting better, and you too poor you.

now I feel very guilty for telling you not to worry. . .

[beanlet]

that was NOT meant to come out crossed out. Grr at MN.

[gibbergabber]

larry - glad Eva is feeling a bit better. I'm pretty annoyed for you because even I know that tummy pain is often an indication of pneumonia in a small child. the docs should have recognised that. Grr on your behalf.

[gibbergabber]

larry - glad Eva is feeling a bit better. I'm pretty annoyed for you because even I know that tummy pain is often an indication of pneumonia in a small child. The docs should have recognised that. Grr on your behalf.

[lucybrad]

larry, this is EXACTLY the same as happened to us, with DS2 who is 6. He was up and down ill with temp and bad chest and tummy cramps for 2 and a half weeks, and we kept going to docs about it only to be fobbed off. I was having a c section 23rd decemebr and he was still ill, xmas eve he was really bad and they said see how he goes. He was slightly better on xmas day, and then i came home fom hosptal and on boxing day he was grey and could not breath properly. I insisted he was admitted to childrens ward and given an xray, and yes he was also put on IV antibiotics. Our other son, who is DS2 twin was ill too but no where near as bad, and did not develope an infection. Turns out it was influenza B (we were swabbed at hospital)

MUMS!! trust your instincts and insist on further tests if you suspect something more serious.