Freaking Out! DD sick, leaving Sat am

[Joni317]

Help! My dd19 months was just diagnosed this morning with hand, foot and mouth disease in her throat. Her throat is covered with blisters and she will barely eat anything. Because it's a virus, there's not treatment except for Motrin to bring fever down and reduce pain. The thing supposedly lasts 7 to 10 days. We leave Sat. morning at 4 am. We're driving 15 hours from Indiana. I also have a 5 year old and a 3 1/2 year old, who apparently are very succeptible, since the virus is so contagious. I am freaking out! Any advice? Any suggestions?

 

[mytwotinks]

I would call the Dr. and ask what they think. My sister's dd6 just came down with this. Both of our families are going to DW Tuesday and she was freaking out about her 10yo getting it. She is keeping them apart as best as she can. I just called her and she has a sore throat today. I will be avoiding her family at DW if I think that there is even a chance that they are carrying it. She got a note home from school about it yesterday and it said that it could be contagous for 2 weeks, so I am not even sure if you should go Saturday or not. It would really stink to be in DW and have your other 2 come down with it.

 

[blessedby3]

I am so sorry to hear that. My biggest fear in the weeks before we leave for a Disney trip is that someone will get sick. Im sorry I dont have any advice for you, but heres some pixie dust that no one else will get it. Stock up on the motrin for the trip, though, because I am sure it is quite pricey like everything else in Disney.

 

[aldisneygrl]

Hand, Foot and Mouth disease is a very common childhood illness. I would call your pediatrician, and ask their opinion. Really it is just a "wait it out" type of illness. I wouldn't panic until you talk to your pediatrician.

I got exposed to it when I was pregnant with my DD. I had to have a test done, and they were able to tell that I had had it when I was a child. The good thing is that once you get it, you never get it again.

Good Luck! Maybe the Dr. will say go ahead with your trip.

 

[kat3668]

I pretty sure it is contaigous 1 or 2 weeks before the blisters show up..
I work in a daycare center and generally we have a few cases this time of year... So if she is feeling ok no reason to worry about trip
(Sat that is ) generally kids feel better in a couple of days..
I hope everything works out O.K.

 

[ssleblanc]

Well, I was coming in here to post what I thought may be good news for you, but after reading what mytwotinks posted, I"m not too sure. I'd be in a panic, we spend far too much time preparing for these trips for someone to get sick. Didn't you tell your DD that getting sick was just not allowed before Disney?

Seriously, my kids both had this as toddlers (I'd never even heard of it before then). The real symptoms (where they just seemed to feel bad, and refused to eat much) only lasted in strength for a few days (3 or 4 ?? at most). Though the bilsters DID last longer - I'm not sure if they just got used to having sore throats, if they didn't hurt as bad after the first few days, or if there were fewer of the sores. But, the doctor also didn't tell me that it was contagious for 2 weeks.

You said you are driving, what kind of car? Do you by any chance drive a mini-van? If there was a way to separate your 5 and 3-1/2 yr olds from the baby who is sick, I would feel more comfortable about the long drive (the baby in the middle row, and the older two in the back row - in a minivan situation).

I'm so sorry. I know I would just be freaking out at this point. Hopefully as the week progresses, she will show signs of improving.

 

[bonzarella]

Both my children had this about 1.5 ago. Fever for them was the worst part, the Ped. never worries about eating up keeping fluids up is top priority. Keep her comfy & you should be ok.

 

[mattsdragon]

I had no idea what you were talking about so I went to the CDC website and got this. . .

Just some info on hand foot and mouth disease. . .

 

[mytwotinks]

I really don't mean to be a "Debbie Downer"! Hopefully the school nurse was wrong about it being contagious for so long and your Dr. will tell you that you are o.k. to go! Good luck!

 

[rainy~daze]

I am sorry to hear about your DD. Mine went thru that when they were smaller, 3 times on one year. Just a suggestion to help her eat, you can swab her mouth or give her some milk of magnesia it will coat the inside of her mouth and help aleve some of the pain she has. Not too much or she'll be going to the bathroom all night. I also had to basically feed them by straw for a few days, ya know put the straw in the cup, cover the tip to fill it with liquid and drip it into their mouths. That was how i had to feed my son for 2 days so he wouldn't dehydrate. The first few days are rough, just try not to let the other kids touch the baby or anything the baby touches without washing their hands right after. And be sure you don't touch your face after handling the baby either--you don't want to get it either. It is contagious but you can manage it from spreading. Good luck!!!! The biggest thing right now is trying to manage the pain she is in. We alternated doses of motrin and tylenol so we could give it every 3 hours. At least that is what the pediatrician recommended.

 

[Bev J]

I have a home daycare and one of my DC kids came down with this, he is in alot of pain from the sores in his mouth. Mom took him to the doc because of the high fever and got it diagnosed, thankfully no one else seems to be affected. The doc sent a note to me and said if the fever is gone he is no longer contagious so he did return to daycare today- gone since Friday.

