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Original poster

Help - DD crying so much and I don't know what to do

58 replies

babygirlmummy2020 · 02/03/2022 00:37

DD, two, just keeps screaming in pain and I don't know how to help.

She had a very slight fever yesterday all day on and off and then since today she started spitting out her dummy, as if her mouth hurts.

She's been OK in herself, but not willing to eat/ drink much. Then tonight it got so much worse. She just won't stop crying, it's her tongue. It has ulcers on it that are very sore.

She's dosed up on ibobrofen and paracetamol. But she didn't go go sleep until 10 pm, as she was crying and has since woken up hysterically crying and completely inconsolable a couple of times. She cries and wiggles around for a good 10 minutes before falling sleep again. Then she sleeps for a bit, wakes up and cries so much again.

I have never seen her like this. I think it's her tongue that hurts and also her throat when she swallows.

What else can I do ? Other than give pain medicine?

OP posts:
MaryShelley1818 · 02/03/2022 05:47

Hand Foot and Mouth.
Classic symptoms.
Both of mine only had it in their mouths and then nappy area. Nothing on hands or feet.
As someone else said it's viral unfortunately so nothing a GP can do. Stick to cold soft food like yogurt, ice lollies etc

Monty27 · 02/03/2022 05:54

Natural yoghurt is a good call actually OP

decemberrainydays · 02/03/2022 05:56

@LouiseBelchersBunnyEars

As a pp said, space out and alternate so you are giving something every two hours, so ibu then 2 hrs later para, then 2 hrs later ibu again (so keeps the 4hrs between ibu doses) and just do it that way, as you said don’t wait for pain to escalate, stay on top of it with the pain relief.

Hopefully it will pass soon

This is dangerous advice as paracetamol is dosed for no more than 4 times a day and ibuprofen 3 times a day if on full dose. So every two hours would almost certainly lead to an overdose unless you have carefully calculated maximum dosage over 24 hours.

Op check the dosage guidance and don't give more, especially for paracetamol which is highly toxic in overdose.

Seek medical attention immediately if you overdose her on paracetamol.

malificent7 · 02/03/2022 06:11

Id go with 111 op. Get medical advice....we are no substitute for the doctor.

Monty27 · 02/03/2022 06:15

I hope it's children's paracetamol come to think of it OP
Please don't give her medication that's not suitable for a child

Hugasauras · 02/03/2022 06:18

I caught HFM from DD and it was one of the most painful things. My whole tongue was coated in ulcers and I couldn't even talk. It really knocked me for six. She had it quite mildly but for some reason it hit me super hard. It was bad for about three days but did then get better quite rapidly. I feel for her; it was so painful Sad

Fridafever · 02/03/2022 06:23

My DS has this at just turned one. He wouldn’t eat or drink anything except breast milk and I had to have half a week off work my second week back after maternity leave. My doctor suggested ice cream and yoghurts but even that was really hard to get into him. I remember letting him suck yoghurt with peanut butter stirred through off my finger all afternoon.

Original poster
babygirlmummy2020 · 02/03/2022 07:29

@Monty27

I hope it's children's paracetamol come to think of it OP Please don't give her medication that's not suitable for a child
Of course, it's just Calpol.

To the other poster concerned I would give it every two hours, as suggested - I know the maximum doses, so don't worry. My DD is 2. I've had to dose her up plenty of times by now and know the maximums.

As for the poster wondering about chicken pox, I can't see any pox. I hope it's not that. When would they usually appear?

And finally to the poster who had it herself. I'm so sorry, sounds horrific, but thanks for sharing what it felt like. I'm actually heavily pregnant, so I really really hope I don't catch it ! Baby due in just a few weeks.!

OP posts:
PrinnyPree · 02/03/2022 08:13

Difflam spray OP my son had hand foot and mouth when he was about 14 months and we were given that. X

Should be able to get it from a chemist. X Although I would ring my GP this morning if shes screaming with pain.

Nosnogginginthekitchen · 02/03/2022 08:19

I would definitely get GO to check her today. If it's coldsore then anti retrovirals will help reduce future outbreaks and if it's something else, like impetigo (which DS got v badly at this age) then you need anti biotics. Get her seen, just in case.

Makewomenfemaleagain · 02/03/2022 08:23

Sounds like HFM. My DD had this about two weeks ago. GP confirmed HFM.

Nosnogginginthekitchen · 02/03/2022 08:23

*GP not GO

ladydimitrescu · 02/03/2022 08:33

Take her to the gp today, but I would stop the ibuprofen until you see a doctor Incase it is chicken pox.

