Words of advice please - 6 month old raging temp and vomiting

[Notmeagain23]

Firstly, I just want to say that I have been to the Dr today and I am currently waiting to get through to speak to someone on 111. Husband thinks I’m panicking and DS will be fine but i guess I just want some words of advice from others please!

DS is 6 months old and has had a temp since Monday night.(so two full days and this will be the third night). The temp has been going up and down with the help of calpol and ibuprofen… but when it’s up, it’s up high and has touched 40 although it came down pretty quickly on the two occasions this has happened.

from the outset, when his temp has got 39+ DS has been being sick.at first I could give him medicine and he would keep it down… but now, he is being sick immediately after I give him any medicine. He has also been vomiting after milk… and has only drunk what I would say is the bear minimum today… that is up until about 30 minutes ago when he has finally got himself on the breast and started to feed (then he sicked it all up and now he is feeding again).

I went to A and E last night as I was concerned about his temp hitting 40 but the queue was 8 hours which took me up to the point at which my GP surgery opened this morning. Saw my GP today and he said just a virus, don’t worry and let it run its course (providing you are getting two wet nappies a day).

… but now I’ve got this added complication of no medication staying down to help ease the temp. Last time I checked the temp an hour ago it was up at 38.9 in his ear…

In your experience, does a fever like this just run its course regardless of medication? Any words of wisdom are appreciated whilst I wait for a call back from 111!

sorry for the ramble and hope that makes sense!

See what 111 say but be prepared to go back to A&E.

How is the top of his head, is it sunken? Or his eyes? Is he still having wet nappies? Does he have any other symptoms?

I hate it when they're ill. I hate the uncertainty and worry. I hope he turns a corner soon.

I think with a temp of over 39 calling 111 is the right call. Stress the point that he's not able to hold down medicine. Feed him as much as he will accept. Temperatures can last a while, so I wouldn't be too concerned about that but I too feel reassured when medicine brings down a temp and would feel just as you do whereby he can't keep it down.

His eyes look watery but not dark or sunken and the top of his head isn’t sunken either. No other notable symptoms and the dr checked his ears, throat etc and said no sign of infection. He has had maybe three lightly wet nappies today - and I mean light compared with his usual hydrated ones! But he has just now finished BF for 20 mins and seems to have kept it down (he is now asleep in his pram in just a nappy and a light blanket with the room around 19 degrees). I’m hoping that gives his body time to absorb the milk before he wakes up/throws up again.

thank you for your empathy! I get huge anxiety when they are ill and I almost constantly check their temps… my DH goes mad at me! I try to keep calm though as I don’t want DC to feel my anxiety… although I’m sure they do!

My husband has again confiscated the in ear thermometer which just showed DS has a temp of 38.5… he has left me with the forehead digital one which shows DS forehead is 36.9….

I really hope he has turned a corner this evening. I can’t face going to A&E (although of course I will if I need to!) When I went in last night, it was heaving and I was quite sure that DS would pick up something else from spending 8 hours in that waiting room!

You've done the right thing in ringing 111 by the sounds of it.
But with not keeping medicine down or milk - minus the milk he's just recently had from you and I hope he keeps it down bless him, and lightly wet nappies (all of which needs to be said to 111 when you hear back!) They may want to see him tonight given his age.
It's so worrying when they're little and you feel so helpless. Keep going, you're doing the right thing!
Also, from my exp forehead thermometers are rubbish! Ear ones are better than them but the armpit/under tongue ones can be even better, especially for kiddos. Though we've lost ours so rely on ear one at the moment! So use that one!
If he does get drastically worse - A&E. Though understandably you want to avoid this at the moment as it jammed everywhere! X

Can you get hold of paracetamol suppositories? They are really useful when they can’t keep anything down

Hadn’t given any thought to suppositories! Will ask about this when I get a call back from the out of hours I’ve been referred too. I don’t mind if they want to see him and I have to take him somewhere, just dreading the idea of it having to be A&E. I remember being little and the local Dr would come to us even in the middle of the night! What happened?! (Subject of a different thread probably ha)

Will keep using the in ear one for now, thanks for the advice! I think I have a full set somewhere so will try and look at the under arm one too…

DS has just woken up and played with a rattle for a few mins, now sounds like he has gone back to sleep - far more settled and not whining as he sleeps now too. I really really hope this is the corner being turned.

thank you all for being here too as I stress and for the kind support :)

I remember the days of when the doc would come out to you too!! Sad isn't it how much things change lol!
Yes, definitely either one of those over the forehead one. I regret buying a forehead one tbh! It just sits in the cupboard collecting dust now!
I'm glad he seems more settled - the milk must of helped him especially since he's kept it down! Little love.
I hope you hear back from 111 soon and that he perks up and is back to his normal self for you soon also.
I'm the same as you - I have 3 DSs. And I'm awful with my health anxiety sometimes though slowly getting better! Xx

How's he doing this morning OP?

I hope he’s doing better this morning, OP. Have you got any expressed milk / formula / v diluted juice you could make into lollies for him? It would be another way of trying to get some fluids into him.

Hi All! He was really bad in the night… his temp was at 40.2 and he was vomiting everywhere. Took him to be seen and by the time I got there, he has perked up no end and was throwing his best smiles around! I felt a bit silly then but I guess that’s babies for you…. He has been so much better this afternoon. His temp started to creep up to 37.9 but it’s come back down with some nurofen and he is currently playing in his jumperoo… so we have definitely turned a corner!

Im expecting he might go downhill tonight again, but hoping that he won’t. Either way, feels like we really have turned a corner today. He is also feeding a little more so I’m more relaxed with that too.

@ThanksItHasPockets I did that same thing with expressed milk and made a partially frozen slushy last night and it worked wonders to get him hydrated!!! Thank you!

thanks all :) I love mumsnet for the support!

I'm glad he seems to have turned a corner, I hope last night wasn't too bad. It can sometimes be so hard to know whether you need a doctor or to just ride it out. I don't think I've ever taken them to a doctor though who told me I did the wrong thing going, so just keep trusting your instincts.

Last night was better as no sickness and feeding again but temp back up to 40 and then again this morning it’s 39. You’re right about not knowing whether to ride it out or not! I did get some antibiotics yesterday when I took him to be seen but the doctor said wait until Sunday to give them if he is no better…. The husband wants to follow the advice… I’m all for giving him the antibiotics today if he doesn’t seem better. I know nights and I’ll first thing in the morning are always the worst though!

I’m just getting concerned with constantly giving ibuprofen and calpol over so many consecutive days until Sunday

Short update…: baby was becoming dehydrated and sickness returned with vengeance! I decided to go to the antibiotics and after three doses, DS is like a different child! Still not 100% but only needed calpol once today! Happy days. Thanks all for your support xx