Annabel is still sick. STILL. SICK. Sneeze, cough, off and on fever. Which means she looks like this all the time:
Which leaves me looking like this:
I’m sexy.
Annie’s fever hit 101 yesterday, which is the highest it’s gone during either of her illnesses. I guess I should be worried…I don’t know. Obviously having a fever isn’t the greatest, but she isn’t lethargic and her appetite is mostly normal. She’s just cranky as hell so we’re ALL miserable.
With Maddie, it was always very clear when we should take her to the doctor. And strangely, Maddie never got ear infections or little bugs – just respiratory infections. We just aren’t really sure WHEN we should take a non-preemie to the doctor. The first sign of illness bought Madeline a trip to the doctor. With Annie, I know she is much more stable so I hesitate, not wanting to be the alarmist parent. Dr. Looove would never mind or fault us for being alarmist, so I don’t know what I’m worried about….UGH. My gut is all over the place. My instincts tell me to RUN to the emergency room, but I just can’t. I can’t go into an emergency room with one of my babies again, since the last time I did I didn’t bring my baby home. I’m too scared.
I don’t know what to do.
I guess if it IS time to take Annie to the doctor that means I have to take off the t-shirt and boxers in favor of something slightly more socially acceptable. BOOO.
Elle says:
That’s a tough one. When my daughter has been sick I’ll go back and forth about taking her to the doctor (because I also don’t want to be an alarmist) and then by the time I take my sweet time and decide, my little girl starts getting better.
Before she’s better, she makes sure we don’t get any sleep AT ALL and that everything is covered in snot. Then I end up having to brush my hair and put on a bra because I’ll get her cold and have to go to the doctor.
I would just go with your instinct .
Erica says:
Big hugs Heather. I’m sorry that you have a sick Annie still and I know she is going to get better soon. You’ve got a Mama gut, so follow it. I think Annie would be ok to wait for Dr. Loooove in the early morning & I know her office would get her in. That way you’d get peace of mind & it isn’t the ER. I usually don’t start to really worry til we hit 102. Do what you can to bring her comfort at hm, meds, steam bath, Baby Vicks etc & the morning will be here when Dr. Loooove’s office opens, before you know it!! Hope Annie is better asap and you and Mike stay well. Xx
ashise says:
I second this!
Jen says:
GMA had a segment on yesterday about kids and fevers. You could probably find the info on their website, but the basic info was: if the child is otherwise acting normally, no need to treat the fever, as the fever pumps up the immune system.
It sounds like it could maybe be a sinus infection, so I’d call Dr Looove and take her in. I wouldn’t go to an ER, although I work in one and love my job, but she’s not an emergency case and she’ll be exposed to so many other gross illnesses, that it’s not worth it.
Good luck.
Jen
Lynn from For Love or Funny says:
Poor Annie…I hope she feels better soon!
NoL says:
Ugh. Hope she feels better this morning! Ditto, Jen’s statement on fevers doing a job to help rid of the bacteria/illness. Read this brief article yesterday. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110228/hl_nm/us_treat_kids_discomfort_fevers_pediatrician
I bet Dr. Looove can squeeze you in today.
Kirsten says:
I reckon take her to the doctor. It’s not a very high temperature, but still high enough that I’d be worried if she was a kid at my school. With us, we phone the parents once it passes 38 celcius, they come fetch and take to the doctor. There’s probably some sort of infection she’s fighting off, and the doctor can figure it out. Otherwise, keep her in as few clothes as possible, and use a damp facecloth on her face, back and tummy to cool her off, as well as the recommended dosage of Panado or whatever paracetamol anti-fever meds you have for children.
Sherri says:
Take her in. I had 2 kids with constant ear infections and one who never got them. You just never know. It is better to go in and find out, so you know if you ARE dealing with an ear thing and can get her meds…otherwise that cranky girl is just going to get crankier.
HUGS!
Sherri
Jenny says:
Poor Spohrs!!! Sick kid means everything is out of whack in the household.
Trust your mommy instinct and call Dr. Looooovvvvee today. My son is (so thankfully!) also an otherwise healthy kid who tends towards Hugh fevers when he is sick. He is 102 right now. That used to freak me out more. Now I pay attention to his overall demeanor more than the number. He is propped up in my bed laughing at Bugs Life, eating leftover baked ham and corn bread (easy dinner, hint, hint!). This is only day 2. He still has an appetite and he is alert. He is requesting and i am pushing fluids. The fever resoonds to meds. We will hold on the doctor unless something changes or we go to day 3. We will do our utmost to avoid the ER and the very sick, contagious children there.
