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Original poster

I am in sole charge of the kids and feel seriously ill? What shld I do?

31 replies

Aubergines · 26/02/2010 19:57

DDs are 3 and 1 and asleep. DH away. No family nearby.

I have had a cough for two weeks. Two days ago I developed a strange pain in my mid back. I thought I had pulled a muscle from coughing. Today the pain is worse and I have a fever of 39.5. I am soooo cold even under three divers with a hot waterbottle and heating on. I am shivering so much I can hardly hold my phone to type. I am coughing more but no other symptoms.

Something feels wrong but I am prone to dramatising. I am scared I will get iller in the night and if the kids wake I will be incapable of helping. I cld call local friends to help but it wld be a huge ask and most unlike me. Not even sure what kind of help I think I need.

I might be fine. Wld you call the friends or wait and see if things get worse (which cld be middle of the night),

OP posts:

Bookswapper · 26/02/2010 19:58

call friends and ask them to give you a ring later to see how you are...

Ewe · 26/02/2010 19:59

I would call friends and put them on 'standby' - with any luck they will offer to take children off you now so that you can rest but if not you can feel confident that it is ok to call them ANYTIME without worrying.

Hope you feel better soon, keep yourself dosed up.

thisisyesterday · 26/02/2010 19:59

i would call the out of hours doctor to come and check you over.

while you're waiting take some paracetamol

MmeLindt · 26/02/2010 20:00

Call friends to see if they are available should you need them.

It is not a huge ask if you are unwell

MathsMadMummy · 26/02/2010 20:00

Phone NHS direct? (I found the website a bit useless)

Hope you feel better

nickytwotimes · 26/02/2010 20:00

SOunds like you have a nasty chest infection. Needs attention or could develp into pnuemonia, potentially.

Call out of hours and ask for a home visit.

I think asking someone overnight seems a bit ott, but only you know what you are capable of and how bad you are feeling.

MyCatIsABastard · 26/02/2010 20:00

Phone NHS direct, tell them your symptoms. Or if you feel that bad then get your out of hrs doctor to come and visit you.

winnybella · 26/02/2010 20:00

What Bookswapper said. Take some paracetamol and maybe get yourself to the doctor tomorrow.

Dominique07 · 26/02/2010 20:01

Oh you sound really ill! Can your friend sleep over? Phone and tell them you're feeling ill. Ask for help.

smee · 26/02/2010 20:01

Call NHS Direct and see what they say. They might put your mind at rest, or tell you to call an out of hours doctor. Sounds like a chest infection to me. Horrible if so, but it's treatable and you probably need antibiotics.

compo · 26/02/2010 20:01

yes take paracetmol, try and get some sleep, and get to the doctor tomo, you might need antibiotics

compo · 26/02/2010 20:02

where is dh? can he travel back tonight?
or get family to travel over tomorrow?

EssenceOfJack · 26/02/2010 20:03

I would also advice calling friends, you need someone to be there if you need them.
Best case would be asking someone to stay the night and calling the docs. If nothing else it will mean you can try and get some proper sleep without worrying about them.

I have a few friends who this would be a big ask for but I know they would be happy to help so please call someone.

Original poster

Aubergines · 26/02/2010 20:06

Thanks for all the quick replies. I have taken all the paracetamol I can. No ibuprofen as i had a stomach ulcer once. No chance of an out of hours visit here. Never happens. Wld have to go to walk in clinic (with kids).

I also thought asking a friend to stay over is OTT. ESP as they all have young kids too. Hadn't thought of putting then on stand-by. Good idea.

OP posts:

CardyMow · 26/02/2010 21:50

Pneumonia can develop quite quickly from having a chest infection. If you can't get your temperature down, or you cannot draw a breath, go to A&E.

2010aQuintessentialOdyssey · 26/02/2010 21:54

You sound really ill. This is a one off, call a friend you know has a husband home, and ask if she can come and stay with you, or stay with the kids while you get a cab to out of hours.

EssenceOfJack · 27/02/2010 08:17

Morning Aubergines, how are you feeling?

allaboutme · 27/02/2010 08:24

How are you feeling this morning?

Original poster

Aubergines · 27/02/2010 09:19

Thanks for asking guys. The girls slept through the night so I did not have to get up which was a God send. I had friends on standby but no need to call them. This morning the pain in my back is a bit better and the fever is slightly down but my cough is terrible and wheezy which is something I have never experienced before. I do feel more human though, no more shivering and shaking.

OP posts:

EssenceOfJack · 27/02/2010 09:39

That's good to hear, sometimes a good nights kip is what you need!
Do take it easy today and go to docs now if you think you might be getting any worse, better to go when you don't feel too bad than wait until all the kids are in bed!

allaboutme · 27/02/2010 10:09

Glad you feel a bit better today. Illnesses do tend to get worse at night.
Bear in mind that if it is an infection and you need antibiotics then it could get worse again tonight so best go to OOH docs today while your children are up and awake and able to go with you.

Flightattendant · 27/02/2010 10:20

Can you try and see a doctor today Aubergines, it does sound like a chest infection and you should be starting antibiotics asap. You don't want another night like last night pet x Hope you are feeling much better soon.

rabbitstew · 27/02/2010 13:21

I agree with the others that you should try to see a doctor today, if possible - it is normal for a temperature to go down a bit during the day, only to rise again by early evening, and you wouldn't really want to risk another night like last night if you felt too ill to go to your children should they have woken.

Original poster

Aubergines · 27/02/2010 17:01

Thanks everyone. I got to the doctors and have ABs after diagnosis of chest infection and mastitis :-(.

OP posts:

Flightattendant · 27/02/2010 17:56

Oh you poor thing

Those are both hideous on their own, I can't imagine both at once! Kellymom website has loads of really effective tips for mastitis tho hopefully the a/bs should sort it out. Try and keep feeding/expressing from that side as much as possible, though it hurts I know...it will help it clear. Hot wet flannels and massage towards nipple...ouch...

really hope you are well again soon. Have you got cover for the kids tonight? Do you think you will be Ok?

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