OT - Sick DD3 - Advice Please

[SharpMomOfTwo]

For those of you who read my last sick kid thread, my DD18 months was throwing up and had to be brought to the emergency room due to it. We ended up getting her to drink a little at a time while there without vomiting it, and they let us go home. A day or two after that, DD3 wouldn't eat anything. Then that night, we were up the entire night with her throwing up about every 30 minutes. Then that was it, she didn't get sick again, but refused to eat. Well we are on day 5 of her not eating, and now she is constantly complaining of stomach pains, and she is also having dihreah. We have told her that she wont get better unless she eats something, anything, but she just crys, and says no. We are bringing her into the Dr today (whenever they call to give us an appt) - what do you think they are going to say? Are we going to have to take this one to the emergency room to get an IV too? I'm so upset and worried! Is there anything I can do to aviod that like I did last time with DD18 months??

TIA

 

[Aliceacc]

Will she suck on an ice cube? How about a frozen ice pop?

Obviously she'll need fluids soon. 5 days without food and losing fluid is NOT good!

Keep an eye on her and don't hesitate to take her to the ER, Easter or not. Be aware of that lethargy you mentioned last time.

And remember, if they do give her an IV: it's to replenish fluids-- it will help her get well and won't hurt any more than a vaccination or blood test.

Good luck!

 

[nessz79]

Will she suck on an ice cube? How about a frozen ice pop?

Obviously she'll need fluids soon. 5 days without food and losing fluid is NOT good!

Keep an eye on her and don't hesitate to take her to the ER, Easter or not. Be aware of that lethargy you mentioned last time.

And remember, if they do give her an IV: it's to replenish fluids-- it will help her get well and won't hurt any more than a vaccination or blood test.

Good luck!

I agree. Watch her.

Our son had a stomach flu like this in November. He went about 5 days without eating much of anything and I was about to take him to the hospital...however, that very day, he was able to start nibbling on things again.

It's hard to say what the Dr. will tell you. 5 days is a long time. My son looked quite emaciated when he finally got better.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

For those of you who read my last sick kid thread, my DD18 months was throwing up and had to be brought to the emergency room due to it. We ended up getting her to drink a little at a time while there without vomiting it, and they let us go home. A day or two after that, DD3 wouldn't eat anything. Then that night, we were up the entire night with her throwing up about every 30 minutes. Then that was it, she didn't get sick again, but refused to eat. Well we are on day 5 of her not eating, and now she is constantly complaining of stomach pains, and she is also having dihreah. We have told her that she wont get better unless she eats something, anything, but she just crys, and says no. We are bringing her into the Dr today (whenever they call to give us an appt) - what do you think they are going to say? Are we going to have to take this one to the emergency room to get an IV too? I'm so upset and worried! Is there anything I can do to aviod that like I did last time with DD18 months??

TIA

Is she keeping fluids down? Even though she is not throwing up anymore, you have to watch for dehydration because of the diarrhea. Sometimes kids are afraid to eat after they have thrown up because they don't want to go through it again, and sometimes things don't taste good. If she is keeping fluids down, make sure they are nutritious and give her plenty. Try Pedialyte if she will drink it. Popsicles for breakfast always work for my girls since they don't usually get that! Be careful about fruit juices since they can make the diarrhea worse. If she only wants apple juice, for example, water it WAY down with water. You probably know the BRAT diet for diarrhea - bananas, rice, applesauce, toast. They all work to firm up stools, and the bananas provide needed potassium. If you can get her to eat a mashed banana or some applesauce, that should give her nutrients as well as help to firm up her stools. No need to stick to a liquid diet - she needs some bulk to get over the diarrhea. I'd keep it very bland for a day or two - plain pasta if she won't do rice, toast with a little jelly or honey - whatever sounds good to her.

The stomach pains might be caused by gas, particulary if she has tried to eat anything. Is her stomach gurgling? Sometimes kids can't distinguish between the throw-up stomach ache and the gas stomach ache. Too much gas can cause her to throw up again, so try to watch that.

If she hasn't thrown up for five days, she is likely over the virus but has not been able to regulate her digestive system since there is nothing in it. Her appetite will return. DD5 only ate a few bites at a time for almost a week, and now she has been eating everything for several days! Keep trying with the foods that will help and encourage her to eat small amounts, but don't be surprised if she is unwilling. Will she eat goldfish, saltine crackers, pretzels? Try to find something that she likes as long as it is bland. As long as she is keeping the fluids down and getting some calories that way, I don't expect she would need to have an IV.

Good luck! It has been a terrible winter for the stomach virus, but it will pass!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Thanks everyone - she is drinking so no one was worried about dehydration. The diarrhea was very small. Dr. said that as long as she was drinking, she didn't really care about the non eating - also, she has been eating a bit here and there, just a bite or two, but thats it. She doesn't seem much better today, but shes getting there.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Thanks everyone - she is drinking so no one was worried about dehydration. The diarrhea was very small. Dr. said that as long as she was drinking, she didn't really care about the non eating - also, she has been eating a bit here and there, just a bite or two, but thats it. She doesn't seem much better today, but shes getting there.

Thanks for the kind words.

Glad she is improving some! Hang in there - it seems to take a while to recover from this particular virus that is making the rounds this winter, but her appetite will return. Just keep giving her liquids and try to see if there is anythign that sounds good to her. Hope she is much better in the morning!

 

[Nicoleclaw]

I am glad she is doing alittle better. I have to say when I started reading your post, I thought, sounds like around here. EVERYONE IS or has been sick and it seems like the families are coming down with it at the same time, instead of it taking a few days to go from kid to kid. Anyways, lol, then I looked by your name and saw you were from the Jersey shore, and I am too! Whatever this virus is, it is bad, although I teach middle school, and the kids aren't really absent any more than normal. Hope she continues to feel better and you don't get it!

 

[MistyD]

Poor thing! My DD, 21 months, has been sick for a week now. She's on ear infection #7 in the last 12 months so we are FINALLY seeing an ENT on Tuesday!

On the 14th we took her to the dr and she had some congestion so they gave us a prescription for a decongestant. By Monday she had a full blown EI and terrible cough. She's coughing up the drainage and will cough and cough until the throws up all the mucus. She acts fine except that she's congested until she has a spasm.

On top of that, she's getting her 2 year molars too! She's being a trooper through all of this!

 

[Aliceacc]

Yep, I was up all night with a 5 year old and what's got to be a bad ear infection, possibly a double.

We'll be calling the pediatrician at 9 a.m.--- well, actually my husband will. I'll be busy at the dentist by then.

Sounds like a fun Easter vacation, huh???

 

[Merriwind]

SharpMom-

I've seen both of your threads and am so glad that your kids are doing better. I just wanted to let you know that if your child is ever dehydrated enough to need an IV, they are not going to remember it. DD10 had Rotavirus right after her third birthday. She wound up in the ER with a fluids bolus and then admitted for four days--on an IV the whole time. She was so weak and sick, she has only a hazy memory of the whole experience--and none whatsover of the IV. If they need it, they need it and while it may be tough on you, they're too sick to care, notice or remember. It's one of those "way worse for mom than the child" experiences.

So glad, though, that your kids didn't need one! Hang in there!