Best wishes! Feel better soon!
Kate says:
Fevers are GOOD. Fevers mean that her body is working to kill whatever’s making her sick. As long as it’s not super high, you should be GLAD she has a fever. (If she didn’t, then you’d want to worry!)
I had that mom who only took us to the doctor if there were massive red-flags that something was seriously seriously wrong (I once could not hear out of my left ear, I had an ear infection so bad, and she STILL would not take me until I started bawling on the way to school!) and we are all functioning adults at this point. I think if she’s acting okay, she probably is okay. She’ll let you know if she’s, well, not.
Jen says:
I’ll second this. My Mom never brought me to the dr either. Well, she did once when I broke my arm but you know…I was crying for a long time about it.
My little one is just getting over a cold too. She ran a 102 temp one afternoon, but we just gave her a bath for a long time and she was fine.
I think Kate is right, if something was really wrong, you wouldn’t hesitate and little Annie wouldn’t hesitate either.
Good Luck,
Jen
Christine says:
I always follow my instincts in these cases and it sounds like yours is to take her in. I would take her if it’s been that long of a struggle. It sounds like an ear infection is also there and those are no fun! Let us know how it goes!
Gertie says:
I think you should take her in. Not because I think there is any big emergency, but because you love her, and you are worried. I don’t think any doctor would bat an eye, and I don’t think you should either.
Leah says:
I agree. I think my pediatrician’s rule of thumb is something extreme like only come in if it’s a 103 fever for three days running (can that be right?). However, just remind yourself it’s a doctor visit and NOT an emergency room visit, that it’s normal to have her checked out, and that they will probably look at her for approximately 30 seconds and send you home with the advice to ride it out and maybe give her a little Baby Tylenol.
Stephanie says:
I usually wait until the fever hits 101 and then take them in. It sounds like a sinus or ear infection. If her nose is stuffy I also use Little Noses saline spray -it’s non-medicated and helps thin out and clear up all that mucous. I swear by it……hope she feels better!!
Tammy says:
Knowing when to take a sick child to the doctor is hard for every parent. I really struggled with that when my daughters were small. I don’t know that you need to go to the ER, but there is nothing wrong with a trip to the doctor to have her ears checked. Mine almost always had an ear infection. Oddly enough, it always made me feel better to hear that because it validated my concerns.
this is also building her immune system. She might be sick a lot now, but she will be much better off when she gets in school and is exposed to all kinds of things.
Sadye says:
Why don’t you just call the Doctor and she what SHE wants you to do? Then it’s out of your hands. I always defer to my doc. since I hate making those choices.
Kris says:
If she’s had a fever (I’d say over 100, which is what many daycare centers use as the “send the kid home” cutoff) for more than 3 days, that is when our pediatrician likes to see the kids. Sometimes we’ll call earlier into the illness if the fever is higher (like 102+) and they’ll do a consult on the phone. Sometimes, they can tell it’s just viral and to let it run it’s course.
I’d call and see what they say.
Marsha says:
Hope she feels better soon! Ear infection?? All 3 kiddos had them lots (they all have tubes) around here. You’ll be glad you went if it is an ear infection bc the medicine helps almost immediately.
Ps…like your stubble. Hot!!
Anne says:
Heather I so feel for you!! I am a mom of four… and remember so often when the kids got fevers over 102 or even 103! With my oldest I sat in the ER for three hours and was yelled at for bringing her and not dealing with it at home. I would call your doc, give her tylenol, and see how she does in the next day. Fevers are ALWAYS the highest late afternoon early evening… that is for sure. Just call your doctor I think you will feel better… one part of motherhood that I always struggled with. Prayers for that pumpkin and of course you!! Anne
Babbalou says:
I agree with everyone above – her fever is not scary high and she is not lethargic and your Mom alarm bells are not going off so she doesn’t need the ER. But she’s been sick long enough that having her checked out in the Doc’s office might be prudent. It could just be a virus or her ears may be infected, the Doc can see if she needs medicine or just a little more time. It was SUCH a relief once my kids could talk and I could ask them, “do your ears hurt? does your tummy hurt?” Although once when my oldest was two and we were at the doctor’s office trying to figure out the cause of his persistent fever, he told the doctor that no, his ears did not hurt. And then five minutes after we left the doctor’s office, he burst into tears and started crying that his ears hurt. He said he didn’t know why he told the doctor that they didn’t hurt.
