DS is being admitted to hospital for 2 weeks tommorrow :(

[Charleesunnysunsun]

It is our first time since he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. His Dr wasn't totally happy with his last chest x-ray so has phoned me up this afternoon out the blue to say DS will be expected at the childrens ward tomorrow to start a 2 week course of i.v atibiotics.

This has totally blown us away, we knew it would happen but it's hard now it actually is, especially since he seem's healthier that he has ever been but i guess the specialist knows best.

He is 2.7 and wil be confined to his side room for the 14 days.

Has anyone got any tips on making this whole thing easier on all of us?
I will also have our 6 month old DS with me all the time.

Also wanted to let everyone know especially the Nov 06' postnatal girls know i will be away for the 2 weeks so i wont be posting. xxx

oh dear. take his favourite toys pillows etc. have you got anyone who can give you a break?

Yes my mum will be popping every few days so i can home and wash and bath ect.

It's bloody heart breaking seeing him feeling so great then having to take him to have needles and god knows what, its so damn hard gettting a line into him and they block every 2 days so hes going to have to have 6-7 of them in i can see me spending 2 weeks in tears.

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no advice, i;m afraid

sorry to hear this, but glad the hospital are taking swift action

wishing DS well, and you all the strength to get through the next 2 weeks x

will he eventually have a line put in? its a very new diagnosis isnt it?

do you have a portable dvd player?

i'll see if i can get emmie on later to see what she advises.

Sorry was just packing!

No i don't have a portable dvd player but i think there is a t.v and video player in each room and i know the ward has tons of kids vids, they are a very good ward we were there for 2 days a while ago.

Im not sure about his line, before when he had Men C he had a small line put in his wrist to administer his anti biotics but it kept blocking every 2 days and it really hurt him everytime they went in, it took about 6 attempts to find a vain.
This time he is having a long line put in im not sure what that is????

Hopefully they will eventually put a port in his chest to make it easier he has real troubles with neebles and finding the right vains ect.

He was idagnosed about 8 weeks ago.

i am sorry (((hugs)) - at least with a side room you will have some privacy. At our hospital they have those bedside TV things and they are free of charge for kids on the children's ward. Take some familiar objects from home and take your own pillow!! We have had to spend a few nights in hospital with DS and the bedding etc is never that great

oh the port will be a godsend once they put that in. i have a pic of one here if you want me to email it.

I was thinking of a central line, not sure if they are used for CF patients though. Peter had one in when he was in hospital, was a lot easier to draw blood and give anti biotics.

If he's going to be stuck there, could we get M-netters to send cards, or postcards or something that he can glue in a scrapbook? would that cheer him?

Yes they do use central lines for cf children if needed (both my nieces have had centrals and one now has a port which is the best thing ever). It's actually quite good you're getting a separate room; dns go in for fortnight IVs every three months and sometimes go in well and come out sick because they've caught whatever bugs are flying around the ward. Both are queen bees when in and it's all terribly normal now - you will get used to it. You should be able to take him out through the day - dns are usually free between 10ish and tea time so you can escape the confines of the hospital. Hope it's all ok.

Cash for parking & food. Milk for the tea/coffee room. And go big on the snacks - crackers, bags of fruit etc. DD1 was in hospital for a week last year and the food was appalling! We had to keep supplementing the 'nuggets & chips & NO veg' with things from the cafe.

Tape recorder/CD with story tapes/songs.

Get someone to bring in a shiny helium-filled balloon - DS2 will also enjoy batting it about (or if he's still lying on his back and kicking, tie it round his ankle, it's brilliant fun).

Swag bag of treasure (ie. old pillow case or swimbag) filled with small toys, books, shells, jewellery, hair brush, empty loo roll, old mobile phone (non-working), square of patterned material, postcards, mini pot of playdoh, whoopee cushion, stickers, etc. You could ask someone else to make it up for you and bring it in next week - as long as they know what's child-friendly.

And good luck! Hope it's not too draining for you all.

oh hun loads of hugs to you all, my dd has been called for more tests recently and i was just thinking how well she was, so i know what you mean about upsetting things when you thought everything was ok, no more advice i'm afraid, other than maybe try and make things comfortable for yourself too, i took slippers, and dh even sneaked a glass of wine in on my birthday (he brought it in one of dd's bottles though cos he said he couldn't find anything else suitable !!! not recommended) but if you feel upset about the whole thing it is bound to rub off on your ds. send him our love

if there is anything you need then try and give us a shout

Oh Charlee, that must have been a bit of a shocker. Have no advice I am afraid but I will post a link for you on our thread so the other girls know.

Lots of love for you and am sure your lovely DS1 will take it all in his stride and be brill

oh charlee, im so sorry, havnt got any advice but i really hope its not too hard on you all!

if you need anything email me and il try and help!

This must be devastating news for you - if you want me to send a card/postcard or some stickers or a small toy (or anything) then please let me know where to send it.
I can not imagine having to see either of my boys in this situation and am willing to do anything that will make this easier for you and your DS.
I will ask other Mumsnetters on the Bible Bashers thread to pray for you if you would like this.
xx

charlee... how gutting for you, and you was just saying how well he was doing!!

anything we can do let us know... we'll all be thinking of you!!

i've linked this to postnatal thread, so everyone knows.

Agree about taking familiar things, toys, etc.

Good idea about getting MNers to send things. Let us know if we can do anything.

My sister had a long stay in hospital aged 4 and got tons of presents. My other sister and I were dead jealous although looking back I wouldn't change places.

Can/will you get many visitors?

Oh honey - Im in the same position....not for CF but DS1 has to have his kidney removed on the 22nd May....Not looking forward to it...how are you feeling?? Big Hugs going your way....lots of favourite food, drink, toys, pens and paper.....books....xxx

Thanks so much for al your posts.

DS would love and cards/posters/presants from you all he loves drawring and looking at pictures and books ect. although don't put yourself out, i'm not sure how would be the best way of doing it, maybe you could all send them to my house and i could get DP to bring them in? Anyone with any other ideas please do say.

Email me at [email protected]

I have packed his favorite teddy and his blanket and i will pick up lots of snakcs and treats for them both.

I will check this thread again in the morning before i go. Thanks again.

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