Follow up on Last Question - Daughter Is Sick in the Hospital!!!!! What Do I Do?

One thing to remember.... I know others have posted it, also.. but YOU are very important... it is very important that YOU stay well and not so stressed... you are carrying 2 babies... you don't want anything to jeopardize their well-being at this point, also.

The hospital will take VERY good care of your daughter.. and I'm sure she understands that you can't be there every minute. Be sure to let grandma and grandpa help out in any way, either by helping take care of the other kiddos, or by helping with your daughter.

The DVD's are a good idea, as are any books she might like to read.

Let the school know what is going on, and ask for any work she can do once she comes home... that will help so she doesn't get so far behind. Be sure to get a note from the doctor saying WHAT activities she can participate in once she goes back to school, and also when she SHOULD go back to school. Give that to the school (make a copy for yourself, also, for your records.)

I'm glad you took her in. The hospitals will take grand care of her. I know you are worried for her, but as others before me have said, take care of yourself too, and let family help take some of the worries and burdens off of you.
Make sure they look at your other children's vaccination records thoroughly, and they will probably give them all a round of medication as a preventative.

Let the school know as soon as the tests are definite. They not only will take care of your daughter's schoolwork, but they will help make sure this doesn't go round and round.

Most important thing is for you to relax. Go get a cuppa, sit down and take a deep cleansing breath.

I know it's very difficult, but your daughter will stress when she sees you stressing. Our kids pick up on our feelings, so stay positive.

You have our thoughts and prayers.

When my daughter was 15 she went to bed one night perfectly fine. At about 3 AM she came into my room not feeling well by 7AM I knew she needed to go to the ER. Luckily I followed my intution, my older son came over and had to carry her to the car. We got her in and she was admitted right away. Her BP was 16 over 40 and she was having a lot of trouble breathing. She had the flu --- I was stunned -- the flu and she almost died. If I had waited much longer to get her to the ER she would not have made it. She stayed in the ER 6 hours receiving IV's to bring up her BP and then was transfered to a room. She ended up having to spend a couple of nights in the hospital. I could not stay with her though I wanted to, I had a younger son at home and I'm a single Mom.
Since you do have your hubby and his parents nearby it would be nice if you or one of them could spend the night with her. Hospitals are scary places even for an adult. She will be well cared for if you can not stay.

Oh no!
My 9 year old was diagnosed with whooping cough in August although she too was vaccinated. Our whole family had to be treated with antibiotic.
Don't forget to take care of yourself. You are taking care of 2 unborn infants.

They are finding that the vaccine does not last as long as they thought. If I were you I would ask about the rest of my kids as well as all who came in contact with your daughter who may be immunocompromised to see if they should get a vaccine...or is it too late. And let everyone know about it so that they can decide. Thanks to all of the parents who refuse to vaccinate this has become a problem for all of us.

Of my 4 kids, 3 have been in the hospital. Oldest for seizures, 2nd for heart attack and transplant, then cancer, third for appendicitis.

It's SO easy to beat yourself up and say to yourself you should have seen something earlier, or you are a bad mom. Please try not to do that. There are so many variables and no way to know for sure.

The silver lining for you is that the medical miracle called antibiotics will make everything just fine. Just be with her, read to her and keep her company. Try to avoic acting like it is something to get all worried about. If she senses that you are calm and confident, she will be too.

Bless you, mama - I definately know how hard it is on you!
I would also add that you keep in touch with her teacher and bring any get well cards from her class up and put them up in her room for her. It is so cool for kids to see that their peers are concerned!

Of course you're tense, anxious and even scared. Take several deep breaths often. This will help you relax.

Keep reminding yourself that your daughter will be fine. She is in the hospital and getting the best of care.

As others have said, it's really important that you take care of yourself so that your unborn babies will have the best of care. When my daughter was in the hospital, I stayed with her. For me this was the best way to get relaxed. I was there to see that she was OK. Hospitals now a days frequently have a chair that lays down to make a bed or a cot that they will put in the room.

With that high of a fever I suggest that your daughter doesn't need to be entertained. She just needs to know that you, her Daddy, her grandma or grandpa is there with her.

Tomorrow talk with the doctor about immunizations for your other children. It may be that they'll need a booster for whooping cough.