Lori says:
Oh I know you feel about not wanting to be an alarmist! I’m always questioning my decisions and I don’t want to be *that* mom in the doctor’s office that is constantly calling and coming in over every little thing. One time my daughter had all the symptoms as Annabel does now and was cranky as ever. We took her in and she totally made me look like a liar. She was happy as pie, no fever, running around, etc. I kept telling the doctor, she wasn’t like this an hour ago!
Anyways, can you take her to her pediatrician instead of the ER? Not sure how it out in California, but we can make same day sick appointments here in Ohio to avoid the dreaded germ infested, 3 hour wait at the emergency room. I’m sure Ms. Annabel is fine, but she may have a minor ear infection or sinus infection that a round of antibiotics would clear right up.
Heather says:
**Lurker who loves your blog**
I hope she starts feeling better soon. When the boys were little and would have a fever for more than three days I would take them in. Though by the time we get there they were feeling better.
Colleen says:
Fevers are good and if she’s acting normal, it isn’t likely an emergency. That being said, if you haven’t taken her yet, I would, it could be an ear infection. If you have taken her and it was an ear infection, it’s possible the meds are doing their job. I would check it out.
Momfish says:
I love that we get so intimidated/scared to call our doctor because of how we’ll look, yet we forget how much they get paid even for a quick check-up visit. Trust me, I don’t think we’re making life stressful for them, haha.
Even if it was an ear infection, did you know they mostly go away on their own if left untreated? It’s true! I wouldn’t recommend it, but it’s comforting because it means you don’t have to be “on top of it” all the time – which is good because my baby had a raging double ear infection and was showing no symptoms, not even a fever. That was fun.
I hope she feels better soon. Utilize our health care system! You certainly pay to use it!
Casi says:
I’m sure its just influenza. Drs have always told me 104 temp before you should start to worry. Tylenol motrin switch off between the two. Lots of liquids! All 3 of my girls just went through it. My 2 yr old is hanging on to it a little longer, so I am also pulling my hair out!! Hang iin there it will be better in couple of days.
Fibby says:
Not sure if this helps or not, but I read it the other day and thought I’d pass it on. Seems to be related to the other yahoo link above, but with some concrete numbers… http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/healthcast/BO145098/
Brandy says:
For the most part unless mine have a sustained fever for more than a few days then we let the bug work its way out. A fever isn’t fun but it is a body’s way of dealing whatever she’s dealing with. Of course if she has a cough or ear pain or anything else I would take her in for a once over too. Good luck!
lilcg says:
I second some of the others–doctor, yes. er, NO! you really don’t want to expose annie to more germs. she doesn’t sound like she is horribly sick, the fact that she is active and crabby is actually a good sign. it might be an ear infection, my normally healthy toddler has double one right now. lots of snot, tons of crankiness, and huge messes all over the place (she has started holding all of the toy bins over her head as high as she can and then dumping them out on the floor). for most of the day she is just pissed off, crabby, and active, but as she gets closer to bed she gets more clingy and whiny.
her doctor’s office has a nurse line, staffed by a nurse practitioner, basically an over the phone triage. you call and explain what the problem is and the nurse either gives you directions for home treatments, makes an appointment for you to bring the kid in, or tells you that you need to take the kid to the er immediately. I have found that to be so helpful for alleviating my concerns. if dr. loooove doesn’t have that, maybe your insurance company or one of the local hospitals does?
Mary says:
Ditto what a lot of others have said. I would call the doctor and ask if you can come in. If not, Dr. Looooove’s office will tell you what to look for. I wouldn’t do the ER just because you’ll likely be better off going to the doc instead of sitting through an ER visit. Dr. Loooove has the background on Annie and will know what to look for. I think you go with your instinct. Seeing Dr. Looooove will reassure you, no matter what she says.
I hope she feels better.
Courtney says:
This is why my doctor’s office has a nurse’s hot line. You can always call and they’ll tell you yes definitely come, or if it doesn’t go down with children’s Tylenol come in or if it’s it been a certain number of days come it.
I’d say give the office a call.
Penbleth says:
Poor Annie, I hope she feels better soon.
Angel says:
I’ve called my doctor in the middle of the night on numerous occasions. Do that first before making any trip to the ER.
Amanda G. says:
Awwww! Poor Annie! I hope she feels better soon! Don’t worry about the whole not shaving your legs thing…I don’t have any kids and I bet mine look worse than yours!
