I need high temperature help, please!

[MerryPoppins]

When I talked to the doctor's office yesterday, they said as long as she is taking liquids they are not concerned. She is drinking like a real trooper. Of course that was before she ran a temperature of 104. The last meal she had was on Monday. Since then it has been only fluid and a few crackers. She says she is on the Chicken Pox diet. LOL! She's just not hungry for anything.

Guess maybe I should fill them in again.

 

[Big V]

I hope your DD feels better soon. Happy Birthday to you though!

 

[cgcw]

I'm sure most people know, but just in case, I'll add my 2 cents. Be sure not to give her any aspirin products. There is some type of link between aspirin, chicken pox and rye syndrome which can be a deadly situation. I'm not up on all of the facts but I worked with a lady years ago who lost her daughter to it. It was the same type of situation with chicken pox and she gave her a couple of baby aspirin. Just a word of caution.

Have a great birthday. With the Motrin and Tylenol, hopefully, the fever should be under control. I'd have dinner brought in and then remind DH about how your birthday was a bust because DD was sick. Maybe you'll get two dinners.

 

[Boots]

Hope she gets to feeling better soon. Chicken pox was about the sickest DD ever was. We used aveeno oatmeal baths a lot too. {{{{HUGS}}}}

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

MerryPoppins, don't worry-you WILL know. It will look gross and icky and very different. The parents of the girl KNEW something was wrong and the Dr. did not want them to bring her in and spread the illness-thus there was a delay and complications. If you think something is not right, demand to be seen, even in the parking lot!
I also had a childhood friend who suffered brain damage from Chicken Pox and Aspirin. We know better today.
Complications like these are rare, just use your motherly instinct. I am home with a sick child too and feel your pain. Try and have a Happy Birthday!

 

[MerryPoppins]

They said that she could continue to run a temp and break out for 3 more days! They weren't very concerned about the temp. Said just keep her hydrated. She's soaking in the tub right now. That always helps with the itch. Hopefully we'll have an uneventful afternoon & evening.

 

[MerryPoppins]

Okay, now we are scared that one is getting infected. It's on her ankle and her ankle is red, hot and swollen. It hurts for her to walk on it. And it's evening so the temperature is going up again. I hope you guys aren't tired of hearing about this. I'm not meaning to whine or anything. Just feels good to share it with someone.

So we called the doctor again. This time a nurse confirmed that we were handling it correctly. We cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide and put on Neosporin. She also suggested alternating heat and cold. We'll see how it looks in the morning and report back to the doctor.

The nurse did say that they may not particularly want to see her, since she is so contagious. I've got news for them. If she isn't better someone is going to look at her.

BibbidiBobbidiBoo, hope your child is feeling better.

 

[RNMOM]

Merry, can I suggest you just take her to the emergency room if needed. It seems your doctor is so afraid to see her it may not be the best place to be.

Signs of infection are increase in temperature both locally and body temperature, redness, pain and usually swelling. I would have her seen in the am if not sooner.

Reyes syndrome is increased pressure on the brain triggered by aspirin and many viral illness, not only chickenpox. This is why you should NEVER give anyone under 18 aspirin. Tylenol and motrin have not been found to cause this.

If you go to the doctor or emergency room with anyone who is contageous, take another adult to wait in the car with them. Go in and register and only bring the infected person in when they have an exam room free for them and tell you to come in. There is just too much chance someone with chronic illness could be in the waiting area and get exposed.

Hope she is feeling better. Does she have pox in her throat? That is pretty common too. Have you tried the pudding, applesauce, jello and such? Poor kid. Poor mom. Hope things are getting better now.

 

[Planogirl]

I just wanted to mention that I had chicken pox as an adult and I remember some areas being more inflamed than others. I would keep an eye on the bad area and definitely treat it but hopefully it's just extra inflamed. And I would also call the doctor's office in the morning no matter how the area looks just to get further advice.

I feel for you and your daughter. I know that this is no picnic. And please keep on posting. I haven't responded since you're getting so much good advice but I am definitely interested.

 

[janette]

I hope she starts to feel better soon. Hate that she's so sick.

Sent you a PM on the fever.

Kate had CP when she was about 2 and really didn't have them bad at all. Sam had the shot so hopefully won't have them.

We'll keep thinking good thoughts for her

 

[MerryPoppins]

Yes, she has them in her mouth and throat. The ones in her mouth aren't bothering her much, but her throat is really, really sore. She also has a cough and junk in her throat. She says it doesn't hurt to eat, but she has no appetite. She even turned down chocolate birthday cake tonight. Not really like her, at all. She did ask for a hamburger from McDonalds and her Dad supplied that on the way home from work.

