| Author |
Message |
    
Spry
Citizen
Username: Spry
Post Number: 11
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 6:32 pm: | 
|
Just wanted any concerned parents to know that a virulent new virus (of the respiratory and intestinal variety) has begun to circulate. My pre-schoolers have had a high fever (ranging from 105.4 fahrenheit at the beginning, to a low of 102 today, seven days later) for the past seven days. Other symptons include sore throat, severe headache, other body aches (one child described it as being "stabbed or punched" in the stomach, leg, etc.), stomach ache and lack of appetit. My daughter has barely eaten anything over the past week. Their virus is now a chest cold of some sort, with a sometimes croupy cough that is not productive (no mucus). I think it is a virus, rather than a bacterial infection, because I took both children to the St. Barnabas ER (which was, overall, a very positive experience, though the lab sent one child's results to the wrong Dr. Cotler!) after two days of over 104 fever, and their strep tests came back negative. A visit two days later to their regular doctor confirmed no strep. Finally, a friend in Montclair reported the same illness in her five year old.
For those who have read this far, I am posting this for two reasons: #1, as a parent who tends toward worrying, I would want to know about any viruses of this severity making the rounds, and #2, I would like to propose a new thread for various and sundry parenting issues not related to SOM schools. Does anyone else support this idea? Perhaps I should post this proposition as a separate thread? |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Elizabeth
Post Number: 232
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 31, 2003 - 9:07 am: |
|
Wow. Sounds horrible. And what's to prevent anyone from getting this? Did the docs say?
I think the idea of a parenting/kids thread is great. |
gemini
Citizen
Username: Gemini
Post Number: 188
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 2:04 pm: |
|
spry, check your child for lyme disease, if you haven't. sounds exactly like what my nephew had, before experiencing 5 years of the dreaded disease. |
3mom
Citizen
Username: 3mom
Post Number: 100
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 3:55 pm: |
|
We were camping this weekend and I had to take our 5 year old to the emergency room last night because she had a high fever that Motrin didn't bring down. The doctor there said he thought she has strep, though she had exactly the same complaints as Spry's children: the stomach pains, loss of appetite, headaches, swollen glands, plus the sore throat. He gave her Amoxicillin and she seems to be on the mend. (He did not do a quick strep test, but did send a strep test to the lab.) So far no one else in the family (and we were in one tiny space all weekend) seems to have it, whatever it is. |
Liz
Citizen
Username: Mschiquita
Post Number: 9
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, September 1, 2003 - 7:22 pm: |
|
Spry - thanks for the heads up and so sorry your kids are suffering (you too for that matter)!
Love the idea of the parenting/kids section - we are behind you whatever needs to be done to make it official
Liz and Nick, parents of 14 month old Sofia
|
Spry
Citizen
Username: Spry
Post Number: 13
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 3:32 pm: |
|
Elizabeth, Gemini, 3Mom, Liz:
Thanks for replying to my post, and for sharing your childrens' recent health/ill-health experiences. Gemini, do you think my twins' four-year checkup in mid-October is too late for a Lyme disease test? I hesitate to go back to their pediatrician before this, because my spouse (husband) thinks I worry too much about their health (but, that's another section, better left for message boards apart from our "it's a small world" communities). Thanks also for your support of a parenting/kids section. I will contact Dave about starting one. I think it would be well-used and appreciated. When I first had my twins, and lived in Manhattan, I was a member of the "Downtown Mothers of Twins," which had organized meetings only rarely (once or twice/year), but communicated often via our e-group. I relied on my DMOT friends for advice on feeding, sleeping, health, and a myriad of other issues. I would love to start such a virtual community in our area for parents to exchange information, on health and many other topics. For example, my almost-four year old daughter has become a bit of a terror, and I'd love to find out how others are dealing or have dealt with this challenging developmental period. I'll let everyone know whether Dave would consider a new section after I hear back from him. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 207
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 4:20 pm: |
|
Spry, October definitely is not too late for the Lyme test. In fact, if you go too early you are more likely to get a false negative. That said, the blood test for Lyme is merely suggestive, not conclusive. The diagnosis is made based on the combination of clinical symptoms, exposure history, and the blood test. You should also know that community pediatricians are not necessarily well versed in Lyme. If you suspect it, go to a pediatric infectious disease physician. Stay away from a "Lyme" physician -- those whose entire practice (read: livlihood) consists of Lyme patients. BTW: I had Lyme ten years ago, was treated with IV antibiotics for three weeks, and am fine now. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 496
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 5:13 pm: |
|
FWIW, my four and a half year old woke up in the middle of the night screaming that he couldn't breathe and even tried to force me to give him mouth to mouth. Little did we know that it was the onset of what spry described. Three trips to the Dr. and strep was finally ruled out, although he had strep about two weeks before. He experienced sore throat, loss of appetite, lethargy and high fever. The Dr. treated him with Augmentin first then Biaxin. Also warned us that something viral was going around and that all we could do was make him comfortable and keep him on Mortrin/Advil to keep the fever down. He had it for about seven days and now seems to be completely healed.