Kelly says:
So feeling your pain. Mea has had the icky coughing virus that has been going around here, we finally had that about gone, and yesterday she started throwing up.
Sick kids = worried, hairy legged Mammas.
Sarah says:
I usually call the nurse first to see if I should come in. They listen to the symptoms and help me make the decision. Based on what they have seen coming into the office, they know what to suggest or if a doctor visit is necessary. And if they think you can’t wait to get into the doc, they’ll send you to the ER. For a woman who sometimes has a hard time making decisions, a nurse call helps ease my mind.
kbreints says:
Emergency room? What about just to the pediatrician? My doctor never fault me for bringing in the boys…. and I always either found out that there was a reason to worry– and they gave me a prescription, or they told me it was just a virus and I could stop worrying.
Take her in…. if it stops the worry it is worth it.
Kay says:
A little assvice…. I work in an ER, and I would advise against bringing her to the ER unless 1) Dr. Looooove’s office is closed and 2) she is running a fever higher than 103 that is not responding to tylenol. Otherwise, use your judgement. Especially if she is rubbing her ears or showing other signs that she might have an ear infection, you might want to get her to the doctor. Although, there have been some studies recently that show that ear infections in kids clear up just as quickly on their own as they do with antibiotics. So again, it’s your judgement. But chances are, Annie will be FINE with or without a doctor’s visit. What she really needs now is her mama. Maybe try taking a steamy bath with her to give her a little relief. It might help her relax, and give you both an opportunity to get clean! (By the way, I have a daughter who is about a month older than Annie. She also has a cold. I totally spent an hour in the tub with her last night trying to get her to calm down enough to go to sleep. All she got was pruny.)
Michele says:
I would take her to the Dr (not the ER) just to make sure it isn’t something she needs antibiotics for. As for treating the fever – I had 1 kid with febrile seizures and 1 kid that handled fevers fine… Other than motrin/tylenol for the seizure kid – I am a fan of cool (not cold) compresses on neck and pits, the “Be Kool” patches are the best for an active kid (they are a combination of ice packs and bandaids – a must have for your medicine cabinet) and lots of popsicles (to keep the fluid levels high).
Hang in there – you are doing great!
Amelia says:
Just a thought…have you tried elderberry extract? Whenever my little ones get sick…and basically all through the winter season…we use extra D3 and Elderberry Extract. Works like a charm keeping up their immune systems. Also, Coconut Oil about 1 tbsp a day is great for killing viruses! That fever is just her little body trying to work the virus out of her system! i know how scary it can be…especially after having had a premature baby myself! Hope she gets to feeling better soon!
BethRD says:
My son was the kind of kid who ran a fever every time someone near him sneezed, so I got really nonchalant about fevers. Generally they really are no big deal and 101 is not terribly high. For basically healthy kids, most such things are just viruses that will go away on their own; as another commenter said, even ear infections usually go away without treatment. HOWEVER, if you are worried, go. I don’t think that under the circumstances anyone could possibly fault you for wanting reassurance.
Trisha Vargas says:
It could be all related to her teething. My 2 year old, Dannica, she would get so cranky and run a fever off and on. Her teething would effect her sinuses and ears, since it’s all in the facial cavity area and they all work together. If her fever lasted more than a few days straight, I would call the nurses and get advice from them at her doctors office. Ususally, they would say that if she spiked over 102 degrees lasting more than 24 hours to bring her in because it might have turned into something else needing further treatment. I took her in once and it was still just nasal issues related to teething. They taught me how to flush her out using saline and she cleared up after a few more teether finally broke through.
I think you should just do what feels comfortable to you. I am sure Dr. Looove wouldn’t mind returning a phone call to you no matter the time of day. Hopefully it will all clear up soon and it’s nothing needing another round of anti biotics.
Hope you all get some rest soon and Annie gets on the mend fast.
((((HUGS))) from Florida
Kristin says:
Skip the ER, make an appt with the Dr. I don’t care what our pediatrician thinks (though he is so sweet and would never argue with my judgement), but any time my kids have a fever, off to the Dr. we go. Hope she gets to feeling better soon.
mp says:
We often call the doctor just to ask if we should bring our kids in. If after hours, the doctor on call calls us back within an hour. And the nurses are all so seasoned, they can get you in when necessary or tell you not to worry.
