Our week...
SUNDAY: Loralai was really lethargic, feverish, and did not want to eat or hardly drink anything all day.
MONDAY: she started to complain that she felt as though she had sand in her mouth. So after work we headed over to the walk in clinic, after spending 3 hours waiting, she was diagnosed with strep and provided with antibiotics. So that evening I gave her her first dose of antibiotics and continued with the Advil since she was still feverish and uncomfortable.
TUESDAY: during the day she seemed as though she was getting better, that even though after I had given her the final dose of antibiotics for the day and Advil for the fever and comfort, she woke up at about 9pm and was really in a lot of pain soaked from sweat. Since this was (what I felt) the worst she had been since Sunday when she was all lethargic, and although now 24hrs on the antibiotics, was still getting worse. I called Telehealth and inquired to what I should do, they advised that it was typical of strep that it would take at least 24 hrs for the antibiotics to begin working, that that her fever must have broken which is why she woke up soaked. But that I should continue with what I was doing.
WEDNESDAY: Loralai seemed as she was better (again), and although she got tired quicker then normal, we did play at the park, she ate normally, and she seemed in good spirits. Later that evening when sitting down to eat dinner, she started to really cry in pain about her lip burning. I looked at her lips and they did seem to have a red line (think lip liner) around the outside, so I applied a cold cloth and then lots of lip balm.
THURSDAY: after I came home to pick her up from work, Grandma showed me that she had little blisters on the inside of her lip, she thought that maybe they were fever blisters.She had complained that it hurt to eat. I called Carrie (her daycare provider) and went over to show her, she said that maybe they could be because the strep was worse then expect, or it could be hand, foot, and mouth disease. I decided that I would take her directly to the hospital this time, we were actually in and out of the hospital within 1.5hrs which is amazingly quick. The doctor confirmed that she had hand, foot, and mouth disease, and that it is the same strain of virus that gives an adult a cold sore. Because it is a virus there is nothing that we can do but wait it out. This virus is also very common in pre-school and kindergarten age. Luckily Loralai only had a mild case, she never got any on her hands or feet, and the pain from the blisters that are in her mouth have been minimal (thank goodness). We discontinued her antibiotics, and we were advised that she wouldn't return to daycare until after the blisters have dried up/gone away. Loralai was awake for 2 hrs in the night, I think it was partly to the discomfort.
FRIDAY: Loralai was back to her regular spunky self, eating and drinking with no problem, and no requirement for any Advil at all (she never once complained of discomfort or that "sand" feeling in her mouth).
SATURDAY: Again back to normal, and it looks as though some of the blisters have already started to disappear, I can only see the ones on the inside of her lip now. There used to be one on her upper gum, on her tongue, on the back of her throat, and then on her inner right cheek. I called Telehealth again today to see if Loralai could join us at Great Grandma's 99th birthday celebration. There is so much conflicting information on the internet about this virus, that I wanted to hear it from the mouth of a nurse...she advised that the virus can be contagious for several weeks after all the symptoms have disappeared they are transmitted from direct contact with the fluids from the nose and throat, as well as through the feces. It is through the feces that it is contagious for the longest, Loralai never had a rash or anything on her bottom. The Nurse also mentioned that normally in most daycare centres after the fever has been gone for at least 24hrs they can return, but I think I will wait until all the blisters have gone before I send her back. The average length of time that this virus shows symptoms if 7 days, so tomorrow will be the 7th, hopefully they have all disappeared by then!
Here is a picture of Loralai's blisters as of Friday morning.
This illness has made me think back to everything that Loralai has had up until this point:
- Roseola
- Ear infections
- Throat infections
- Common Cold
- Pink eye
-Lice
- and now hand, foot, and mouth disease
I really cannot complain too much now, since most of these occurred in the first 2 years of her life, and she normally kicks colds very fast. But I still hate the helpless feeling that I get every time I cannot take the pain and discomfort anyway from her. With school starting in just in two short weeks, I can only hope and pray that the next year is not too packed full with colds and illnesses, considering that she will be introduced to new children and new germs!
