3 Year old w/influenza A...in/out hospital!! Help!!

[Beth*]

Originally Posted by Ratatosk

IMO, I just think I'd find another doctor. Obviously your child's doctor isn't on top of all this and taking a proactive stance on this. And if you don't want advice. Then don't post on boards.

Ok...I never said I didnt want advice! And I never said my doctor was doing anything wrong....(other than I did feel like we were discharged a bit sooner than I was comfortable with). My son has had this doc since he was born and some kids just do get sick more than others. Its in his make-up...the doc didnt give him asthma or enlarged tonsils! We do the best we can with what we have. I wasnt trying to be snotty or rude (tone is hard to interrpret via email)....I just know all there is about the flu shot already and have heard and gone that route already.

I am sorry....but I use this board as much as for a support group (just to vent and have people that have been there share and support my story) as to get advice. I LOVE any advice............and would never knock anyone for trying to help me.

I just think that you have come accross in both your posts as you seem to think "I or the doctors are NOT on top of it". That hurts me as I as a Mom want to think I am doing the best I can! I feel of course, that my child and his health does come first so to hear people just say....get another doctor, or get the flu shot, or stay on top of it.....I am doing all those things! I just was frustrated and sometimes writing my story down and having peers read and respond with advice and support sooooo helps me feel better!

Sorry if I offended anyone...that is not my intent. I do the best I can as a Mom and that is all we can do....

Hey, isnt this the time for holiday spirit and giving...why do some people sound so impatient with things???

Oh well...take care,
Beth

[momof3mjt]

You can go through all the could of's and should of's with the flu shot ...but the thing you need to focus on right now is getting your kids over this. His fever should not be staying that high. Do they have him on antibiotics? The best thing I have found when we have the flu around here is to CONSTANTLY wipe everything down with antibacterial wipes. Spray Lysol everywhere, and crack open windows and doors when you can. This will help air your house out and prevent it from spreading.

Last winter it hit my house really bad, and it finally let up when I went CRAZY with the antibacterial stuff. lol lol You have to realize that Christmas can certainly wait a few days if you need it too. Your 10 yr old is old enough to understand that Christmas is about family, and that if you all are not better, then it won't really be all that much fun.

We did not get the flu shot last year, and we will not get it this year. Vaccinnes like this are only going to sit in your system. When your body can naturally fight these types of colds and flus.....your immune system is so much the better for it.

I hope you are all feeling better...and quit beating yourself up for not getting flu shots. They are not what we are led to believe. The flu shot will only give you coverage for 4 strains of the flu...and the one going around right now that is killing people is not one of those strains.

take care and happy holidays. As happy as you can make them.

[Mommy2Isaiah]

Hi Beth!

I am so sorry to hear that your son took a turn for the worse. Isaiah is doing much better now, but VERY ornery! Not good ornery, either. He is acting like a naughty child...which he isn't usually. I am so OVER hearing about the fact that I didn't get my son a flu shot, too. Yeah, maybe I should have, but that DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT HE HAS THE DANG FLU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So...I'm with you on the not wanting to hear about that stupid shot EVER AGAIN! LOL

Isaiah's hearing is not good at this point. We talk to him and he answers us with weird things-things not even related to the question. I hope that the bulging ear drum that we were in the hospital for didn't affect his hearing permanently. I finally got some shopping done today, and we have Christmas with my husbands family tomorrow night, so I have to finish up tomorrow and get everything wrapped. Good luck to you....

Nicole

[Beth*]

Nicole:

Amen to that about the flu shot!!! We are doing better over here. My three year old (Mason) is slowly but surely making progress. I only had to do one breathing treatment for coughing and asthma yesterday and he was a lot more himself. He did still have a low grade fever and mostly lay around but I saw bits and pieces of his playfull side coming out throughout the day! Yay! I am just a bit worried as tomorrow is always such a busy day for us. Making the rounds to family members toting and receiving gifts from the grandparents etc. I dont want either of my boys to over-do. My older son (spencer) now has a full blown nasty sinus infection but can and is taking pill form antibiotics for it. Yesterday was his first day and he threw up so I am not sure if it is from the antibiotics or just a fluke. It is just amoxicillian which is very mild and he had had many times. I think its a mucas thing as he has alot and a terrible but loose cough. We are taking it easy as much as possible today and bed early tonight for them. My 10 yr old understands the deal with Santa and is ready to go to bed by 7!! He knows its us but doesnt ruin it for his little brother and is still excited to go to bed as he knows in the morning the presents will be there.

Its is so magical for us....I love it! Its hard work...(wrapped till 2 last night with still some more to go)but usually a great holiday for us filled with fun and love! I am always more prepared and ahead of the game than I am/was this year. Oh well...stuff happens!

I hope all in your family as well as other posters stay well...keep me posted!

Beth

[Beth*]

[Just an update for all interested:


My little guy started not doing too well again On Friday. He just literally screamed for hours saying his head/ears were hurting. We rushed him to the doctor and they said he had two very serious ear infections still. He had been on augmentin at this point for over a week and just discharged from the hospital for the flu. They had to hold him down at the docs office, take this long metal loop like thing and scrape and pull out all the pus and gross stuff from his ears that were in front of his ear drums!! It was sooo nasty...they gave him numbing drops and that seemed to help his pain and helped him calm down. He didnt really have a fever, just low-grade and was hydrated etc. so they said instead of going back to the hospital to get iv drugs (since the augmentin isnt working), he could get a shot of Rochephin (spelling ?) every day for four days in a row. I guess that is a very strong antibiotic....so, needless to say we have been dragging him to the doc every day since friday for a shot in the leg of this stuff. Poor guy....as soon as I pull up into the parking lot of the doctors office now, he starts flipping out knowing a shot is coming. Yesterday was our second shot and the doc says his ears still look pretty bad. He seems more comfortable though and the numbing stuff helps at home too...(they gave me some to give him) but....he has a Friday appt. for the ent and they said that if his eardrums/infection still looks this bad on Friday when I see the specialist, that the ent would most likely need to do surgery immediately. I guess tubes or maybe scrape the infection out??? I am not sure as I am so confused now. Luckily, I had already had the specialist appt. as we have been considering getting tonsils/adnoids out as the docs at hospital said he should probably get that done this year so next year the flu and other stuff doesnt hit him as hard. He has had throat issues, ear tubes when he was 9 months old, asthma problems and weight gain issues. HELP!!! I am frustrated but know it could always be worse. Hopefully he will outgrow all this and be fine later in life!! I know there are kids out there with terminal stuff that wont be fine so I do feel lucky in general. Its just so darn frustrating and exhausting...I honestly feel like I have a black cloud following us! It never stops! Yikes.........at least we made it through the holidays now!

I will keep you all posted (literally)...thanks for letting me vent. You all are like my internet family and I appreciate all of you who respond and listen to my stories!

Take care,
Beth....hope you are doing well!