Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Advice needed please - vomiting and keeping hydrated

20 replies

AbbyLou · 26/04/2007 08:29

Ds (2) has been vomiting since 4.30pm yesterday - not constantly, he emptied his stomach and then went to sleep. The problem is now, he isn't keeping water down and I don't really know what to do. I rang NHS Direct for advice and the Nurse who rang me back just said keep giving him little sips and when he can tolerate more, build it up. But what do I do until then? He is so lethargic, just laying on the sofa hardly able to move. The Nurse said to take him to a gp if he can't keep down tiny amounts of water, his mouth feels dry or his nappies are not wet. WHat should I do with him in the meantime? At the moment he is on the sofa attempting to watch Postman Pat but he can't really keep his eyes open. Should I just leave him? I sound really useless don't I but he's never been like this before. He's had tummy bugs where is been pouring out of both ends (!) but never been so lethargic before.

OP posts:

SillyMillysMummy · 26/04/2007 08:45

take him to the gp, better safe than sorry, i know that you can get rehydration medicine but it could make him worse depending on what is wrong. defo take him to the docs though or maybe a drop in centre, you are obviously worried and you know him best, trust your instincts, i waited, called nhs just kept giving sips of water etc etc when my dd was ill once and she ended up very very poorly and was admitted to hospital.

Marne · 26/04/2007 08:51

Have you tried ice lollies? This was the only thing dd1 could keep down a few weeks ago. Its horrid when they are like this, dd1 had it for 4 days and then dd2 came down with it followed by me and dh.

Original poster

AbbyLou · 26/04/2007 08:56

Thanks for the advice, I've managed to get him an appointment for 9.30 this morning which is a miracle. He seems a little more responsive now so I'm pleased about that. I'm hoping the fresh air may do him good. I've got to take the pushchair in the car as I'm nearly 38 weeks pregnant and can't carry him all the way from the car park!! I really don't want to catch anything right now! I like the idea of ice lollies, I'll try that one later, thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

AbbyLou · 26/04/2007 14:00

Well the gp said it's just some sort of bug. He gave him a pretty thorough check over. He said to give him a few sips of liquid every 10-15 minutes which is all very well but he has been asleep all day so far. He said I don't have to stick to water but can give him any drink/lollies. When we got home he had a lolly and some juice and they promptly came back. I've got no idea if he's weeing properly or not as I can't bear to wake him just to change his nappy. So far he has kept the last few sips of water down but it's so hard getting him to drink it. It's just so horrible to see him so sleepy when he's usually so full of beans and chattering.

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 26/04/2007 14:07

poor you being pregnant too!

can you spoon the water in him - so give him a tablespoon of liquid every 10 minutes or something.

Don't let him gulp down too much at once - that may well trigger him vomiting.

Original poster

AbbyLou · 26/04/2007 14:14

Fox - that's what the dr suggested. It's just so hard to get it into him though, he just cries and shakes his head. I haven't got the heart to wake him every 10 minutes, he looks so peaceful. Next time he wakes I will check his nappy and get a bit of water down him.

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 26/04/2007 14:18

it's awful when they get those bugs at that age because you can't explain it to them!

I wouldn't wake him yet - especially if the doctor has checked him over. Dd (who is much older) had a vomiting bug this weekend and slept half the day (v unusual) and didn't wee for the whole day (had me quite worried which is unlike me as we get a lot of these bugs!). She then got a high temp (just so you keep your eye out for it!).

I would get him up at some point (if he's still sleeping this afternoon). Try another lolly without giving him the additional drink (if he won't take the liquid).

Olihan · 26/04/2007 14:26

My ds1 had this bug last week, exactly the same symptoms. The vomiting lasted 24 hours but he spent 3 days looking all limp and lethargic. He also developed a really high temp but couldn't keep calpol, etc down so I got some paracetamol suppositories from the chemist which brought his temp down enough to let him manage sips of water. My GP also said I didn't need to worry about dehydration unless his lips and tongue were really dry. If his tongue's still dribbly then he's fine.

derlor · 26/04/2007 14:31

Is he STILL vomiting??
if so then you need to wait an hour after each vomit before giving him liquids - in order for his stomach to recover.
ice cubes lollies is best as he can definately not gulp this down - when no longer vomiting give him dioralyte (available from chemist) to rehydrate him.
.

