TW Anxiety after DC health issue

[waryandbored]

I don’t know why I’m writing this but I guess I’m hoping someone will be able to relate and maybe I’ll feel less ridiculous or reassured.
My 13 month old DS had cold symptoms last week - no temperature or anything overly worrying. On Saturday, he was visiting family with my DH and when he brought him home, I took him from the car seat and he was pale and shivering. I checked his temperature and it was 39.6. We quickly gave him calpol and then I offered him a feed (BF). Within 2 minutes of the feed starting, he went completely limp. I picked him up and he was still, floppy, eyes fixed on nothing. I couldn’t hear him breathing. I told DH to call 999 and while waiting for them to pick up, he started going blue. I laid him down to check his airway and he was making a clicking sound in his throat. Eyes still fixed on nothing, no movement. Unresponsive I guess.

I 100% thought he was going to die right there in my lounge. It was absolutely terrifying. He then vomited a lot, started breathing although very shallow and his colour started to come back. He was so hot and still very still, no noise, no interaction.

Anyway, the paramedics came and took us to hospital. We were seen as priority and checked for all the nasty stuff. Thankfully all negative and the doctors put it down to a virus, his temperature soaring very fast and his body not being able to deal with it. I think they called it apnea but I can’t quite remember.

He has been ok since. We are keeping his temperature very controlled on advice of the doctors and he just seems to have cold symptoms still.

The problem is me. I feel completely traumatised by it. I am so anxious when feeding him and I can’t stop reliving what happened. My mind goes to the worst places several times a day. I am tearful and constantly checking his temperature. DH was also very upset obviously but he doesn’t really want to talk to me about it and keeps reminding me that DS is ok. Which he is of course.

Sorry, this is all rather long winded and pointless. Maybe I just needed to write it down. Thanks if you do read x

Sounds perhaps like a febrile seizure? Not uncommon in young kids but scary when it happens!

It’s understandable to be worried about your child and no amount of people telling you to relax will change how you feel.

As each day goes by, and your son starts getting better, you will feel less anxious.

This has happened to my son several times (sometimes just a blockage of mucus, sometimes atypical croup). If it happens again it will be a lot easier because you already know what to do and you already did everything perfectly.

My 1 yo son had a febrile convulsion. Temperature, cold symptoms all normal stuff. It was absolutely the worst moment of my life. Like you I genuinely thought he was dead 😓 I was alone as DH was at work. I still get anxious when I hear an ambulance coming on the road as it takes me back to the moment of being in it with him.
for something so terrifying I am shocked at how ‘normal’ these are for particularly young children. I’m surprised we don’t hear more about them & how to deal with them. I panicked completely and could not do anything as I was so shocked ☹️ sounds like you done amazing in a very scary time

Thanks for the replies and making me feel a bit less ridiculous. The doctors said it wasn’t a febrile convulsion because she wasn’t convulsing. I’m sure they called it an apneic episode but I might be wrong. I just pray it doesn’t happen again.