Have I really got hand, foot and mouth?

[worriedmoo]

I have namechanged, am a regular.

I have been diagnoised as having HF and M.I starte with severe blisters in my mouth and hives on my knee. I was in so much pain I went to see my GP who said I had infected ulcers, was given anit bs and steriods.

A few days later I started to get blisters on my hands and feet. I intially thought I was just run down, by the weekend they were so bad that I went to the walk in centre. I was diagnoised with HF and M.

I explained that I work with new babies so when would I be able to retuen to work without passing it on. The nurse said between 7 and 10 days after the first blister which worked out fine and meant I could return today.

However I am no really worried, what if they misdiagnoised me and I have something else and have given it to my charge? Or what if I'm not out of the danger zone?

Please reassure me.

Poor you, that sounds horrible. DS had this last year, and luckily he didn't seem to suffer too badly.

Why do you think that it's not hand, foot and mouth? It certainly sounds like it, doesn't it?

Honestly, while you would obviously hate to pass anything on to your charge, as you have conscientiously sought and followed medical advice, what else could you do?

Are you feeling better now, or still run down?

Thank you isitmeor. I had a coldsore just before this all started and have got it in my head that I have herpes on my hands/feet etc. The doctor doesn't seem to think so.

I'm actually feeling awful still, my hand, feet and knee are sore but copebale but my mouth is agony and I have been prescribed painkilliers.

sounds very like H, F & M. in adults it's often more severe than in children.

often blisters/rash extends up leg, sometimes around buttocks also. the mouth ulcers are often v sore.

Poor you. It just occurred to me (as I was cleaning up DS's sick and wondering if I was going to catch it too), that you almost certainly caught H, F & M from one of your small charges, as it's common in children and pretty rare in adults. So they've probably had it very mildly - assuming you didn't notice anything - and they passed it on to you, who got it much, much worse.

Hope you feel properly better soon.

It is worse in adults then in children, and unusal in adults. It does sound like H F and M.

Thank s for all you reples. I have just been to the docs again and he is sure it is HFM - I;m relived.

I actually read that children tend to get it worse than adults but not un my case. My GP said this is the worse case he has ever seen, he said I'm probably not contagious but he wants me to stay off work until blisters stop coming and start drying up.It could be 2 weeks.

I have been given more prescription painkillers and have to go back on thursay. Poor doctor, I cried alot then I cried at the chemist too .... and in the car!!

Oh worriedmoo, that sounds horrible. No wonder you're feeling so down. Really glad that the doctor has told you to stay off work. I'm sure you're not normally such a worrier either - for me, that's a sure sign that I'm under the weather.

Get some good DVDs and try to relax. You'll feel better once you've had lots and lots of rest.

Oh, and the drugs .