to let an obviously poorly DS (6) still go to the Olympics?

[lechatnoir]

DS has been so excited about to going to the Olympics all year (he's written stories about it, made a countdown calendar, sleeps with his Wenlock toy, boasted to anyone who'll listen - typical 6 year old over excitement) and at bedtime whispered to me that it was going to be the best day of his life!

Unfortunately not long after then twice more in the night & again this morning, he's had his head in the toilet being sick. Initially I thought it was just over excitement but 4 times in one night must be a bug (family macaroni cheese is definitely not the culprit). Of course he swears blind he's fine despite clearly not being right BUT I just don't have the heart to say he can't go DH is still ok about taking him & thinks he can't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity but AIBU & should I make his stay at home?

I hope he's there now and having a fab time...

Chances are it was just excitement of a bug that's now mostly over. Imagine if you'd kept him home and he was fine?

Olympic tickets are like old dust. I think I'd have gone no matter what, it was absolutely amazing.

Gold dust !! Not old dust (grin)

I don't feel the need, no. I've just made two fairly obvious points and you've eithr wilfully misunderstood them or are being obtuse.

"I quarantine myself as much as I can when I have a cold."

You must have a peachy boss, then.

I thought that's what obtuse meant.

Which two obvious points? in one post you were saying people are contagious before they are ill, which I refuted, and then you said that was what you meant all along.

Then you said people should be worried about tring on clothes. I refuted this. I take your point about handrails though.

I honestly don't understand what you are trying to say.

Emelie, I'm not saying it's ok for me to be selfish because other people are selfish. I guess I'm looking at it more from a risk analysis viewpoint. Because there will be countless other people in the crowd who unwittingly (not selfishly, but unwittingly, or unavoidably) are exposing people to germs, I don't think that sending a child who is only potentially contagious is really adding to the baseline risk that other people already have.

It would be different if I were going to the house of an immuno-suppressed person. They are likely avoiding many risky situations, in which case my bringing a potentially ill child over could actually increase their baseline risk of exposure.

I'm glad he's gone x

Yes, I understand that Dreaming. I know where you are coming from.

I would have to be completely immobilised and bed bound not to go to the Olympics tomorrow.

Sorry Emilie but expecting people not to go the the Olympics, or to get on with their daily life, because they have a cold is both hysterical and hysteria.

Vomiting illnesses can be quite short lived. He way well have got everything out of his system vomiting 4 times in the night and though he may well be a little tired, if he keeps the toast down and keeps well hydrated then he's fine to attend. And as others have said it may well just be excitement.

I would certainly have set off on the journey if it was one of my DC. I wouldn't want to keep them off and then have them sitting at home feeling perfectly well, while their dream day slips away. IME kids can fall sick very quickly but also be well again very quickly.

If the car journey to the Olympics is a nightmare of vomiting etc then I very much doubt the Dad will take him in as he won't be fit for walking, let alone a day out.

Fingers crossed he's now fine & having his dream day.

'Sorry Emilie but expecting people not to go the the Olympics, or to get on with their daily life, because they have a cold is both hysterical and hysteria.'

Erm - I didn't actually say that, anywhere and I don't think it, either.

Look, there is no way of eliminating risk. None of us would ever cross a road if it had to be totally risk free. The Olympics IS a once in a lifetime event, so people make risk assessments based on that and will accept higher risks to be there. Any public event of that size will have germs and bugs around - it's impossible to eliminate them. I don't think one small boy who has vomited in the night is going to pose significantly higher risk to the general public than the existing unavoidable risk.

I don't like unnecessarily patronising posts either, but the irony in bupcakes' handrails post was so obvious, I think I would have been driven to it too..

OK let's do this s-l-o-w-l-y, shall we?

I said that SOME stomach bugs are contagious before the ill person has puked. This is absolutely true because my GP TOLD me as much (after I quarantined myself with a sick bug yet DH/DS still got it) I then said "shall we all stay in in case we have to share oxygen with an ill person?"

