As a mum of six I have probably had most parenting challenges thrown at me in one way or another, but there is nothing worse than seeing your child ill or in pain.
When Abbey was a baby she suffered Febrile Convulsions as a result of a high temperature and although I have made sure I am first aid trained ever since and know what to do for most eventualities it is still the one thing that scares me the most, as I remember seeing her in resus with me in a blind state of panic.
When the kids have a temperature now, I make sure I manage it with some liquid paracetamol (I won’t use Calpol because of all the additives in it), ibuprofen if needed, plenty of water to drink and to get outside for a few minutes if they are up to it as this helps to cool them down.
On Saturday Sebastian started to feel hot and was sick on the ferry between Jersey and Guernsey. If I am honest I didn’t read too much into it as it was stupidly warm on the boat and we were all feeling green, but on Sunday he was off his breakfast and more sleepy than usual with a familiar odour on his breath.
Last year Sebastian suffered with several bouts of tonsilitis and was referred to an ENT specialist. After hearing tests and checks they decided that he had enlarged adenoids but there was nothing to worry about and this winter season he has no problems, I think in part due to us using a Dyson Air Multiplier in his room which has really helped. Typically I cancelled a follow-up appointment for next week as I didn’t want to waste their time.
By Monday it was clear he was really poorly with a temperature of 40.1 and I phoned the GP for an appointment. They were full, as they always are after a weekend, so arranged a triage call sometime that afternoon. I left the receptionist with his symptoms and I have to say the surgery were brilliant and they phoned me back within 5 minutes and got me to come straight down.
He was diagnosed with severe tonsilitis and we spent 15 minutes in the surgery trying to find suitable medication for him as he had an adverse reaction to penicillin last year and I was advised to come back if his condition worsened as they were concerned about his drowsiness.
I normally find that alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen works on bringing down the kids temperature and for the most part it did – always creeping up in the last hour before he was due his next dose, but yesterday he really scared me. Antibiotics normally take between 12-24 hours to kick in, but 24 hours in his temperature was 40.8 and he was listless and very obviously struggling.
I phoned the GP again, who were again full, but this time they couldn’t see him until later on that afternoon, despite me being really worried. He was due another dose of ibuprofen so I gave him that, stripped his clothes off and literally checked his temperature every 15 minutes to see if it was coming down, which it did but painfully slowly. I managed to put together a changing bag for him as I was so close to taking him to A&E.
Thankfully his next dose of paracetamol seemed to bring his temperature down to near normal levels and he perked up enough to play with his brother and sister when they got home from school.
Although we have had an unsettled night I think Sebby is now on the mend and although his temperature is still raised, it is nowhere near as high as it was yesterday and I think we are coming out the other side.
Parenting can be terrifying at times, can’t it?
Ooh poor Seb , not nice seeing little ones Ill X
Biggest hugs
It’s just awful when the kids are ill and you can’t do anything about it. It’s so worrying and I have always felt nobody else was bothered. I was once in the doctor’s and a mother came rushing in with her child who was obviously very ill and they refused to give her an appointment and told her to go to the drop in centre which is on the centre of the city and a good 45 minutes away!
It’s awful when your children are unwell and you feel helpless, although it sounds like you did all the right things and I’m glad he seems to be getting better. I hope he’s fully back to his old self soon. x
I turn into an even more paranoid woman when my daughter is sick. It’s awful especially when you do all you can just to make them feel better and nothing seems to work. Thankfully we’ve only had the usual bad coughs, colds and recently chickenpox. She hasn’t had tonsillitis yet. I dread it, because I remember what it felt like and it was awful, wasn’t it? Glad your little one is feeling better now.
Aww! Bless him! I hope he is feeling better soon!
It is awful when our children are ill….My girl is off school today after being sick last night. She’s on the mend though. Phew!
You’ve never sure when you are overreacting or just doing the right thing.
It is so hard when the kids are ill. I am first to admit I turn into calm mummy to mrs paranoid. I don’t like Ibuprofen but that is my own issue as I have asthma and if i take that it brings on an attack so that side of things is defo paranoid mummy but I am happy to say both my kids can have it thank goodness
I hope he feels much better soon poor wee man x
Definitely, Kara, do get him checked if temperature persists as it has been quite a while for his body to be poorly, poor thing!xx
Aw bless the poor little thing, their really is nothing worse then your children being unwell. I bet it was rather scary for you that his temp was not coming down. I hope he is soon back to his normal self xx
I hate it when they are sick, i never know whether I should rush them to the doctors (and be labeled a worrying mother) or to leave it (and then be wrong about how sick they are) I hate seeing them unwell
Oh goodness, I do hope Sebby is on the mend now! I absolutely hate it when O is poorly – but I agree, alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen does seem to do a lot more than just giving one or the other x
Sorry to hear that about sebby i too have been in the same situation with my 3 year old daughter. She had a high temp due to tonsilitus and ended up in hospital for 2 days after having a febrile convulsion. Her temp kept spiking while she was in hospital and i adamtly regused to let them discharge her till her temp was stabilised and was no sign of spiking again. She ended up having 2 lots of antibiotics and still has a bit of a cough but pleased to say she is back to her mischivious self again. Im glad im not the only mum whos been thru this recently. Its been a bit of a nightmare. Glad sebby is on the mend and feeling better.
“I normally find that alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen works on bringing down the kids temperature and for the most part it did” – Totally! Yeah, I did this with Jenny when she had a bad cold and this made all the difference. Wise word!
Hope Sebastian is all better now. I hate it when the kids are ill, luckily this doesn’t happen to often. I learnt last year about alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen as it was the only way to get the temperature down on a delirious 6 year old.
What a terrifying ordeal it must have been for you, I do not have kids yet so I can only sympathise and glad to know Sebastian is on the mend
It can be as scary as hell some times can’t it. I was terrified when I saw blood coming out of Monkey’s ear when I was away with him last year. By ourselves, in a city I didn’t know. Not an experience I’d want to repeat in a hurry. Good to see your little man looking a bit brighter in your photos today x
It’s horrible when children are ill, especially when you’re away. And even if they’re not your first. Glad he’s now on the mend
It is indeed terrifying – especially for me as my girl won’t take any medicine at all! Glad to hear he seems on the mend now. Tonsillitis is really horrible 🙁
My god that must have been terrifying hun but you did a fantastic job and you should be proud of yourself.
I always feel helpless when my two are poorly – I just wish I could take the pain for them!
Glad to see it sounds like he’s over the worst of it x
Oh my gosh the Febrile Convulsions must have been so scary to see and deal with x
Oh Kara, poor Seb. There is nothing in the world worse than the poorly children. I would do anything for my boys never to suffer. I have had two unwell boys this week and it has been horrible, nothing as bad as Sebby thought
You’re so right. There is no greater pain than seeing your child in pain. Hope little Seb is feeling better now x
Its horrible seeing little ones ill, I always wish I could take it away from them when they are. I’m such a huge worrier too like I normally end up sleeping on the floor in there room until there better. Hope he feels better soon xx
It’s really horrible when your little ones are ill. You just feel so helpless about it all. Glad you managed to get his temperature down and I’m sure the antibiotics will be eorking their magic soon
It’s horrid when they’re ill, we just had a worry with my eldest as she had most of the meningitis symptoms so the dr rushed us in but thankfully it was just an awful virus, and shes feeling much better now. Hope Sebby is all better soon