When will my poor baba get a break? Just when I thought it was all behind him fever struck on Friday. James tried goat milk for the first time on Friday. This was our attempt to transition him to a milk that's not mine. I wanted him via webcam as he drank his first bottle at 10:30. I checked back in around 11 and saw that he wasn't changed, so he didn't vomit! I thought 'Yay, small victory for us!'.
However after the second bottle around 2:30, James vomited twice. He was only given less than an ounce with 3 oz of my milk which was what he digested in the morning. So I went to daycare to pick him up. Once there the teachers said that he hasn't been himself and that he's moping around, putting his head down, etc which is uncharacteristic for James. That worried me because the last time he was like that he had HFM!
I immediately called his doctor and advised them that we needed to see a doctor. Then I called Adit to pick us up and take us there. Once at the doctor we were seen by a nurse, then the doctor. James didn't have a fever while there, but at daycare his temp was 99.5. Then of course as I'm explaining that James was mopey and wasn't himself today, James was running around the office smiling, laughing, the picture of good health. Lol!
I'm sure the doctor thought I was nuts, but I knew something was wrong with my baby despite how he was acting. No matter the discomfort or pain James is in, he wants to play and be independent so he tries his best to be happy and active. In any case the doctor checked his ears for an infection, his breathing was normal and so was everything else. The doctor asked us to monitor it because perhaps it was the beginning of whatever it was he has.
Saturday was busy, we visited some friends in Scarborough and went for a walk before that. James was content and happy. The friends we visited had a kids so James played with the older boy, Jacob. James like following him around. After James went to bed I want to dinner and karaoke with a few friends. It was a lot of fun and something we'll have to try again soon! We celebrated two of my friend's birthdays which was fun!
So then it was Sunday. The day started out well. We went to get groceries at Costco then went home. Once home, we realized that James had a high fever of 103.9! So we dropped everything and rushed to the emergency. He had a fever earlier that morning, but not this high. The reason we need to go to the hospital is because of fear of seizures caused by high fevers.
We were seen almost right away and James was given some Tylenol to reduce the fever. The doctor said that there is a virus going around so maybe he has that. They took a swab of his nostrils to run some tests and we'll get the results tomorrow. Then as a precaution I asked the doctor to check for a UTI by taking a bladder sample. The doctor agreed, but I asked for the bag collection method, rather than the catheter. The nurse put the bag on and I began to nurse him waiting or some pee. We walked around the hospital for about an hour and still no pee. Since it was past his dinner and sleep time we decided to head home and take the sample to our doctor. Of course once I picked James out of the car seat, I felt a squishy bag full of pee! Since the pee is only good for a short window, Adit rushed it back to the hospital. They determined the results to be normal, so at least we knew it wasn't that.
James slept as normal and woke up at 6:30. I stayed home with him since he still had a high fever. The fever wains once he takes medicine and climbs back up once it starts to wear away. I'm nursing James to sleep now and hopefully he'll feel better tomorrow.
Happy reading!
Rachel
Showing posts with label doctor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctor. Show all posts
April 30, 2012
April 3, 2012
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease :(
I am sure most of you are wondering what this is so here's a definition from babycenter before I go on:
"Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually a mild illness caused by one of a group of coxsackie viruses. It gets its name from the little sores that develop on the hands and feet, and in the mouth. It’s common in children under 10, although adults can get a milder form of the virus. "
Now here's why it's important. James developed a high fever overnight so I gave him Tempra (infant tylenol) and it started to go down. James was really clingy and didn't want to sleep in his crib so I brought him to bed with me. After hours of nonstop nursing he finally gave me 2.5hrs of sleep. This meant that I had a terrible migraine in the morning. I can never properly function with a migraine so I didn't go to work today.
As for James his fever was decreasing, but still there. I called his daycare to let them know about his absence. While discussing the administrator advised me that there were 2 cases of HMF and 1 of chicken pox. So I asked if that was at the center or his classroom and she said his classroom! I was mortified as I didn't want either for James.
