I'm an overanxious mom (just a quick "vent")

[Maleficent13]

DD started a runny nose on Monday night. Tuesday evening, she ran a fever of 102, which came down immediately with Motrin. Wed morning no fever, still the runny nose. Wed night, fever back, 102, came down with Motrin. During all this, she is eating, drinking, eliminating, and playing as normal. The only time she "acts" sick is when the fever comes back. Once the Motrin kicks in she's back to herself.

I called the doc, who said I'm doing all the right things, and to just wait it out. She told me if the fever got progressively higher each day, or refused to come down with meds, to call them back, but other than that, it's okay. She also said it may be 3-4 days before the fever goes away.

So, knowing all that, I'm STILL anxious. I can deal with vomit, ear infections, bowel issues, etc, but a runny nose and a fever have me .

 

[NMAmy]

That's because it's one of those mystery illnesses that kids seem to get. Perfectly fine, just a high fever. Makes no sense.

With an ear infection, you have a plan of action--take her to the dr, get the antibiotics, and then fight with her to administer the antibiotics. Mystery fever--who knows what the heck to do?

I'm sure little Hepzibah Mathilda will be doing better soon. It's normal mom behavior to worry about it, Mal.

 

[Sherri]

I hate fevers also. They worry me even though we have had our fair share of them throughout the years. My DS had one over the summer after a week at the beach. I got worried because he did not respond to Motrin. The Doctor suggested he may have Mono. because it lingered so long. But then one day he got up and was fine. I can handle a lot, but I agree fevers get my mind working overtime with possible causes.
Hope DD feels better soon.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Maybe this will ease your mind. A fever is not an illness. Fever is a good thing. A fever is your bodies response to illness. The fever is working to try to make your dd better. If you keep giving her tylenol, she will take longer to get better. Unless she has an unusually high temp (102 isn't, unless she is an infant), or is in pain, I would just let the fever do it's job. When my kids have a fever, I ask if they are in any pain, if they say no, I let the fever run it's course, with lots of liquids to prevent dehydration. If they say yes, they get tylenol. Try to view fever as a good thing, then maybe you won't feel so bad for your dd.

Here are a couple of links on this subject, there are many out there.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/fever.html

I like this quote from this next link:

"While a fever signals to us that a battle might be going on in the body, the fever is fighting for the person, not against."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003090.htm

 

[jcsbama]

It'll be ok. I know how you feel though. I think I get anxious because I'm wondering when I'll have to take her to the dr. Other than for fever, OTC medicines just do not work on DD. Her runny nose ALWAYS turns into something worse, usually ear infections or breathing problems. At least with stomach issues I usually know how long it will last. DD has a bad cough that has come back (just had it about a month ago) and now the runny nose has started. I predict I'll finally be in the dr.'s office this time next week.

 

[mickeyboat]

Same thing happens to my girls. It's irritating when you end up staying home with them for a fever, and after the Motrin, they are bouncing all around ready to play. You can always tell when the medicine is starting to wear off, too.

I generally don't worry about a fever, even a highish one, if I can get it to come down with meds.

When Emily was a baby, she would get fevers, with no other symptoms, that would last one day, and then go away. I was certain she had lupus or lukemia, but her doctor was not worried. I finally decided she was fighting off something, and she won!

Denae

 

[magicmato]

It will be ok! And you are NOT an overanxious mom! We have all been right there in your shoes.

Let me give you an example:

My first daughter did not have many fevers until she was older and even now she only gets them when she is very sick and they have never gone very high.

My second daughter gets a fever at the drop of a hat. Just like your child, she will have the sniffles and run a fever. She will be fine during the day and then around 9 or 10 she will wake up with a 104 fever. What my Doctor told me was that unless it goes over 105 it is nothing life threatening and that it is normal. He said to immediately dose with tylenol or motrin and watch to make sure it came down. Also, we were to make sure she was eating and drinking normally and that she was not acting strangely. If it went over 105 or she suddenly was overly listless or unresponsive, we were to call immediately and prepare to go in to the emergency room, as that is when they get worried and may need to intervene.

The first time she did this (she was just about a year old), it happened every night for two weeks. Scared the living stuffing out of us! But she was fine and still is fine, though she does it a few times a year, she is now 2.5.

What the Doctor said is that since children have no antibodies to normally mild viruses, they have to build them. The fevers are their bodies reacting to the viruses and fighting them off. In the end, it is a good thing.

Hope your little one gets over it quickly! Keep pushing fluids and make sure she gets a lot of rest! Good luck.

 

[minkydog]

It sounds like you're doing a great job. Just another word of encouragement: The fever number is not particularly important. It doesn't mean much and doesnt' necessarily correlate with severity of illness--high fever does not designate the illness as "worse" than others. Behavior is a very good predictor of outcome, however--playful activity predicts a good outcome. Playful activity is what makes the difference in how worried you need to be: A child who can't play, won't drink, won't look at you, sleeps or cries constantly for more than a couple hours needs intervention; a child who gets playful when the motrin kicks in is not overwhelmed by their illness & is not likely to have a life-threatening illness. (A child with meningitis is not playful. Ever.)

So if they can play now & then, keep the popsicles coming and lay in a supply of coloring books and videos. Most viral illnesses will go on 3-5days. If your child is getting worse, adding symptoms, or complaining of pain then of course the child should be seen. Hope she's feeling better soon!

 

[Maleficent13]

You all are making me feel so much better...thanks so much!!

 

[Bob Slydell]

I agree with the poster that said that these viral infections last for many days and there's not many other symptoms except for a fever. Our little guy had one a few months ago and it was the same thing for a whole week -- wake up with a fever, get a dose of Motrin, be fine half the day, the fever came back, another dose of Motrin, back to being fine, rinse, repeat and lather...

Hang in there -- you (and DD) will be fine.

 

[Christine]

I always got more *annoyed* with those types of illnesses than anything. You never know if you should "wait it out", never know if you should go to the doctor, you know you cannot go to work because the fever is to high for daycare, you have no idea WHEN you can get back to work. Those viruses are LONG and aggravating.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Maybe this will ease your mind. A fever is not an illness. Fever is a good thing. A fever is your bodies response to illness. The fever is working to try to make your dd better. If you keep giving her tylenol, she will take longer to get better. Unless she has an unusually high temp (102 isn't, unless she is an infant), or is in pain, I would just let the fever do it's job. When my kids have a fever, I ask if they are in any pain, if they say no, I let the fever run it's course, with lots of liquids to prevent dehydration. If they say yes, they get tylenol. Try to view fever as a good thing, then maybe you won't feel so bad for your dd.

Here are a couple of links on this subject, there are many out there.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/fever.html

I like this quote from this next link:

"While a fever signals to us that a battle might be going on in the body, the fever is fighting for the person, not against."

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003090.htm

I also rarely treat a fever unless they are having a real hard time sleeping. Then I might give them something to break the fever before bed, but I try not to do this because they tend to feel worse when the fever comes back. In general, I only give them meds if they are real achy. Three of us had the flu last winter--for that we needed Tylenol/Advil type medicine, but for the normal fever we don't usually. I push fluids so they won't get dehydrated. They sure can be miserable, though! I hope you're DD is over this soon!

 

[MickeysMommy]

for my pal!

 

[magicmato]

I also should add that if you have any concerns or questions, if anything ever seems off and you are not sure, call your Dr, even if it is late at night. I do it and have had the Drs tell me it is ok, even if I feel like they think I am being rediculously overcautious. In the end, they would rather you call and they can tell you not to worry, than for you to not call and have it be something they would want to act immediately on.