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Children's health

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Original poster

Chest Virus, 40+ temp, trip to hospital...so....

58 replies

BlueBumedFly · 15/12/2009 21:28

...why does DD keep saying her tummy hurts?

Can anyone please explain this to me? Doc said that the glands in the stomach can be sore with a virus as severe as the one DD has - is this a common thing? DD is 2.6 and has had her fair share of colds/ear infects /toncilitis etc but I have never had a sore tummy?

Aghhhhhhhhh. What a day. She was up from 1am last night with this tummy pain and high temps. Then rallied wonderfully this morning, went to the GP who gave her a totally clean bill of health other than a viral resp tract infection which was apparently nothing to worry about and we should just carry on as normal. So, she was very bouncy and wanted to go to the nursery so she went. Clean bill of health and all!

An hour later she had a temp of almost 40, shaking uncontrollably, crying screaming about her tummy. My DD does not often complain and she was very ill so we went to A&E on the advice of NHS direct.

VVVVVV nice at the hospital, put her on the ward to see a paed consol who said viral chest/lung with sore ears and throat and tummy but nothing to be done other than pain killers as not bacterial.

So, she is now in bed, hot still even though we have given calpol and nurofen as instructed.

Any ideas please? She has not been the same since the chicken pox 6 weeks ago and I have been giving vitamins and probiotics. She also gets constipated and witholds so this I imagine is not helping.

Apologies, tired and stressed and fed up and feeling rather sorry for oneself.

OP posts:

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 17/12/2009 18:54

bbf, is she on antibiotics ?

Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 17/12/2009 20:00

BooHoo- I know I cannot believe it was missed, it is so obvious now she has obviously had this glass like stabbing pain in her chest/abdomen for days. The Drs fob constantly in my practice, I think they missed it as he was extremely sheepish today and I cannot see how she could go from a clean bill of health to pleurisy in 24 hours.

I am trying to give vitamins but she is practically nill by mouth and I need to get the antibs in so I am picking my battles. Do you have a good chicken soup recipe? I will try anything!!

AFFAMP - Yes, she is allergic to penicillin (although I had to remind the doctor AGAIN today) so she is on Clarithromycin. It seems really strong and she hates the taste, luckily only twice a day which is enough of a struggle for me!!

She is hardly eating anything and only sipping water. The only time she will take on board calories is if her temp is below 38 which is such a challenge. Calpol does not touch the sides and Nurofen seems to take ages to work. I gave Calpol today at 38.5 and the temp continued to go up to 39.8 over the next 45 mins and she got more and more poorly until I was getting really worried then suddenly it went back down to 38.5. Done deal, no benefit there then. She is alabaster white, irritable beyond words and getting thinner and thinner. If I wasn't so tired and patience-challenged I would sob!

Thanks guys, just nice to rant chat

OP posts:

Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 17/12/2009 20:04

BooHoo - sorry, being totally self-absorbed, hope your DD is OK too x

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mistletoemulledwinemoodlum · 17/12/2009 20:05

Oh god poor you bbf, I saw your thread the other day and felt for you. Could you try ice lollies? DS had a terrible virus the other week, and all we could do to keep the temperature down, even a little, was to give him an ice lolly - little and often. He couldn't even muster the energy to eat a whole one. It was a nibble every hour. And lucozade, ice cold.

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 17/12/2009 20:06

bbf, I am sure you will be watching her very closely over the weekend

tbh, I am starting to think she would be better off in hospital

did your GP suggest a chest Xray at all ?

Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 17/12/2009 20:12

Mistle - both great suggestions, and I happen to have a bottle of lucozade too by chance, many thanks.

AFFAMP - no, GP couldn't wait to send us on our way with our prized prescription like I should be grateful. I have not moved from her side other than when she is sleeping and then I am in and out like a fiddlers elbow. I am constantly taking temp, monitoring her fluid input/output. I called the hospital where we were on Tuesday and they said to bring her straight back in if she deteriorates, I also have the direct phone number of the paediatric ward. Sigh, I am going to give the antibiotics 48 hours and if she is not improving I am going back to the hospital, I have never known a bug like this. Why chest xray? Are you thinking pneumonia? I know I am ..

OP posts:

Marne · 17/12/2009 20:17

Oh your poor dd .

I would push for a chest x-ray, my friends little boy had pneumonia last winter and it took several trips to hospital until they diagnosed him, he had it again this year, luckily his mum spotted the symptoms and pushed for a chest x-ray and her recovered within a week.

Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 17/12/2009 20:32

Marne - did your friend say what was the tipping point?

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AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 17/12/2009 20:43

yes, I am thinking pneumonia

has she had any blood tests ?

girlsyearapart · 17/12/2009 20:48

Hi bbf I saw your thread and just wanted to let you know I'm here if you need a chat

BooHooo · 17/12/2009 21:24

BBF yes she must be x rayed absolutely to rule out Pneumonia, this is a must I cannot stress enough. I am not going to go on about how incredulous I am that you have not been offered this as part of her treatment as it is very negative thinking, however bear in mind that as you say one does not develop Pleurisy in the course of a day. They have not been on it at all from what you say.