I remember a friend of mine's daughter had HFM soon after starting daycare so I was wondering how kids get it and what the symptoms were so here they are:
How can my baby catch HFM:
"Hand, foot and mouth disease is contagious and easily passed on from person to person. Your baby can catch it if someone with the virus coughs or sneezes near him, or from contact with stool, saliva or fluid from the sores. If your baby catches it he will be most contagious a few days before symptoms appear, so it can be hard to anticipate or prevent.
Not surprisingly, outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease are common in daycares and nursery schools. Hygiene is very important to prevent it spreading, so wash your hands and your baby’s hands frequently with soap and water." - Baby Center
What are the Symptoms:
"The telltale signs of the virus are small, blister-like sores in your baby's mouth, and on his hands and feet. The sores may spread up the backs of his legs and onto his bottom and genitals. The blisters can be extremely sore, and your baby may not want to drink or eat because of the blisters in his mouth. Your baby may also feel unwell, and have a sore throat and mild fever for a day or two, and go off his food.
It usually takes between three and five days for symptoms to appear once your baby is infected. Hand, foot and mouth disease will be uncomfortable for your baby, but rest assured that it's not a serious illness. " - Baby Center
So this afternoon I saw a little bump on his chin then a little later saw a bump on his palm. This is when we went to the doctor. We didn't have an appointment so we had to wait until almost closing time. The doctor advised us that the bumps we saw could just be from the fever but the ones he found on his knee looked like more cause for concern. He said that it's probably not chicken pox as sores start on the belly of which James had none.
He was more concerned with James' fever so he asked us to monitor it and come back if he worsened in 2 days.
So all we know right now is that he doesn't have chicken pox, has a fever, and may or may not have HFM. So on the way home from the doctor I stopped by daycare to collect my milk for James. Once there I heard that there are 2 cases if chicken pox and 4 cases of HFM. The odds don't look promising for James.
I'll continue to monitor him and keep him comfy in my arms. For pain relief the doctor recommended infant tylenol of which he is taking. Also I need to continuously nurse him since he's not eating much food.
Has your child ever had HFM? What did you do to comfort them? How long did it last? Please share your experience with us on the blog!
Happy reading!
Rachel
"Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually a mild illness caused by one of a group of coxsackie viruses. It gets its name from the little sores that develop on the hands and feet, and in the mouth. It’s common in children under 10, although adults can get a milder form of the virus. "
Now here's why it's important. James developed a high fever overnight so I gave him Tempra (infant tylenol) and it started to go down. James was really clingy and didn't want to sleep in his crib so I brought him to bed with me. After hours of nonstop nursing he finally gave me 2.5hrs of sleep. This meant that I had a terrible migraine in the morning. I can never properly function with a migraine so I didn't go to work today.
As for James his fever was decreasing, but still there. I called his daycare to let them know about his absence. While discussing the administrator advised me that there were 2 cases of HMF and 1 of chicken pox. So I asked if that was at the center or his classroom and she said his classroom! I was mortified as I didn't want either for James.
I remember a friend of mine's daughter had HFM soon after starting daycare so I was wondering how kids get it and what the symptoms were so here they are:
How can my baby catch HFM:
"Hand, foot and mouth disease is contagious and easily passed on from person to person. Your baby can catch it if someone with the virus coughs or sneezes near him, or from contact with stool, saliva or fluid from the sores. If your baby catches it he will be most contagious a few days before symptoms appear, so it can be hard to anticipate or prevent.
Not surprisingly, outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease are common in daycares and nursery schools. Hygiene is very important to prevent it spreading, so wash your hands and your baby’s hands frequently with soap and water." - Baby Center
What are the Symptoms:
"The telltale signs of the virus are small, blister-like sores in your baby's mouth, and on his hands and feet. The sores may spread up the backs of his legs and onto his bottom and genitals. The blisters can be extremely sore, and your baby may not want to drink or eat because of the blisters in his mouth. Your baby may also feel unwell, and have a sore throat and mild fever for a day or two, and go off his food.
