Sick House

We’ve been hit pretty hard with some sort of icky virus since late last week.  Oscar came down with it first (naturally), with all of the H1N1 symptoms.  I did not run to the emergency room immediately, but after more than 24 hours with a fever not dropping below 101.4 (and that only after Motrin) and hitting a high of 104.8, I broke down and hauled him in on Saturday afternoon.  The verdict?  Uh, not entirely sure.  He tested both negative and positive for H1N1, but the ped thought that he had croup instead because of his hoarse voice.  We discussed it a bit, but she then said, “it doesn’t really matter which one it is, since even if he has H1N1, we can’t treat with Tamiflu unless he’s in respiratory distress.” 

So many things wrong with that statement, but I knew that whatever he had didn’t seem as bad as what I’ve heard from other families with kids who have had swine flu, so I let it go.  She gave me a prescription for some steroid in case his cough goes someplace horrible, which it hasn’t, although it is getting worse.  Thankfully his fever has broken, his GI stuff is gone, he’s eating and playing again and now it looks like he’s just sick.  As am I.  Bonus.  Just hoping that Nanny Norma can avoid it.  I sent her packing when his fever kicked in, but she’s been back since Monday and he’s been a mucous machine since then. 

I have a bit of a dilemma.  We have a shortage of flu vaccines in my area (both kinds, not just H1N1).  My office has a flu (regular vaccine) clinic this week, but it’s limited to “family.”  I’d like to bring Nanny Norma, since I know she’s had trouble finding vaccine as well.  I think it’s appropriate to take her, personally.  What do you think?  I think she qualifies as family (okay, not legally), and she’s certainly a member of my household.  Just wondering if I’m pushing the limit here.

November 11, 2009 - Posted by Oscar and Etta's mom | Doctor, vaccinations