We're all sick

Two weeks ago I got a terrible cold that started with a sore throat (one day), sinus pressure (three days), and progressed to drainage and a wet cough (never went away). Besides the cough, I've felt better.

The in-laws got it last week and passed it to the girls so they have been sick since the weekend. They're past the drainage now and to the wet cough.

I had a sore throat Sunday and am full-blown sick again today with the sinus pressure and drainage.

Here's my question: do I take the girls in? I never go to the doctor so I'm fine fighting through this. I'm worried about my girls' sleep and about the nature of the cough. Thanks to all the whooping cough breakouts all over the country and my mom's (incredibly healthy!) friend being hospitalized for a respiratory infection (so bad that they put her into a medical coma for a week) I'm at a heightened state of paranoia.

Is there anything I should be looking for before deciding to take them in? They're not sleeping well (who could when coughing do much??) and they have periods of lethargy. They also have periods of energy just like usual though. They were bouncing off the walls when the sitter came over this morning, for example.

If I don't take them in, what OTC meds would you give them?

I have a call into their new ped, but we've only been seen by them once so I don't know if they have an advice nurse or if they're just going to tell me to come in. I'm waiting for a callback now.

Thanks, mamas.

 

I think that since you're home sick, and they're home sick, you should all go to the doctor. (Especially you, it sounds like it might be a sinus infection now, with it going away and coming back.)

ETA: You better be home sick.

 

Not home sick.


:tomato:

I know! It's easy to be sick at work, though. I just whine and move slowly. And get paid to be pitiful. Win/win.

You really think we need to go in? I really, really don't wanna...

 

I think so, and I think it would be nice if you kept your sitter around so you could take a nap too.

 

I think I would take the girls in. If it is a virus, they will tell you to just wait it out. But if it is a bacterial infection, they can give the girls antibiotics to make them get better faster. Especially since you know an adult who was just hospitalized for a respiratory infection.

 

I would too, especially seeing how you have a wedding this weekend. Totally. And definitely seeing how you know someone in the hospital.

And once you do, let us know the outcome!

 

Fine. Bleh. I'll take the girls to the walk-in clinic at 1:00 and I'll probably drag the sitter in with me.

 

So a cold can last up to 15 days. However if you get worse during it's course, you should go in (that's the sign on my pedi's wall that I get to read EVERY time I go). I'd take them in but be prepared for them to tell you there is nothing you can do but wait it out if it is just a cold.

 

I sure hope you girls start feeling better real soon!! Get some rest Steph!!!

 

I agree with everyone else. Get all three of yous checked out! Good luck and feel better.

 

I am glad you're going in too. Sometimes when it drags on for a while it's from a secondary infection and you need antis to get back on your feet. Hope you're all feeling better soon!

 

What did the doctor say? Frankly I never take them either, they always say it's just a cold and will go away on its own.. most of the time antibiotics won't help. Might be worth it to rule out strep though.

 

Ear infection for Alexis. Poor kid, I saw no signs of it! Pain meds all around and antihistamines to help sleep.

Now mommy is going in.

 

Poor girlie. Ear infections can be sneaky!

 

I have the worst thing ever. A cold. Bugh. I knew it. No meds for me. Just R&R (ha HA!).

I'm going to go hibernate as soon as these whiny kids are down for the night.

 

:hug: to you all, Stephanie. I hope everyone is feeling better. My son had an ear infection and we had no idea he had one. He was just very tired, not hungry and had a fever that kept spiking. My DH took him in to the pediatrician because we couldn't get rid of the fever and it turned out to be an ear infection.

 

Thanks for the kick in the butt to go to the doctor, ladies. I'd have felt so terrible if Alexis had an ear infection for longer because of my aversion to doctors. I owe y'all!

 

So, now that we know that you only have a cold, what kind of drugs you should take?

Mucinex for snot/sinus
Delsym for cough
Advil for decreasing the inflammation in your sinuses allowing them to drain better
water water water

optional: netipot (I hate those)

 

Me too. Ugh!

 

Definitely mucinex d! That stuff works great!

Oh and don't beat yourself up about the ear infection. Only once did one my girls complain about ear pain with an ear infection. Every other time they were just generically sick and I had no idea.

Feel better!

 

Yeah-don't feel bad about the ear infection. I'll tell you my story...lol!

We drove to Boston with the kids to go to the children's museum, the boys were just over two, and their speech was still pretty limited. N threw up in the car(he does get car sick). Then while we were walking around I noticed he was just blah. I picked him up and he was on fire! We finished up and went home. For some reason I ended up calling the pedi and bringing him in(im like you-not one to bring them in). He was at the end of an ear infection! I felt awful! Poor guy!

He's had two since, and the last one(2 weeks ago), was the first time he ever complained about his ear(of course after hours)! And now I know-he gets this nasty wet cough, and just to talk is hard for him because he starts coughing. That for him, is a sign of an ear infection.

I hope you are all on the mend

 

Neti pots are actually kinda useless when you're really congested, because the water just doesn't come through. I really like the sinus rinse from Neil Med though. It takes one minute tops (just make sure to use distilled water), and there's pressure so it helps moving things up in there... really worth it IMO. I even use it when I'm a little bit congested because I can get everything out in one minute instead of blowing my nose for hours and only getting half of it. Just breathe with your mouth when you start and it's really not that bad. I really recommend it. But unfortunately I don't know any miracle solution to get rid of a cold, I had some every month all Winter...

Anyway, don't feel too bad about missing the ear infection. I'm sure we all do and they just go away on their own. I'm always a bit reluctant to go to the doctor because they always end up giving antibiotics for them, when most of them don't really need it.

 

Poor Nicholas! For some reason I just always assumed that ear infections would accompany whining and ear tugging and, at least, a low-grade fever. Alexis had none of those.

Bex, I LOVE a netipot. I'll have to run to pick up some distilled water- y'all have heard about the brain-eating bacteria that you can contract from using a netipot with tap water, right?

And now I sound like a hypochondriac!

Edit to add: Fran, that's the one I use! Love that stuff!

 

Steph-when I've called the pedi with questionable ear infection, they always ask if there is ear tugging, complaining, etc. Never has been!

The stuff no one tells us! Lol!

Oh and yeah, I read about that netipot thing. No thank you!!!!!

 

I love the neti pot too. I have terrible sinus issues in the spring, but if I use a neti pot it helps tremendously. I started after I spent four months with a blocked ear canal/infection and as soon as I stop using it I start having trouble again.

Mine also get a bad cough with an ear infection but don't show any other symptoms. Austin had three back-to-back infections this winter and it wasn't until the third one that he figured out he could tell us his ear hurt. Poor guy. Every other time we were just guessing because he was clearly sick and inconsolable.

How's everyone feeling today?

 

My MIL says the girls have been good today- still snotty and a little tired, but happy overall.

I'm being an impossible whiner and not accomplishing much with all my nose-blowing. I'm quite a spectacle and a refuse to buck up. I am never sick and this is twice in two weeks and I'm mad about it.

I'm actually not terrible. I wouldn't say better yet, but I think I will be by the weekend.