Once she goes home, get work for her from the school. Follow her doctor's instructions. The hospital will write them down and discuss them with you before you leave.

It is important to call the school soon so that they can take steps to protect children who've been exposed.

Keep telling yourself that she will be OK and take it one minute at a time.

Breathe deeply from the diaphragm. Place your hand on your stomach and feel it move with each breath.

**Adding This: Pertussis is contagious. Being you also have younger kids/a baby, be careful or watch that they don't get sick either.
Pertussis in babies, can be serious.
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Okay, about the Whooping Cough (ie: Pertussis).
From the ages of about 10-12 years old, a BOOSTER shot needs to be given to a child. The shot is called a TDAP.
My daughter who is 10, JUST got her Booster shot, for it.
So the one your daughter had when she was a baby... wore out its effectiveness.

Didn't your Pediatrician, tell you this? Or does your daughter go to her annual well child check ups? My daughter just got her TDAP booster at her recent annual check up. Our Pediatrician says, that middle school aged children, need the booster shot... because they can tend to get Pertussis at that age if they do not have the booster shot.

The Booster shots for Pertussis, are even recommended for Adults. And for anyone who has contact with babies etc.

The "TDAP" is for adolescents and adults.
The "DTaP" is for babies and children up to about 7 years old.
They are both Pertussis vaccines, and for Tetanus and Diphtheria.

All the best....
Your daughter is at the hospital... so that is good. She will be monitored and medically cared for.

Has everyone around you been vaccinated for whooping cough? Make sure you know everything before you leave. If you think of a question, write it down. Ask about your babies to come and if it will be ok for them to be around whooping cough. Make sure everyone who touches your daughter washes their hands including you if you go out of the room. Is there a cot for you to sleep on? Check out caringbridge.com to set up a page for people's well wishes. Make sue you take care of yourself!

Post temp: praying!!!

Deep breath.
As the mother of five, soon to be seven, it's important for you to remain calm. Not only for the health of your unborn twins, but for the rest of your family as well.
This is all part of motherhood.
Expect the unexpected!
There will likely be some level of sickness, ER/hospital visits/stays, accidents, emergencies, stitches, broken bones, infections, reactions, allergies, tests, a whole myriad of things to deal with over the next 18+ years as your kids grow up.
Your daughter has something very treatable, and I am sure she will be fine.
It's not cancer, or a critical head or spinal injury.
I am not trying to belittle your feelings, rather, I am trying to help you keep things in perspective.
You are very lucky to have your in laws nearby and willing to help. A lot of us would be on our own in this situation.
Just switch off with your husband, one of you stays at the hospital for a certain amount of time, while the other keeps everything calm and normal at home.
That's the best way to make it as easy as possible on everyone, do NOT freak out.
If mom freaks out, chaos ensues!!!

i find it is good to pray and ask every one you know to also pray for her you will be surprised how much this works but you have to belive for it to work i will pray for you and your daughter

A., it's a really scary time for you all, I am sure! Our prayers are with you. Please don't be surprised if she is in the hospital for a lot longer than you expect.

You need to talk to the doctor about the other members of the family and how to protect them, especially from the whooping cough. And you must take care of yourself and get plenty of rest so that you don't end up in the hospital yourself with the twins and complications.

Glad that you have someone watching the kids at home. It's okay to lean on family and friends right now for help.

Hugs!
Dawn

Take a deep breath!!! There are so many things going around and it's good you took her in when you did. Be thankful for that!!!! They have tested my asst mgr for whooping cough and they said they wont know for days if it's positive. But a hospital can get results much quicker. You might find out if the rest of your family need tested for anything since they have been around her. DVD's are good and maybe some coloring books if she still colors. And maybe crossword puzzles. Anything to keep her from being board.

A.,

So sorry that your little one is in the hospital. But that's obviously the best place for her. I will keep you and she in my thoughts and prayers!

I think the best thing you can do for her while she's hospitalized is just be there. When she gets home, she will need some quiet time to rest. Maybe your in-laws can take a couple of the kids (if not all of them) to their house for a few hours a day so she can have some intermittent peace and quiet in the house.

Good luck!

I just spent 10 days in the hospital with my oldest. It is a difficult thing to do in so many ways. I will send some prayers your way.