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? 💙

I know it feels worse to rest because you aren't with him but it will be good to get some rest so you can be alert later. Sending good thoughts your way. It's rough to have a kid in hospital. It's that knife-edge of not knowing the outcome. You just have to stay focused on: what do I need to do, to do my best for my child?

You may not be able to rest your mind, but your body can rest allow it to do so. If you can’t sleep distracting TV can help.

You need to rest . Even if you can't sleep , just have a lie down to relax yourself .

I know what you mean about the fear- it still haunts me. DS is now incredibly resilient and shakes off everything quickly- he barely cries with any bump or fall. I think back to those LPs and cannula insertions and wonder how we all tolerated it really. But it will pass and you’ll all be ok again. Time definitely helps heal.

Your older one will be having a lovely day and completely oblivious. Prioritise yourself for a few hours and do whatever you need to to relax.

i had sepsis last year and it took quite a long time to recognise it and receive the proper treatment, despite it i made a full recovery with antibiotics after a hospital stay ! it was so scary but i was completely ok and im sure because your ds has been seen so quickly it will work out <3 lots of love to you and your lovely boy xx

I have personal experience with bacterial meningitis and septicemia (sepsis) as I contracted both at the age of 26. Your little one is in the right place, it appears the Doctors are on the ball, and have rightly treated him for sepsis. Please ask them to check for meningitis, as it's not impossible for someone to contract it twice or even more, although normally there is an underlying cause. The earlier the sepsis is caught the better. Sending you much love ❤️

Rest OP before going back again. It is so easy to get very run down very quickly and then you will be useless to your child. He needs you strong.
Hope he is on the mend soon.

So several hours into treatment he seemed more stable and was even eating a bit? That’s a really really positive sign that even if this is sepsis it was caught early. Which is down to you, well done.

@nocoolnamesleft he has eaten quite a good bit today, 2 weetabix, half a jacket potato and some meatballs for dinner- the most he has eaten for almost a week.

He has had super long periods of sleeping today but when he's awake he's been showing us glimpses of his cheeky self like wanting to play peekaboo. I can't tell you the relief of seeing that after the state of distress he was in last night.

Temperature still flies back up as soon as nurofen or calpol wears off though and then he's crashing, no idea what to dress him in as the room is currently a sauna but then gets so cold at night!

Just arrived back after a good hours sleep back home and a shower. Unfortunately didn't get to see my DD as they've got caught in traffic coming back from their day trip to London with my friend so now I feel mum guilt that way- you just can't win can you 😭

I can't tell you how much reading these messages has meant to me today, thank you xxx

That really does sound very encouraging, that he's perking up when his fever is down. The ones that really scare me are the children who are still looking utterly rubbish even when their temperature is fine.

That's really positive, hopefully he's well on the mend now.

Ahh I'm glad he's a little bit better. And that you've been home & had a sleep & shower. It's so draining being at the hospital it's good to get a bit of a break. Hope tonight goes ok

Thank you so much- I'm just so anxious about him going to sleep tonight and waking up like he did last night- can they go up and down with sepsis or is it a gradual incline once the abs take hold?

Oh darling I am so sorry 😔 I was in hospital Easter weekend with my two year old for 3 nights he had a very bad chest/ear infection and apparently had an “allergic reaction” to the virus I had to ring 999 as had a severe rash and lip and face swelling. Was utterly terrified and didn’t sleep or relax the whole time was there. Am still not sleeping but they will be fine. I think you almost go into a zone out state where you just get through it. You just have to be as strong as you can which sounds like you are doing. They are in best place if they go downhill etc. they do love to worry us don’t they. I feel your pain and know how terrifying and lonely it feels. Sending lots of love and best wishes and please keep us posted. Xxxx

My experience is that if things were going to go seriously pear shaped it would usually have happened by now. I would still expect ups and downs, but for the trend to be in the right direction.

@nocoolnamesleft that's really reassuring thank you- I feel like I'm just going to be sitting and watching him all night 🤦‍♀️

Came to check in, hope this night is smoother for you x

@cannynotsay thanks so much for checking in ❤️ he's had a much more restful night although he's just woken up for a bottle and feels warm again.

Had a bit of a stressful time at 11 for his antibiotics- he woke up when they were attaching it and I think the AB actually going in stings in a bit so trying to get him to keep his arm well whilst it was infusing was hard, all the alarms get bleeping so it took way longer than the 30 mins.

But I certainly can't complain, he's actually
Let me put him into the cot tonight.

Sending love and prayers for this little fighter, big hugs, he’s in skilled, professional, caring hands xxxx❤️🙏🏼

So pleased tonight is better than last night OP! Hoping you've managed to get some rest too xxx

Thinking of you OP. I second what others said about what a fantastic job you did getting him there. Sorry the doctor was rude, have you had any better communication? I hope you can both get some rest and turn a corner. Did your DD enjoy London? Xxx

I've been thinking of you overnight and really hope everything is going well x

Oh the sweetie pie, it’s been a rough ride so far, but that’s amazing he’s in the cot. He’ll hopefully be able to get some real rest x

He is getting there .... hood news. Thank goodness for the NHS.

Good, not hood!!