Are you on CAT I will give you my chicken soup recipe? It is a light broth and very easy to digest, in fact the only thing DD can eat at the moment. After eating she will feel stronger and perk up as it is so watery it is nutriton and hydration in one go.

Do you have a humidifier? If not keep a kettle on boil by holding the button, but I would invest in one if you can - the make breathing easier and loosen the chest. You can also use Vicks or a plug in. Keep her cool but not totally stripped - sheets and light blankets so you can peel layers off depending on the spiking temp.

I am also going to make a suggestion re. meds. The last thing they want after taking AB is to orally ingest more spoons of yukky stuff. We use paracetamol suppositories and they are extremely quick and effective, can you get your out of hours to make you an emergency prescription and collect them?

Sorry if this sounds bossy but I just want to share what worked for DD. She was in such a bad way so i know how you feel. Please CAT me or post on here if you need any more advice.

BooHooo · 17/12/2009 21:33

I also just wanted to add that if you are concerned or worried the AB are not effective enough you will be able to request blood tests to ensure the virus is not progressing.

DD ended up being give IV AB for an infection after the oral meds just didn't kick in)it takes much longer to digest them through the stomach. If your situation is urgent this is routinely done, esp for chest infectons which need rapid treatment. Good luck.

Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 17/12/2009 21:35

AF - no bloods... should she have then? Yes I am guessing

BooHoo - not on CAT I don't think but let me see if I can set it up now. You do not sound bossy at all, I am just so grateful that you are here to help with suggestions.

GirlsAYear - hello!!!!! Good to hear from you hun. I am hoping to god that this time we are not living our double life and your DDs are well?

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Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 17/12/2009 21:48

OK, CAT in place.

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AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 17/12/2009 21:49

bbf, listen to boohooo

if you are not happy with dd over the weekend, take her back to the hospital

if she doesn't improve in the next 48 hrs, I would say she does need a chest Xray and blood tests to check her white cell count, if very high would indicate an infection

you don't need to be aggressive or pushy, if you end up back at hospital they will be likely to take it seriously

there are some nasty things around at the moment, some of which just bog standard antibiotics will not cure (or will cure too slowly)

Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 17/12/2009 21:54

AF - thanks and I am taking the advice very seriously indeed. I gave the first AB at 10am this morning so, if no improvement or not enough by Saturday morning we are right back to the hospital directly. On the other hand, if she is worse by tomorrow then we go right away.

I am very scared even tonight and am thinking I need to sleep in her room.... or maybe that will increase the level of disturbance for her. I have an excellent monitor that I can have right next to my ear, don't care if I don't sleep just want her to be as settled as possible.

OP posts:

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 17/12/2009 22:02

ok, try not to worry (easy huh ?... not)

if sleeping with her will unsettle her, just do what you normally do

but leave the monitor on/door open/don't have too much wine yourself () and get an early night

let us know how she goes

Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 17/12/2009 22:05

AF - thanks, going to bed now, her temp is 39.3 but I cannot seem to wake her enough to be compliant enough to take nurofen....

OP posts:

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 18/12/2009 07:17

how is she this morning ?

girlsyearapartispregnant · 18/12/2009 07:36

Morning bbf how are things this morning?

If you're in doubt take her back to hospital.

No double life this time - but I found out I wasa pregnant yesterday.

AnyFuckerForAMincePie · 18/12/2009 07:38

congrats !

girlsyearapartispregnant · 18/12/2009 07:47

Thanks AF

ps- thought you got told to change your name??

Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 18/12/2009 07:53

AF - she is still asleep! Woke at 11pm temp 39.4, gave water of which she drunk loads and nurofen and all was quite till 6.30 when she started to cough. First night through for over a week or two. She is also talking in her sleep (very prone to this) but at least it's her voice if that makes sense, not the sad croak of the last few days. She is also talking about going to a friends house in her dream which is very funny. She does this a lot, we have weeks of dreams and then night terrors. Just a thought, her night terrors started 6-8 weeks ago after the chicken pox and a heavy cold ... Could this pleurisy been brewing for a while?

I am sure she will be hot when she wakes but is obviously only dozing but not crying and moaning as she has for the last week. Am I making sense that this is good I think?

Breathing was erratic until midnight but sounds more regular now, have been hung over her cot listening on and off all night. Please can we be turning a corner?? If her temp spikes to 39 plus again today or she is as poorly as she was yesterday then I am calling the hospital for a chest xray.

Thanks so much for coming back this morning, cannot tell you how much I appreciate it. Will post again when she wakes.

Girls - fantastic news!!!! And no, I am SO not pregnant. That is wonderful for you guys, nice to get some good news!!! Xxxx

OP posts:

girlsyearapartispregnant · 18/12/2009 07:57

Good news here's hoping for a speedy recovery in time for Christmas.

Will check in later to see how it's going

Original poster

BlueBumedFly · 18/12/2009 08:38

No temperature!!! Not counting chickens but I wll take any olive branch in a storm !!!

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