It usually takes between three and five days for symptoms to appear once your baby is infected. Hand, foot and mouth disease will be uncomfortable for your baby, but rest assured that it's not a serious illness. " - Baby Center
So this afternoon I saw a little bump on his chin then a little later saw a bump on his palm. This is when we went to the doctor. We didn't have an appointment so we had to wait until almost closing time. The doctor advised us that the bumps we saw could just be from the fever but the ones he found on his knee looked like more cause for concern. He said that it's probably not chicken pox as sores start on the belly of which James had none.
He was more concerned with James' fever so he asked us to monitor it and come back if he worsened in 2 days.
So all we know right now is that he doesn't have chicken pox, has a fever, and may or may not have HFM. So on the way home from the doctor I stopped by daycare to collect my milk for James. Once there I heard that there are 2 cases if chicken pox and 4 cases of HFM. The odds don't look promising for James.
I'll continue to monitor him and keep him comfy in my arms. For pain relief the doctor recommended infant tylenol of which he is taking. Also I need to continuously nurse him since he's not eating much food.
Has your child ever had HFM? What did you do to comfort them? How long did it last? Please share your experience with us on the blog!
Happy reading!
Rachel
March 20, 2012
What a Difference a Doctor Makes!
How do you know your child's pediatrician/family doctor is right for you? This was something that's been bothering me for awhile. In case you don't know I am American and am used to the paid medical service there. I used to pay a portion of the premium on my paycheck bi-weekly and my employer paid the rest. What's great about this system was that I didn't have to wait for anything, doctors were readily available to see me for all my ailments, lol! Also there were no waits longer than a couple days for any x-rays/tests. Since I've been out of the states for about 5 years now I seemed to have forgotten what this service was like.
I remember how difficult it was to find a pediatrician when I was pregnant. I called almost all the doctors on the directory provided by the government and no one was accepting. I spoke with my OB and she advised that I can probably get one after I deliver. This did stress me out a little because they won't let you leave the hospital without having one. After we had James, the nurses advised us that there were 2 doctors that they knew of who were accepting. We chose one, called and since she was accepting we were so happy we made our 2-day appointment. I was so relieved that we got the doctor for James.
This doctor was good at the beginning or so we thought. She was always in a rush, asked us to prepare questions at each visit. So when she came in the room we had less than 5 minutes with her. Every month she checked James's weight and answered questions. I felt so rushed and pressured that I never asked all my questions. I remember when I asked about how much James is eating she responded by saying that babies eat small, baby portions. After that I should have know that this relationship wouldn't work out. However I continued to see her for a year. As a new mom I felt very vulnerable. I knew that we deserved more care, but I didn't know what she was doing wrong exactly. So I polled my mommy friends and asked them what their doctors were like. I heard a range of answers. Some said that their doctors were very busy and took the time to answer their questions. This was similar to my situation. Others said that their doctors were very patient and discussed milestones, meal plans, and more care for their babies. The latter was they type of doctor I was looking for. So I got a referral from a friend and booked my first appointment with the new doctor.
This doctor is a family physician rather than pediatrician. I would prefer a pediatrician, but at this point I can't be choosy. I heard great things about her from my friend and she didn't let me down. After our visit yesterday I felt so relieved. She took the time to get to know us. She did the typical exams and said that once she receives our charts she can do more for us. She is affiliated with a hospital so can refer us to a dietitian, nutritionist, etc if we needed it. Also she asked about milestones with James and gave us "homework" to help him progress his development. This was so amazing, I was so happy to have someone who finally cared. I felt that the other doctor just assumed everything was ok unless we had questions. This is not good care for a new mom who needs lots of help. My only regret is that I didn't find this new doctor sooner.
So my lesson for you moms out there is to trust your instincts. If you don't feel comfortable or have that nagging feeling that something isn't right, don't be passive like I was. Take charge of the situation, ask for help, and get it resolved. You will be far happy with the outcome. So please keep this in mind when getting a doctor for your little one, as I wouldn't want anyone to go through the stress and anxiety that I did for far too long. I am happy now and looking forward to building a new relationship with James' doctor!
Hope this helps someone out there and feel free to share any other tips that can help moms decide the difference between good and not so good doctors.
Happy reading!
Rachel
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