I would say as long as your other kids don't get it then go ahead, keep your baby medicated with pain meds the sores are very painful.

Keep everyone washing hands and clorox all the baby's toys and hard surfaces in your home.

Good luck and have a great trip!

Bev

 

[jenjersnap]

Please, please, please ask your doctor about the timeframe of contagion for HFM. Please. If your children are past that point, great. Otherwise, I'm sorry but, IMO, I would not go to WDW and expose others to an extremely contagious illness, esp. if your other two haven't had any symptoms yet. My understanding is that, by the time you know you have it, it's too late anyway, so you might be okay for you but I would confirm it with a doctor anyway. Maybe your doctor can run a titer to see if your other two have already been exposed?

I had HFM, as did my whole family, when I went into labor with my infant. I didn't get a dx on that until he was several days old. I was the sickest I can remember being in my life with HFM; I couldn't swallow my own saliva and I developed ulcerations - not just blisters - in my throat. In the meantime, I had a newborn who also became ill; HFM is usually harmless except in babies where it can cause all sorts of complications, including organ failure. He had sores, he couldn't nurse, he lost LOTS of weight ... it was very serious for him and my 2nd DS who is immune-compromised because of serious heart condition for awhile. All in all, the arrival of our bundle was tainted by that awful illness. Anyway, we all came down like clockwork, one day after the next, all five of us.

I am sorry you are going through this. It sucks. I hope everyone recovers soon. We are leaving on Saturday too (where are you staying? LOL) and I have my fingers crossed no one here gets sick, since it would be just our luck and we would not go if we became ill.

 

[Madi100]

Hand, Foot and Mouth disease is a very common childhood illness. I would call your pediatrician, and ask their opinion. Really it is just a "wait it out" type of illness. I wouldn't panic until you talk to your pediatrician.

I got exposed to it when I was pregnant with my DD. I had to have a test done, and they were able to tell that I had had it when I was a child. The good thing is that once you get it, you never get it again.

Good Luck! Maybe the Dr. will say go ahead with your trip.

My sister's kids have had this more than once.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Help! My dd19 months was just diagnosed this morning with hand, foot and mouth disease in her throat. Her throat is covered with blisters and she will barely eat anything. Because it's a virus, there's not treatment except for Motrin to bring fever down and reduce pain. The thing supposedly lasts 7 to 10 days. We leave Sat. morning at 4 am. We're driving 15 hours from Indiana. I also have a 5 year old and a 3 1/2 year old, who apparently are very succeptible, since the virus is so contagious. I am freaking out! Any advice? Any suggestions?

I would reschedule. Do you really want your kids to be exposed in such a small space as the car?

I know it's probably not the easiest thing to do - but a LOT easier than dealing with THREE kids with this type of illness!

 

[OzFan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought you could only get it from the transfer of fluids. My daughter got it from a shopping cart. The kid before us drooled on the handle and my daughter touched the bar and then put her hands in her mouth. My Dr. told me you can catch it from drinking fountains, so my kids let the water run for a minute before drinking. Just don't let them drink after each other. It is painful because of the blisters and that makes our little ones cranky. Good Luck! I hope your little one is feeling better!

 

[rigs32]

The CDC website says that it's most contagious in it's first week. While your dd19 might be ok, what if someone else in the family comes down with it? You're either stuck in the hotel or potentially spreading it around the parks. Did you buy travel insurance? Will your TA allow you to rebook for a modest fee? I think it would be selfish to knowingly expose others to something so potentially devistating as WDW does have lots of people with suppressed immune systems.

 

[kribit]

sorry your dd is sick. My twins had this at the same age as your daughter and they had high fevers for approx 4 days. They started being "themselves" after about a week.

Is it possible to re-schedule? It would be awful for you and dh if one of your other children came down with it on your long 15 hour ride down. Would be even worse if you had to sit in the room for your whole vacation.

Sending you pixie dust...

 

[Joni317]

Hi all,

Thanks for all of the advice. I am trying not to be "selfish" as some suggest, that's why I'm asking for help.

I have considered rescheduling my trip, but don't even know how to go about this. I booked directly through Disney, we are staying at the poly with free dining. How would I even go about rescheduling? Will it even be possible. Thank you for all your good input and pixie dust.

 

[mytwotinks]

I would call right now and ask what they can do for you. The more notice that you give them, the more likely they are going to be to help you. Good luck. Let us know what they say.

 

[aldisneygrl]

Joni317 - I would find out what the Dr. says first. He would be able to tell you how he thinks it will effect your sick one, and what the risks are of the others coming down with it. If the Dr. says don't go, then I would call Disney and ask what you can do about rescheduling. If you bought the travel insurance, I know that would cover some of your lost cost. That is why it is called insurance.

I hope your sick one gets better, and no one else gets it.

Keep us posted on how your little one is doing.