mamaloves says:
Heather, my twin girls have the same cold. It just doesn’t seem to want to go away. I took them to the doctor yesterday. Let me just add that I adore our doctor and totally trust her. This is what she had to say: It’s viral, and they just of to wait it out and thatcranky kids with fever are great (that’s what doctors like to see) it shows that they are fighting back. Listless kids with high fever are the ones to worry about and rush to hospital. I found this to be very encouraging. Go with your gut. I would just make an appointment with Dr. Love just to get some peace of mind. I’m sure she will be back to her old self soon. Hugs.
xoxoxo
JKB says:
My daughter likes to run mysterious fevers for days. (Her record is 11 days! Of a near constant 101) She has also had a febrile seizure…not fun. All in all we have learned as many people have mentioned above, it is not the number that really counts, it is how the child is acting. Not eating? Lethargic? Tender limb? Not acting near normal with tylenol/ibruprofen on board? Those are the things we watch for now. BUT we were instructed to take her to the ped whenever we were unsure or just “at the end of our rope”. We love our Ped, and she has always said she would rather see a child and be able to reassure the parent especially when the illness has gone on as long as what Annie’s has.
Also, just a thought…we have had a few ear infections at our house and the instant my daughter starts to run a temp especially after she had a cold I would assume it was an ear infection and cart her off to the doctor. (The febrile seizure was caused by a particularly horrible ear infection that ended up bursting her ear drum) We found an otoscope on amazon.com and asked my daughters ped to teach us how to use it. Ours is the dr.mom brand, it is super cheap and easy to use. Now anytime I think its an ear infection I just check her ears. (Make sure you know what her normal eardrum looks like). This has saved us hundreds of dollars in copays plus it’s nice piece of mind! If we can see something brewing we automatically start in with the olive oil in the ear and a low heat/speed . If it is persistent or especially bad looking or I’m unsure we head to the doctor.
Hope Annie is feeling better soon! Hairy legs are fun but only when you are at burning man.
JKB says:
low heat/speed… hair dryer… pointed at the ear…
oiy, it is early and that sentence was particularly long and complicated.
Jenifer says:
I usually take my kiddos on day 2 or 3 of a fever (depending on how miserable they are) but mine are prone to ear infections.
Jacob (my 6 year old) had a fever for about a day and a half, kicked it himself and was all better the next day. Amelia (my almost 13 month old) had a 2 day fever and, since it was Friday, I took and her in. Low and behold we have ear infection, AGAIN. *Sigh so big*
I hope Annie is feeling better soon.
MJ says:
You’re doing fine.
Skip the ER. Make a doctor’s appointment, though.
My oldest boy had a fever for 3 days, and was running around like nothing was wrong, then when his fever broke, he started acting like he didn’t feel good. Took him to the doctor, and he had an ear infection. It was close to rupturing. Ick. Had I taken him a couple days sooner, we’d probably have caught it before it got that bad. So now any time he has a fever, even if he’s acting normal, I have my mom (who was a nurse) check his ears.
Lainie says:
My 11 month old has the same crud. I normally would not take her to the doctor, even though her fever was 101 or higher, but she was SOOOOOOOOOO congested. Doc didn’t care about that, but she did have an ear infection, which was good to find out.
Don’t worry about the fever – that’s low grade. Just watch her personality. Doc said if my daughter is lethargic, not interactive and won’t eat, then to take her in.
Good luck!
Julie says:
When we’re unsure whether or not our daughter ought to see the doctor we call the office, describe her symptoms to the nurse, and ask whether or not we should bring her in. If you’ve got decent insurance, though, sometimes it’ll be worth your peace of mind to just take her.
Several people have brought up ear infections… there’s a $50 probe you can buy called an Ear Check. It’s not quite as accurate as having the doctor look at her ears, but ours has never been wrong so far, and our daughter is very prone to ear infections so we have to see the doctor for them a fair bit. And it’s great not having to run to the doctor to have her ears looked at every time she has a little bit of a fever!
amy d says:
So sorry Annie is still not feeling well. Poor baby;(
Not sure if anyone else suggested this, but it could be that she’s cutting some more teeth (molars?) on top of her persistant cold. My son always ran a fever during teething, and that was usually accompanied by a runny nose and sometimes diarrhea. (sorry for the TMI)
Fight the ER urge, but def see your pediatrician and get her ears checked out. Don’t worry mama…summer is around the corner and cold/flu season will be behind us soon enough:)
Sandra says:
I always worried about ear infections with my first child (preemie)so I took her in all the time when she’d have a cold/fever just to make sure her ears were clear. She never got one though. She was also more inclined to get respiratory issues like Croup. My 2nd child I didn’t rush to the doctor and she DID get ear infections.
