My lovely DD1 is in hospital :(

[CharCharGabor]

I used to post her loads when she was small, but have mostly lurked since. DD1 is 5, and had a 2 week long virus similar to what many other kids have had, high temperature, lethargic, not eating etc. She recovered on Tuesday last week.

On Friday she started vomiting, on Saturday she couldn't hold down even a tiny bit of water. On Sunday I took her to the GP out of hours as she was dizzy and falling over a lot, felt weak and had a load of joint, neck, head and stomach pain. They diagnosed tonsillitis and gave her penicillin. I wasn't sure all her symptoms could be explained by tonsillitis but thought the doctor knew best.

Overnight on Sunday she was is so much pain, every time I helped her to sit up for medicine or a drink she screamed as her hips were hurting. I gave her max doses of paracetamol and ibuprofen but they weren't doing much.

Made an emergency appt on Monday morning as she couldn't weight bear, in loads of pain, light aversion. Doctor shrugged and said virus, lots of children get joint pain with viruses. He saw her legs give way and still wasn't bothered. There was no way I was leaving with nothing as I just knew something was wrong so he referred us to kids a and e. DP took her as DD3 is bf and doesn't take a bottle :( which was horrific but I stayed home to look after the other two.

First they did some blood tests and put a canula in, then a ct scan. When they started talking about a lumbar puncture I couldn't stay at home any more and my dad took DD2. DD1 had the lumbar puncture and didn't even cry, she is so so brave. We were admitted to children's ward last night and are awaiting an MRI scan soon.

So far, ct scan is normal, lumbar puncture is normal, something showed up on the blood tests, DP thinks poss white blood cells. They are going to try and do the MRI without sedation soon but if she can't stay still they will put her to sleep :( she has had antibiotics and antivirals while they figure out what is going on. Yesterday she had no reflex reactions in her legs, today still nothing but was a bit stronger on the push tests. They think it is part physical, part psychological as she has fallen so many times she is scared of standing. Totally understandable, poor baby :(

I am so scared :(

thank you :) still waiting for her. hoping this means it is going ok and she won't need to be put asleep to try again.

Mri was successful and has come back normal, thank god. Just bunged up sinuses. They checked her hips too,which look fine. Still waiting on cultures from lumbar puncture, which are expected tomorrow. They say they think it may be a post viral thing which may take some time to ease off. Priorities are pain management and gentle rehabilitation. I just want my baby back, she is not herself at all :( they are continuing the antibiotics and antivirals to be on the safe side. Still v worried but feeling a teensy bit better. Thanks all for your support :)

looking quite good then Char. There is nothing worse than our lovely babies being ill. Fingers still crossed for you

My ds2 (9mo) was in hospital 3 weeks ago for a week as he couldn't keep anything down and he was so dehydrated his veins had collapsed and it took 17 cannulation attempts to be successful (better than the alternative).

He too had a lumbar puncture, blood cultures and the "just in case" antibiotics. He was very ill, on a drip and then a NG tube as he couldn't keep anything down for over a week. It turned out to be a stomach virus that he reacted badly to.

He took a further week to recover at home and now you wouldn't know he'd been so worryingly ill not even a month ago. Keep positive, I'm sure your dd will be back to normal in no time. They get ill very quickly but bounce back just as fast as soon as they start to recover.

Thank you :) not much has changed overnight, she couldn't sleep much due to niggly pains but she is no worse. I can't wait until her little body stops hurting so I can hold her :( right now I have to settle for stroking her hair, but it isn't the same.

Hugandroll, sounds similar to dd1, poor little boy :( luckily somehow she is not dehydrated, sounds like a nightmare. I hope she bounces back in the same way :)

Poor girl has just had more bloods done to compare to Monday's. She was tearful and worried but did brilliantly. Off to the hospital playroom in a bit, she needs a change of scenery.

CharChar - I am glad to hear that the MRI was fine. It's a good sign that she wants to go to the playroom. I hope you manage to get a cuddle and she is fit and well soon.

Thank you sws :) she managed a bit of a play, it was lovely to see her perk up a bit and sound a bit more like herself :) she also managed to sit up straight on a chair so I got my arm around her for a gentle cuddle, it was perfect. She tired quickly and is back in bed watching a film and eating lunch!! She has barely eaten for weeks. The consultant thinks there is a lot of anxiety involved when trying to stand, understandably so we will encourage her through play with the physio to gradually try a bit more. Still waiting on blood tests to come back, apparently it was her platelets and something with three letters that were raised on Monday which indicate inflammation.

Glad to hear DD is doing better CCG. I know how it feels to have a little on in hospital and another at home and you feel completely torn. Fingers crossed she'll continue to improve.

I clicked on this thread to offer support but have learned something too as I had no idea that a virus could lead to this type of reaction - although it does explain my memory of being off school as a child because I couldn't walk as I thought I'd made it up and mum said it was something viral!

It'll br CRP. C Reactive Protein (an indication of inflammation)

Thanks for that, so much information to take in that I keep forgetting bits! I do feel so torn Birdy, I haven't seen dd2 since Monday afternoon although she is having a great time with my dad, I have to leave dd1 at night and dd3 is being as good as a 3mo can but I wish I could split myself in three!

I didn't know a simple virus could do this as well, it's horrible. DP and dd2 both had it as well but this didn't happen to them. It's so strange too because dd1 is never ill, as strong as an ox!