Looking back on his episode in the middle of the night I can laugh now because after I explained to him that he couldn't scream if he couldn't breathe he calmed down. But man what a scary first couple of seconds that was. His attempt at getting me to "blow into" his mouth was pretty ingenious if you ask me.
Best of luck and be on the alert. |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 31
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 9:08 pm: |
|
How awful for what your children and you suffered. So sorry for the illness and the fear (which sounds at least as bad). I feel quite fortunate as I type, "So far, so good..." re my 3 1/2 year old daughter. I also want to second (eighth?!) the idea of a separate section here for parenting concerns. For what it's worth, I'm also a child psychologist in town (Maplewood) and would be happy to help address some of the psychological issues that might come up (even though I quite often find the wisdom of parents greater than my own!). |
duncanrogers
Citizen
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 706
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 9:20 pm: |
|
Michael whats the upper most age range for you to take on a new client..I am almost 40
 |
michelezembow
Citizen
Username: Michelezembow
Post Number: 33
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 9:22 pm: |
|
I treat adults as well!!! Michele |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 158
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 3, 2003 - 11:13 am: |
|
Count me in support of a seperate parenting thread.
Spry, I hear what you're saying about not wanting to cry wolf or be reacting simply out of fear, but if your instincts *really* tell you something's off...
Good luck to all! |
metaphor
Citizen
Username: Metaphor
Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2003 - 2:25 pm: |
|
Separate parenting thread is definitely a great idea!
My daughter had the same exact illness a few weeks ago. Most of my family got sick afterwards.
Mom of an 18-month-old. |
Spry
Citizen
Username: Spry
Post Number: 14
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2003 - 4:46 pm: |
|
To everyone who has become involved in this thread (and who supports a separate parenting section): HELP! I sent an e-mail to Dave requesting a separate section, and he wrote back the following (my original e-mail is after Dave's):
[From Dave]:
As much as we’d like to accommodate every request, the current structure seems to work well. Parenting issues can span several of the topics (education, eg. Test scores, school openings; Please Help: illnesses; Reading Room: recommendations; etc.). However, we’ll keep an eye on things and if there seems to be growing interest in it, we can revisit it later.
Dave
On 9/2/03 5:09 PM, [Spry] wrote:
Dear Dave:
Hello, it’s me, “Spry.” All goes well, no complaints, just a request. Would it be possible to start a new section on Maplewood on Line called something like “Parent Talk” or Parent Exchange,” for issues related to parenting and children not connected with the South Orange, Maplewood Schools? Please see the current exchange, which I initiated, in the Please Help section, under the thread: “Alert, Seven Day Toddler Virus.” I think such a section would be well-appreciated and well-used. What would I need to do (how much support do I need to garner) to get you to consider adding this?
[End of e-mail exchange]
I feel strongly that a separate, distinct Parenting section is the best, most user-friendly way for the many parents with babies, children and teenagers in the Maplewood/South Orange communities to easily access a wide span of topics that might get lost in other sections. These non South Orange/Maplewood public school system topics include: behavioral issues, parenting issues for babies and toddler (eating, sleeping, etc.), equipment sale and exchange just for babies and kids, child care (nannies for hire or available, pros and cons of au pairs), the work-family juggle, activities in our communities and nearby areas, and so forth. How can I/we mount a campaign? Who will help? I am a newcomer to Maplewood On Line, and thus would appreciate the support of the oldtimers and those with ideas on how to make this Parenting section happen!
Many thanks! |
irl
Citizen
Username: Irl
Post Number: 49
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2003 - 9:02 pm: |
|
I, too like the idea of a parenting thread.
I understand why Dave would say that such issues span the existing threads, however, then you have to scan EVERY thread to find the topics that may or may not be there. Since I don't have a lot of time to do this, I like the fact that I can go to the classifieds for classified stuff, the please help secction for advice and resources and I'd love to go straight to the "Positive Parenting" sections for parenting-specific information....like virulent viruses.
}Any ideas on how to convince Dave? |
duncanrogers
Citizen
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 726
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, September 4, 2003 - 9:50 pm: |
|
Dont email petitions work well
I know I sign all the ones that come to me about the NEA grants, and the Bill Gates money give aways..
For what its worth. I, too, think it is a good idea. But I also understand the reluctance to make MOL bigger than it already is. Lord knows what it takes for Jamie and Dave to run this thing as it stands.
|
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page