Always go with your gut. It’s never a bad decision to take her and they say it’s just a virus so you need to wait it out. At least then you know.
You’re an awesome mom. Never doubt that.
Glenda says:
I’m sorry Annie isn’t feeling well. Normally a fever is the body’s way of fighting an infection. If she’s not pulling at her ears and eating normally I wouldn’t be as worried. If the fever persist for more than 3 days on and off I’d take her.
When my son was 9 mos he had a fever for 3 days on and off, ate normally, and just had what to me looked like a runny nose. Well when I took him he had walking pneumonia and developed asthma. Luckily after 3 days of trying to give him the baby tylenol and fighting it at home I took him before it became worse.
I’d just go with my gut. It’s so hard especially when they don’t talk.
Get better soon Annie!
Jane says:
Never hurts to take ’em in to the doc. Likely one of two things will happen — doc will say it’s a virus and just wait it out — or doc may notice an ear infection/sinus infection/something that can be treated. Either way, good outcome, and fresh air is good for everyone, even mommas in boxers.
Elle says:
When I am in doubt, I call and ask to speak with one of the nurses. They listen to the symptoms, ask some questions and have always been able to help me make the decision when I am unsure. Sometimes they’ll say bring the child right in, and sometimes they’ll suggest I wait a day or two to see how things progress. Either way, you can’t lose…
Amy D. says:
Heather, this same bug is wiping people out left and right up here (WA state) and our family has just gotten over it. Our youngest, Ilsa (14 mo), is very active and destructive and she was go-go-go until one night when she did the same things that Annie is apparently doing. Pants off, diaper off, she didn’t want anything touching her body but would flop around all over me until the wee hours of the morning just moaning and crying.
When her temp reached 101.4, we took her into the pediatrician and she said “Oh, she’s just fighting through the virus, give her infant Ibuprofen and keep her temp down.” Cut to 5 days later when the fever had gone up and down and back up again (another floppy, sleepless night) and back at the doctors office he (we see any doc in the rotation) checked her ears and said, “double ear infection, just the start of one, but here’s a prescription for (a Sulfa medication), she should be feeling much better by tonight.” Dude was right on. She had never shown any discomfort or pulled on her ears or screamed, but they were enflamed and it was spiking her temperature. If Annie’s temp stays up in the 100’s, just make a regular Ped. appointment (ER co-pays SUCK) and have them check her ears. A total precaution, but totally worth it if you want pretty hair and shaved legs someday soon!
Take care of that little Toots – if baby ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!
Amy
Stacy says:
Heather,
My daughter Belle (7yrs) came down with a high fever last Thursday night and we’ve been battling it since. The highest it got was 103.8. She’s had no other symptoms but a headache/cranky (no cough, ears are fine, etc). She saw her Dr. on Monday (who ran blood tests), and everything came back normal. Her Dr. said that there is an epidemic going on in the CA schools right now. High fevers that last for a long, long time. Viral infection. I know Annie isn’t in school, but just wanted you to be aware incase she was around school aged kids. Maybe she picked this up? (We’re in the Bay Area. Shout out to Mike’s family! ) I hope she feels better soon! My legs are in the same shape as yours!!
Molly says:
My little munchkin always runs high fevers when she gets them. The last 3 times she’s had fevers they run around 103 & have lasted several days(she overcame the illnesses without visits to the dr). We just did lots of mildly warm showers with her, drinking lots of ice water, & rotated children’s motrin & children’s tylenol every 4 hrs. I often check the Ask Dr. Sears website for helpful info, when I’m having a mommy-middle-of-the-night-should-I-panic moment. Here’s the link to fevers
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T082100.asp
But trust your Mommy gut, we’ve had plenty of dr visits just to make sure our little munchkin was ok. Hope Annie feels better soon!
M says:
Just saw this in the WSJ and thought of your posting:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704615504576172311079669134.html
claudia says:
When in doubt, I call the pediatrician’s office, describe the symptoms, how long it’s been going on and ask if there’s anything going around (this is especially relevant with school-age kids). Then I ask if they think I should bring in the sicky. Sometimes they say yes and sometimes they say no, but if it goes on X more days or the fever goes above X or if the behavior changes in X way, then bring them in. Even if the doctor says they don’t want to see them, it’s peace of mind. You deserve that.
claudia
wabi says:
This sounds like an absolutely great conversation to have with Dr. L. What you had to do for Maddie’s health is really different than what Annie needs most of the time. Of course that throws you. It would throw anyone.