I wonder who I could get to sit in the car with her tomorrow while I check her in if we go to the hospital? DH works in the city. My 15 year old, but he is deathly afraid of her right now, since he might catch them. Don't know if I could talk him into sitting in a car with her or not.

I didn't recognize the name of the nurse that we talked to tonight. She may have been the nurse for the doctor on call, so I can't assume that my doctor won't want to see her. We were at the doctor's office on Monday with the Chicken Pox. Came in the back door, as requested and they saw her then. Don't know why they'd be more afraid of her now.

RNMOM, would you go to the hospital tonight if you were me? I was thinking I'd wait and see what her doctor says in the morning. DH has to get up at 5:00 in the morning, but her is at home tonight.

She is resting comfortably and her temperature isn't as high as it was last night. At 10:00 it was only 102 and last night it was 104. She has a heating pad on the lowest setting with double pad of towel between her ankle and the heat. She says it feels really good. I put her on the couch tonight, so it would be easier to check on her and feed her Tylenol.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

How is it going today? I hope I did not scare you with my horror story. It was a staph infection. I do think they can get inflamed without really being infected. Not sure how to tell though since my kids got the shot.
My DS is better, though I am getting the cough checked out today. I'm SO weary of my 2 sick children , they keep taking turns and I really have cabin fever now!
Hope your daughter is making a turn in the right direction today.

 

[MerryPoppins]

No, something is wrong with her ankle. It is swollen and dark. She can hardly walk on it. She asked me last night if we had any crutches.

I'm waiting for the doctor's office to open so I can call. I don't know if they'll want to see her or if I need to go to the minor emergency center, but I'll do something today. I'm not heading into the weekend with this problem. I want reassurance that it is all right for it to look like this. I think she needs medicine, personally.

Her cough is still bad and her throat hurts. I think other than that she is doing okay. Well, obviously she itches, but that is to be expected, I guess.

Hope you get to the bottom of what is going on with your sick kids. It's the pits to have sick family members! I'm just praying that we hear DS is immune to all this. That'd be the straw that breaks the camel's back if he gets sick. I may run away from home.

 

[cinlee3]

Oh your poor DD - I had hoped she was getting better. I sure hope you get some answers soon from the dr. Please keep up updated.

 

[tkd lisa]

My kids liked the kool aid slushies when they were sick like that (It was tonsillectomy, but the same sore throat). It also cooled down the fever. If you can't get them now (they tend to be more available in the summer), you can just throw some ice and kool aid in a blender. You can also use gatorade or juice.

Good luck, it sounds like you're doing the right thing by taking her in to the pros.

 

[MerryPoppins]

We are going in to the doctor's office at 11:50. I guess they thought at lunch they could get her straight into a room and expose fewer people. I'll let you know what I find out. Maybe they'll have the results of DS's test and we'll hear he is immune. That'd be great!

 

[MerryPoppins]

A slush sounds wonderful. I bet she'd like that. Our 7-eleven has icies year-round and it's close. May need to make a run after a while or get one on the way back from the doctor's office.

 

[Disney Doll]

As far as the temp, alternating the Motrin and Tylenol is a good idea, and as you have discovered, it does work. Just remember, a temp is the body's way of fighting off infection(bacteria HATE high heat!), so don't try to get it to normal. If you keep it around 101, that's fine...it won't cause convulsions and all the other things we worry about with high temps.

It's highly unusual for chickenpox to cause an infection so bad that a child almost dies from it. I think your friends were an extreme case. The area on her ankle that is sore may be a localized infection(sometimes called cellulitis)of the skin and underlying tissue. A visit to the doctor for an antibiotic will probably take care of the problem, heat on the area(as opposed to ice), elevation should all work.

Keep her hydrated. Obviously if Cherry Coke is working, keep up with that. The only thing is that it has a lot of sugar, which may cause diarrhea, so try and alternate it with Pedialyte, or those Pedialyte ice pops...less sugar, more electrolyes. Gatorade and Powerade are OK, but again, both have a lot of sugar which may cause diarrhea. If I do Gatorade/Powerade, I usually "cut" it by adding a little water.

Good luck and keep us posted how she's doing.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

My kids have had daily icees with their sickness, it really helps, and they want to drink them!
Glad she is being seen, hope it is nothing at all.
I put this on your other thread, thought I would stick it here too. Have not read it all, may be some hints that could help you.
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/varicella/
Off to take DS to the Dr.(AGAIN!)

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

DS's sickness had led to another infection, glad we got antibiotics before the weekend. I told DH I need a LONG weekend away when everyone gets well...a NO KIDS vacation! It is tough when they don't feel good.
I am getting worried since your DD's appt. was before lunch. Any news?