Handhold please - DS aged 1 been admitted to hospital with suspected sepsis

[miniworry]

Mumsnet got me through the darkest moments when my DS caught meningitis at 4 weeks old and I'm back asking for another handhold as I currently hold him on my lap sleeping in hospital with suspected sepsis 😢

He has been unwell with a temperature since Friday- but today he was really unhappy and despite a 39 temp his hands and feet looked blue and were cold. I took him to our children's urgent care this afternoon who looked in his ears and chest and said double infection and prescribed antibiotics.

Put him to bed with a temp of 38.9 and some Nurofen at 7:30pm. 9:30pm he wakes roaring in pain, and when I pick him up he is freezing. Took his temp in both ears and it was 34.5. Mottled skin on tummy and inconsolable alongside sucking in of chest. I called 111 who said take straight back to A&E as I could get him there quicker than an ambulance. Bloods done extremely quick and sepsis pathway was started straight away based on the blood gas results.

We were then blue lighted about 12am to the children's hospital- he has been put on iv antibiotics and fluids and bloods show raised infection markers so it's now a case of finding where the infection is.

I'm so frightened- I've never seen him this way; he has never ever screamed solidly for 4 hours like that, and being back here is bringing everything back from his meningitis days here.

Please could anyone share some positive stories or even just let me know what they're up to in these wee hours to keep me afloat and give me something else to think about? 💙

My eldest was treated on the sepsis pathway when he was 3 - an infected lymph node in his neck. Like your child, he was already on antibiotics but it wasn’t early enough and he needed more aggressive treatment. He is currently on scout camp and a picture of health.

How is your little boy doing? Is he awake? He will be being treated with really broad spectrum antibiotics, and IV abx work quickly, so once they get something with decent coverage he should hopefully bounce back. The doctors should be around soon and you can quiz them on their plans for him. And the nurses will be keeping an eye on him so you are not alone now. Sending good wishes.

Another one sending you a gentle hug and holding your hand.

He is in the best place, I hope today brings some positive news for you x

How is he doing OP? X

I hope you managed to get a little bit of rest in the early hours.

I hope your darling boy's treatment goes well and he starts to feel better today. x

Your wee boy is in good hands, hope you’re resting OP.
Wishing you all the best 💐

I'm really sorry you are going through this.

I went through this when my eldest was a baby and its terrifying seeing them so poorly and inconsolable.

I hope that he is showing signs of improvement and that you have been able to get some rest.

Sending hugs 🌹

Just sending a hand hold. Well done for acting quickly and getting him the help needed.

handhold @miniworry hope things are looking a bit better this morning. hopefully the consultant will be doing morning rounds soon so you can get an idea of plans.

Sending u lots of positive vibes OP.

Hope he's ok OP. It's so scary when they can't tell you what's wrong.

We went through a similar, incredibly scary experience with our younger DD, she became very poorly very fast but she received the right treatment and recovered quite quickly, she’s now 30 and works in the same hospital that saved her life. Sending love and prayers to you and your beautiful boy for his speedy recovery 🙏🏻❤️‍🩹

I really hope the morning has brought brighter news for you OP. Somehow it always seems to be the middle of the night when really worrying things happen.

My youngest had cellulitis when he was 1 year old - a fast spreading rash and a very high temperature, but it was spring 2020, right at the start of the first COVID lockdown and we had a hell of a job just to get him into hospital. Once he and I were there, we didn't get out for 14 days because he needed intravenous antibiotics and rehydration and no-one could visit us because of the COVID risk. It was such a weird time, basically I spend the entire time trying to prevent him from ripping the cannula out of his arm.

It was terrifying, but also a big relief once we got into hospital and I could see him gradually improving. I really hope it's the same for you. Stay strong OP, take care of yourself too, sending you much love and hoping today gets you some reassurance and answers.

Just wanted to jump on here and send love, hugs and support. Hope your little boy is turning a corner now and you’re getting some support in real life too from family and friends.
it sounds so scary and must be very triggering but he is in the best place for him at the moment.
sending love @miniworry xxx

Wee soul, sending hugs to both of you

Sending you and your little boy all the love and healing 💙

I'm so sorry to read this and so sorry that I didn't earlier and send a message. I hope your DS has stablized. This is incredibly difficult and I have been there - my DS as in hospital with sepsis when he was very small and he recovered fully - he is now a strapping over 6 foot 14 year old.
I won't sugar coat this - it is incredibly hard and I found I couldn't really talk to anyone IRL bar 2 very close friends and parents. Thinking of you, and really hoping things work out for you
x

How are things this morning? Sending you and the wee one so much love.

Your husband needs to arrange childcare now and get there!
Hope your lad is doing better gradually. He is in the best hands.

Aw OP I’m so sorry you’re going through this
My son had sepsis following viral meningitis at 10 weeks old. It was absolutely petrifying, he’s 6 now and no further complications. I think we were in for around 4 days?

Sending you love 💕 I hope he starts to turn a corner soon bless him x

Sending love and good wishes.
i hope your DS is improving with some good antibiotics in them.

sounds like you did really well to identify the hands/feet thing and trust your gut to get more urgent care - instead of following what the OOH GP said, you’ve got great instincts and acted as soon as you could.
how scary to be going through this but you got your DS to the correct care as soon as possible so fingers crossed they’ve identified the source of infection and the antibiotics I’ll do their thing.

Sending my best wishes to you all. I really hope you get some positive news this morning

Poor little chap. Hope he gets better soon!

Thinking of you. Well done for responding so quickly, for trusting your instincts and seeking help as soon as you knew something was wrong. Sending positive thoughts for a speedy recovery.

Oh my goodness I've just come back on to here and I'm absolutely blown away by all your support. Sitting here reading all your messages through tears, what amazing people you all are thank you ❤️

DS temperature is back up again to 38.4 but apparently it's much better for it to be high than dangerously low like last night. He's also eaten a bowl of weetabix and currently tipping his water cup over his cot. Managed to play throwing the megablocks over the side of the bed too.

Waiting to see the doctors this morning but with it being bank holiday it may be some time.

For those whose little ones had sepsis, did they also do a lumbar puncture? This is my one fear after the trauma of when he had it last time!