Hope she kicks the fever (and the crankies) soon!
Darah says:
One thing my pediatrician told me that really stuck with me is that he’d be much more worried about a baby that’s lethargic for no reason with no fever than with a baby that is acting fine but has a high fever. If she keeps running it for 3 days they usually say to take them in. Just keep pushing fluids (I’m sure you are and if it gets higher or she starts acting worse then take her to an urgent care. Hopefully you have something that wouldn’t be quite so terrifying as an ER as kind of an intermediate step. We’re in southern California as well and had this sickness for several weeks before we could kick it. Some yucky cooties are going around right now! Best of luck!
mom, again says:
I think you need a general talk with Dr. Love about the subject of how to make this sort of decision. Meanwhile, let the fever do it’s thing, so long as it continues doing it in a low grade way and which doesn’t prevent her being mad about it. It could go on for weeks, or seem to be gone and reappear. If it gets higher, her behavior gets lethargic or hysterically cranky, she gets new symptoms or it goes on longer than the two weeks a cold usually lasts: Call Dr. Love. Only go to ER if Dr. Love is completely unreachable or she tells you to.
For Maddie the ER was a first line response because things could get out of hand quickly. For Annie, the distance from a bit ill to dangerously ill is much larger and you have time to ‘wait and see’ and time to talk to / see her doctor on a non-emergency basis.
Annie’s emergency room trips, I suspect, will be the sort created by an active, fit and generally fearless little girl: there will be falls and cuts and an obvious emergency and urgentness for treatment.
Ania says:
My kids run insanely high fevers, (104!!) yet they’d still function quite normally (added crankiness, for sure). I was scared shitless the first few times, rushed them to the doctor, etc…but they always tell me that it’s common, it’s good, it shows their body is fighting…I could stop bawling now, etc etc..
So yeah, 101 degrees is a walk in the park for me. That’s just me, though…so do whatever will make you feel better about precious Annie’s health.
amourningmom says:
I hope that Annie gets better soon and that you don’t have to take her to the ER or the doctor. If you do, is there another ER close by that you could go to? I know it will still be hard. As of now, I have trouble driving by the ER that we left without our son – I could not imagine going into that hospital. Take care.
lyndsey says:
I vote take her in. My kids both had the flu two weeks ago. My son got it first 103.6 for 3 days. No other symptoms of issues. Just like someone else above reported, we too are in NorCal and it’s rampant. My daughter came down with it the day my sons fever broke… go figure. She had 103.6 for 4 days, on the 4th day I took her in since I had expected it to break the day before. Still no symptoms, no cough to really talk about. She had pneumonia!! never even know it. It’s her third time in 4 1/2 years to get pneumonia meds had her better in no time but I had no idea she was such a sick puppy. Nothing 10 days at home with mom or dad, or grandma x2 didn’t cure.
Good luck and take care,
Kelly says:
Bummer! I hope she’s well on the mend by now… I always call when in doubt and speak to the nurse. I think maybe all but one time the nurse has scheduled an appointment for us. Case in point – today. No fever, a cough here and there for about 3-4 days… his school nurse checked his lungs which to her sounded clear at 9:00 this morning. He has bronchitis. My 1-1/2 lunged kid never catches a break for it to be just a cold and I’ve learned he doesn’t always have much of a fever when typically other kids would have crazy fevers. It’s a huge gift of piece of mind for the cost of a copay.
Sending some love from St. Louis…
another says:
I wouldn’t take her to the ER, but for sure book a dr’s appt ! Lots of love and hope she gets better soon !
Rebecca says:
If you’ll sleep better, take her in.
Angela says:
Hi Heather,
I know you live in L.A. and I’m not too far from you down in Orange County. I just wanted to say that we’ve had a lot of sick kids and teachers at the school where I teach and one of my students (4 year old) had a fluctuating fever for about 2 weeks. He had an ear infection which made his fever roller coaster like that, and the doctor said it was a good thing they brought him in almost every day because he was starting to develop pneumonia. I am sure it’s not the case with Annie, but seriously, this is the worst year I’ve had at school for sick kids – it couldn’t hurt to take her in, so maybe a trip in to the ER wouldn’t be bad? We send kids home when they have a fever or 99 or up, so she would definitely qualify. Hope she starts feeling better soon!
Shell says:
OMG. Your drawings are cracking me up!
Amanda says:
But, omg, how awesome is that first shave after a break????
Hope everyone feels better soon!