However in the meantime - if he becomes too lethargic -go to hospital - also, check for dehydration by gently pinching the skin on the back of his hand it should spring immediately back into place (try your own 1st to see what i mean) if not he is becoming too dehydrated so may need IV fluids. - good luck

Original poster

AbbyLou · 26/04/2007 17:21

Thanks again everyone. he has now been awake for about an hour and is actually requestng water now. He's been fine with the water but we tried juice and he brought that almost straight back. His nappy was not soaked but definitely wet. His skin is still elastic and I'm pretty certain he's not dehydrated. It's so sad to see, every time he tries to do something he hasn't got the energy. Poor little thing just asked for his tea - I don't think so....
I don't know what it is but he has a really strange smell about him, sort of wheaty. Does anyone know what that could be?

OP posts:

SaintGeorge · 26/04/2007 19:47

DS2 had this last week, DS1 this week

GP's advice was Diarolyte sachets. Mix up a sachet and keep the contents in the fridge (for up to 24hrs). Give in small amounts every 10 minutes or so.

Also a dose of Piriton syrup which for some reason can act as an anti-emetic in young children.

foxinsocks · 26/04/2007 20:14

poor little soul - does he smell like pear drops? that's a sign of dehydration normally (not meaning to worry you) otherwise, they do tend to smell funny with these bugs because of all the sick and empty tummies!

hope he feels better soon - it's a good sign that he's hungry.

princessmel · 26/04/2007 20:27

My dd was like this a month or so ago. We went to gps and they admitted her to hospital. Floppy, sleepy, couldn't keep anything down, temperature.
They did a lumber puncture and lots of blood tests. She was on a drip and a feeding tube.
Sickness lasted a few days and diarreoh about a week.
When she was bad and had no wet nappies we had to give her 5ml of water or diarolite(which she HATED)every 5 minutes. Any more than that and it came back up.
It was Rotavirus. It sounds very similar to what you describe.
Its common but can affect the under 2's badly. She was low I think as she'd had lots of Antibiotics for lots of ear infections.

Not trying to be negative, it just sounds similar. Hope he gets better soon, before the baby comes.

Original poster

AbbyLou · 26/04/2007 21:16

Yes, that's it, pear drops is definitely the smell! He has been in bed now since about 7pm and we haven't heard a peep from him. I would say he seemed a little brighter before bed, I was determined to keep him awake for a bit because i was worried he wouldn't sleep tonight. He was last sick at about 5pm after some juice so we have just stuck to water since. He has managed to keep the water down. Should I just leave him now? I don't really want to have to wake him just to give him a drink. I'm so worried about going into labour while he's like this. Pil are just round the corner but I would feel terribly guilty leaving him, he just wants to be with us. This is the first time I've not wanted this baby to come early...

OP posts:

Original poster

AbbyLou · 27/04/2007 08:17

Well we've tried Rich Tea biscuits and so far so good.....

OP posts:

princessmel · 27/04/2007 08:31

Oh great

In hospital, dd ate a whole mini tub of jam ( like you get in hotels etc)one morning and I was so pleased!!

She did poo it out minutes later though...

Fingers crossed he perks up today.

Original poster

AbbyLou · 27/04/2007 09:23

Still staying down! He's had a beaker full of water too and keeps asking for more food. I don't want to risk too much so I've appeased him with another ice lolly.

OP posts:

princessmel · 27/04/2007 13:23

fab! Any diaorreoh yet?

Sunyshineymummy · 27/04/2007 13:28

We took DS to hospital just after Xmas as we were worried he was dehydrating. Doctor recommended Dioralite diluted into some juice to disguise the taste, which seemed to really help.

mamatres · 27/04/2007 13:41

abbylou, my dd has this at the moment. she was really well yesterday monring, went to toy library and play with a friend. 10 mins after getting home she had horrific diarroeah and since then has been vomiting all the time and she has a temperature. like your ds she just wont stay awake and is all floppy and almost non responsive. i dont really know what to do with her either. she is 2.3 yrs. she only had a tummy bug 2 weeks ago which other 2 dc caught as well. hope they dont get this. it seems like an esp nasty one.

Flip