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? 💙

Glad to hear his temp is back up and he's managed to eat something! Hopefully this means that the meds are working and he'll be on the mend soon!

Hope the antibiotics do their job and he feels better soon! Not been there with sepsis specifically, but hospital with a wee one is always so stressful. Eating and playing are good signs, though.

Have you had any sleep or anything to eat?

Just to say, I’m thinking of you. We have spent quite a bit of time in hospitals with a sick child and it’s scary and distressing.

It sounds like things are improving, and I hope there’s really good news for you soon. I just want to say to take care of yourself, once things start to improve you may start feeling fairly rubbish after all the anxiety and adrenaline and sleep deprivation catches up with you. It’s really hard. Take care and hope all goes well.

Sending hugs to you all and wishing little one a speedy recovery x

I'm really sorry that you are in that situation. You're doing an amazing job and I'm so glad that you are asking for support on MN. The company is a great thing to have. I'm glad you fella is having something to eat and that his temperature is more normal. That's fantastic new. Take care there

My little boy had sepsis when he was 11 weeks old. Blue lighted to the major hospital, he had a blood transfusion and operation. We went home 10 days later.

No one can know how it feels until you’re in the same position. It’s awful I’m so sorry. I hope they find the cause and the treatment is effective and quick.

All the best op. Hope your little one is okay x

Sounds like he is improving . Now is the time to try and take care of yourself if you can . Would your DH trade places and someone take your toddler so you can sleep , eat , shower and change . Do reach out to friends and family , anyone would be happy to help out.

So sorry OP. Praying for a swift recovery for your little one.

My friend has kindly agreed to take my DD to London with her family today so she's been super excited about that since this morning! It panics me as she's never been that far without us but I'm sure she will have a whale of a time.

Husband has just arrived at the hospital so he's going to swap with me so I can go home and rest then do DDs bedtime and come back for tonight- but I just feel so guilty leaving him when I think he really needs me 😢 I think I'll feel worse not being here!

He's fast asleep at the moment. Think that burst of energy has worn him out.

Saw a really rude doctor this morning who basically repeated everything I'd been told earlier when we arrived. His white blood cell count isn't too high however which is apparently good news. It's just a case of watching his symptoms over the next 48 hours until those cultures come back.

Hope you’re as ok as you can be, what a worrying time for you all

There is no excuse for rudeness from the Dr, that’s just piss poor. Don’t be afraid to call them out on it

Glad to read your updates, which sound positive! Im afraid to say that yes, DD1 did have to have a lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis when she had sepsis. Hopefully it won't be needed for your little one ❤️

You're doing so well, OP. This stuff is absolutely terrifying as a parent. Don't be afraid to advocate for your baby and demand second and third opinions and treatments you think he needs. You're his voice (both of you are) and nobody knows him better than you.

So sorry you’re going through this it sounds so frightening. I’m in and out children’s with my little one but never for sepsis. Doctors you just have to be as blunt with them as they are with you sometimes, and usually if a doctor has pissed me off then the nurses are pretty good at listening and understanding and can help with any communication issues. But very frustrating to have to deal with that when your little boy is so unwell and you just want him better.

hope you can rest today ready for tonight ans fingers crossed for a positive update soon x

It must be so awful for your LO to be so ill! I really sympathise. Sending you hugs and also lots of healing dust for your dear DS! Poor little guy 😢💐

Sending you all love ❤️

Hi op ❤️ this must be so worrying for you! Well done on being a super mum and trusting your gut, you did everything right for your wee baby! It sounds like he's getting good care too! I haven't been in this situation but I have been in hospital with my wee girl who is now 1. It's horrible sitting there alone with them when it's dark outside! When you see that daylight break you feel some sort of relief! "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise" is one of my favourite quotes! If you can get someone to come and sit with you I would do that! Just having some company and someone to talk to makes all the difference. Also when you go back, take snacks and comfies for yourself! I always say to anyone going into hospital to take a hoody as the rooms seem to be freezing and there's nothing worse than being cold! Xx

Your love and courage are shining through every word you’ve written. It’s heartbreaking to see your little one so ill, and yet you’re doing everything right—trusting your instincts, getting urgent help, and staying strong for him. The fact that you’re by his side, even through exhaustion and fear, is everything he needs right now.

You’re not alone. So many other parents have faced long, terrifying nights in hospital rooms, and come out the other side. Your child is in the right place, receiving the care he needs, and this moment—no matter how dark—will pass. Hold on to hope.

You are doing an amazing job, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. Sending strength and warmth your way.

Hello, I had bacterial meningitis followed by sepsis when I was a kid. I’m now a very healthy 50yo! Hang in there x

Some positive signs there, eating, throwing toys. Have everything crossed for your LO. Rude doctor aside you’re both in the right place.

In our experience they did the LP both times but the second time it came back positive for viral meningitis. Our DS had very unusual bloods though and incredibly high CRP or I think they may have left it longer. If they find a source of infection (which sounds like they have) and his blood cultures are negative for septicaemia they may well not do it. And you can refuse consent as long as you understand the risks (I probably would be too terrified though just in case the smallest amount of bacterial infection had entered the csf and needed a longer course of antibiotics).

It sounds like he’s doing so much better and it’s brilliant he’s eating and drinking- such a positive sign. Hope you have a good rest and try to eat something yourself xx

Echoing messages of support and I hope you see a steady improvement from here.

The threshold for needing to do a lumbar puncture goes down as children get older. So a newborn - just about anything wrong, will need a lumbar puncture as there may not be much clue and meningitis as you sadly know can be very serious. My youngest had a temperature at home when he was about a week old - that earned us 24 hours being observed in hospital, and had his temperature been raised even slightly while we were there he would have had a lumbar puncture as well as blood tests.

An older baby, they will do a lumbar puncture if they are not confident that the source of infection is known, also depending on how ill they are. Fingers crossed that your little one sounds to be improving and may not need one.

My eldest had septicaemia with scarlet fever when she was 3. Although seriously ill at the time, and needing several investigations, a lumbar puncture wasn't one of them. She's currently working hard finishing her dissertation at uni. Hopefully in 20 years' time you too will be sharing tales of the frightening times your child gave you when he was little!

@DailyEnergyCrisis thanks so much for this ❤️ I would absolutely not decline a lumbar puncture if they said it was needed as you're absolutely right you would never want to do anything to risk their health, I was just asking more from my own fear of that dark time of lumbar puncture at 4 weeks old and the hell that ensued afterwards.

@GrassWillBeGreener that's exactly what my DS had at 4 weeks- just a temperature of 39 and generally inconsolable; no other meningitis symptoms that you think of. That's why the diagnosis hit me like a train I think!

I've just got home and taken off my blood spotted 24 hour old clothes from a very traumatic cannula insertion and going to have a shower- I know I need to rest but I feel worse now I'm not there! 😢

You need to look after you too. Time to rest now mama xx

Just sending a handhold. I have no experience but I hope he turns the corner today.