Heather says:
Has anyone mentioned Roseola? Natural immunity wears off at about one year old, then it’s a high fever for a few days and a SUPER-pissed kid. Then fever breaks and the rash appears and you go, “So that’s what’s wrong!”. Both my kids got it thus way. Not fun.
I only call the doctor when my (former preemie) kids are over 103, feverish for more than two days, or vomiting with fever. Otherwise, we’re often at our doctor for various upper respiratory infections during cold/flu season. I’m a bit of a hypochondriac, so I think you’re safe. Don’t take her to the ER — she could get typhoid. ;$
Megan@TrueDaughter says:
I think the whole country has that nasty cold right now. My kids are still fighting it. 100 degree temps and coughing, yucky noses, etc. My 20 month old woke up last Tuesday with the croup. The steam didn’t help, taking him outside didn’t help. Luckily we have a nebulizer for him and his brother, or it would have been a trip to the ER for a breathing treatment.
Hang in there! Ours lasted about 8 days, with some residual runny noses and cough, but sleeping again at night. I hope Annie is better fast! Blessings, Megan
katrina @ They All Call Me Mom says:
I don’t usually get freaked out by a temperature until it reaches 103. Kids can run hot. So I just get the temp down with Tylenol…and just expect it to spike during the night (babies and kids always seem to run hotter at night) But if the fever doesn’t stop in 48 hours and is consistently above 102 then I take them into the doctor. And I also take into consideration how the child is acting. Fevers can make them more sluggish that normal, but there’s a difference between sluggish and lethargic.
I hope Annie gets better soon!
Dawn @ What's Around the Next Bend? says:
This NASTY fever stuff is going around.
My son just got over it.
He ran a temp of 103 for 3 days.
I called my doctor and she said that until it gets to 105 or he acted dillusional, that he would be fine… that it is the body’s natural way to kill of bacteria/viruses.
I let it run its course ( with fever reducers, of course) and he is acting better today just with a awful cough.
I know it is a hard call. Do what’s best for you. Peace of mind is worth its weight. But I think your best best is to get an appt with Dr. Love (even if it is a few days out.)
*HUGS*
JustAMom says:
Heather I have the most amazing peditrician in Santa Monica – and guess who referred me to him? Dr. No Vowels. He was Dr. No Vowels kid’s doctor. So, uh, I knda trust him The man takes calls day or night and makes you feel like the most important person on the planet. I even called him on Christmas Day when my daughter was just two weeks old. I called him when my then 3 month old fell off the couch (don’t ask) and got a big ol bump on her head, crying and begging him not to report me to child protective services (which is actually a very funny story). I know you love Dr. Loooove, but if you want a peditrician, email me or call Dr. T for the referral!
Annalien says:
I don’t think the ER is necessary, but I would take her to the doctor when you get an appointment. Sounds like a ear infection to me or upper respiratory tract and sometimes they just need a little help getting over it.
Andrea says:
Big hugs to you all. Poor Annabel….just feeling ick. Hope she’s on the mend soon. XOXO
Heather says:
The “hair” you pulled out looks kinda like poop
I take my kid to the ER without hesitation. His doctor rarely has open “sick” appointments (b/c military insurance is SO awesome) So I head straight to the ER when his fever is over 100.7, or if I feel anything is just off with him, and I have never been wrong. We know our babies and can usually tell when it is a minor virus or something that needs attention. I have heard, “you are lucky you brought him when you did,” several times from the ER doc in regards to rsv, ear infections, and a skin rash. Your a good mama, do what your heart says.
Vicky says:
I’m like 95% sure somebody else mentioned this, BUT…
You can always call the Drs off ice and speak to one of the nurses. They will tell you if they think you should bring her based on what you tell them.
suzanne says:
You’ve gotten lots of good advice, in addition to your own amazing instincts, but I will add mine to the pile (my views are heavily influenced by the advice of my beloved peditrician, who has been practicing in a major metro area for years and has seen it all). My doc’s a rule of thumb is to bring her in when she has a rectal temp above 101, BUT she also advises that parents should page her/ go to the ER whenever the child is listless and unresponsive or exhibiting signs of respiratory distress such as stridor, regardless of whether the fever is above 101. A high fever (103 and above) that does not respond to tylenol & motrin is also worthy of a trip to the ER.
Teresa says:
Pei pa koa is pretty decent cough medicine (from herbal as I remembered), great non alcoholic medicine, some western cough medicine are more effective, but this is non drowsy.
You can access info online @
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nin_Jiom_Pei_Pa_Koa
ninjiom.50webs.com