THEN

YOU said "Not true, most are contagious by contact with the droplets from the vomit, or bacteria from unwashed hands, not from breathing the same air unless the person has just vomited. "

I HIGHLIGHTED the bit that you wrote about bacteria from unwashed hands to illustrate that's what I meant when I said about germs spreading before vomiting occurs. Still with me? If a person who is coming down with a sick bug, I don't know, goes for a crap and doesn't wash their hands, then puts their hands on a handrail which is then touched by someone else, the someone else has then probably caught the bug.

I was merely trying to illustrate that vomiting does not have to have occured for bugs to spread. Then you said I was contradicting myself even though my point was fairly clear.

THEN

I made the ridiculous (but obviously hyperbolic point) about trying on clothes/coins etc because I wanted to know where the line is drawn when we stop fretting about deadly germs, because we have both established that germs can indeed be passed on through hand to hand contact. Then you said that I was being hysterical.

Anyway, hope that clears things up for you :)

Being an emetophobe, I always err on the side of caution with these bugs, but this is a once in a lifetime experience for this child.

If he hasn't been sick this morning, is eating, and doesn't feel sick. I would take him, but if he looked in the slightest bit off colour at the event, I would remove him immediately.

The virus is passed on by direct contact with an infected person, so unless he is planning on playing with other children or cuddling people, then it should be ok.

That is only if you are 100% sure he won't vomit at the venue (I absolutely know when my six year old is going to vomit, he is capable of telling me, despite having asd)

dreamingbohemian - exactly! People need to get to grips with risk assessment.

It's worth considering what event he is going to see - if it's something where you sit in stands, consider talking to security to move to the end of the row if there is spare seats.

I've been twice, and both times had end seats, but on both occasions drinks were spilt from behind me. They run right under your chair and all over your legs, and there is no room to move, or to clean it up.

If he vomits, it could cover whoever is in front - and completely ruin their day.

I'd also make sure you know where the toilets are, and take tissues and hand gel to keep him as hygienic as possible.

I am 22, and I have a very low immune system. I had meningitis as a child, and never fully recovered. I've been hospitalised with chicken pox three times - never for actually touching the infected child, but from them being around in public places. I also catch absolutely anything else going.

I wouldn't stop him from going - If I get ill, I get ill. It's the risk involved with me actually living outside a padded cell. Being hygienic and minimising the risk of infecting others is always appreciated, though.

Right, ok then.

First point. You didn't say 'some'. You said 'most'. I accept that some are, but most are not.

'I HIGHLIGHTED the bit that you wrote about bacteria from unwashed hands to illustrate that's what I meant when I said about germs spreading before vomiting occurs. Still with me?'

Nope. I think this is not what I was saying at all. Having a crap before you have had any upper digestive tract symptoms is unlikely to exude germs capable of making someone else ill with that particular illness.

I think you were trying to fit your mistaken post around my correct one in some way so as to look like you were talking sense. Though this may be unfounded and uncharitable.

I then said it was hysterical to suggest that people might get worried about trying on clothes, when this is just silly. I stand by that. People might rightfully get concerned about handrails. But the clothes thing was ridiculous.

I hope that clears things up for you, in return.

Has anyone seen Outbreak where ebola goes airborne and a selfish fucker goes to the pictures and sneezes a microscopic death-spray over everyone?

Put me off going to see disaster movies for years.

Caja, thanks for your post. The need for hygiene is noted.

In the BLUE corner -- Bupcakes!
In the RED corner -- Emilie!

3...

2...

1...

FIGHT!

I know I'd have her

Look

I'm glad you took that the right way, I worried it made me sound like a right bossy cow.

I hope he has a great day, and he doesn't feel too ill! Excitement/adrenaline may kick in when he gets there and keep him upright until he's home again.

I'm not even going to indulge you, Emilie. I know what I meant. Sorry you're having a hard of thinking day. Happens to us all, I suppose.

And you could have me?! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Caja, that's a great point about switching seats to be on the end.

OP if you're still there -- text your husband!

Surely the husband has thought of that. Wouldn't you?

I would. I'm not sure my DH would! Can't hurt to mention