Hugasauras · 02/03/2022 11:56

@babygirlmummy2020 My husband didn't catch it at all and my friends whose kids had it at the same time either didn't get it at all or had a super mild version! So I was just unlucky I think. My mum said I never had it as a kid so maybe that's something to do with it too.

Smorgasbordbaby · 02/03/2022 12:06

It does sound like hfm but I'd speak to a GP in your shoes. I second suppository painkillers if you can get them, so much easier to dose smalls with than liquids, especially when their mouths hurt so much. I'd also use lots of ice lollies, cooled water and natural yoghurt and not worry too much about food for a couple of days if she's refusing to eat.

GADDay · 02/03/2022 12:09

Primary herpetic infection?

Herpes simplex gingivostomatitis (jin-juh-voe-sto-ma-tie-tis) is inflammation of the gums and lips caused by the herpes virus – the same virus that later causes cold sores. This inflammation damages the skin, resulting in painful ulcers in the mouth and blisters on the lips.

Eyerollerhighroller · 02/03/2022 12:45

How is she, OP? Did you manage any sleep?

Original poster
babygirlmummy2020 · 02/03/2022 12:57

@Eyerollerhighroller

How is she, OP? Did you manage any sleep?
Thanks for checking in ! I took her to the doctor today, who thinks it's tonsillitis and wants to tentatively treat it with antibiotics. It was a very tough night, bless her ! I've had tonsillitis quite a few times and I know how much it hurts to swallow. When she swallows she just screams. She was a bit brighter this morning and had a bit of ice cream with nurofen, some biscuits and water. She's gone down hill again now, as I think I may have left the next dose of paracetamol too long, so she's in pain again. Angel.

Thanks for everyone's advice !

OP posts:
Opal8 · 02/03/2022 13:00

Piemary Hepatic gingivo stomatitis?

She mat need anti virals x

Opal8 · 02/03/2022 13:03

primary

Theskullycup · 02/03/2022 13:10

Hope she's OK and glad you went to the GP.

My DS had tonsillitis about six weeks after getting chicken pox. When he had chicken pox he was fine and if it wasn't for the spots, you wouldn't have known he had it. The tonsillitis on the other hand was awful and we ended up taking him to A&E because he was so bad with it! I caught it two weeks later. ☹️

Tillow4ever · 02/03/2022 13:59

Might sound daft - but were you diagnosed with low B12 in pregnancy? Or did you have symptoms but not diagnosed? The reason I ask is because babies can be born with a B12 deficiency if their mother was deficient and the drs didn't pick up on it and treat her with injections (this is NOT your fault if it is the case - drs are notoriously bad for not understanding this). Mouth ulcers are an extremely common symptom of the deficiency.

It may not be that, there are lots of other suggestions on this thread it could well be. But if you don't get answers or you were B12 deficient yourself, please ask your drs to test her.

There is a really good Facebook group if you're on there called Vitamin B12 Wake Up - they saved my life! They are run by The B12 Society and are super helpful.

Good luck and I hope you get help soon, no matter what the cause! Thanks

Original poster
babygirlmummy2020 · 02/03/2022 14:09

@Tillow4ever

Might sound daft - but were you diagnosed with low B12 in pregnancy? Or did you have symptoms but not diagnosed? The reason I ask is because babies can be born with a B12 deficiency if their mother was deficient and the drs didn't pick up on it and treat her with injections (this is NOT your fault if it is the case - drs are notoriously bad for not understanding this). Mouth ulcers are an extremely common symptom of the deficiency.

It may not be that, there are lots of other suggestions on this thread it could well be. But if you don't get answers or you were B12 deficient yourself, please ask your drs to test her.

There is a really good Facebook group if you're on there called Vitamin B12 Wake Up - they saved my life! They are run by The B12 Society and are super helpful.

Good luck and I hope you get help soon, no matter what the cause! Thanks

That's interesting. This is the first time she's ever had mouth ulcers.

Do you know if they routinely test for B12 deficiency in pregnancy ?

I'm pregnant at the moment and asked my GP to do some blood tests as I am just so exhausted and they tested B12. They found low folate, which is kind of linked to B12 from my research.

OP posts:
Original poster
babygirlmummy2020 · 02/03/2022 16:00

She's not done a wee since the night. I changed her nappy this morning and now it's still dry. She only had a little water this morning and has been sleeping this afternoon.

I'll try and get her to drink when she wakes up. But when is dehydration a worry?

OP posts:
Original poster
babygirlmummy2020 · 02/03/2022 16:01

I don't think paracetamol is taking much of the edge off her pain, but ibuprofen is. This is how it's been when I've had tonsillitis..

OP posts: