Open Access to Paediatric Ward - had to use it today...
Discussion
We have open access to the local Paediatric Ward due to SWH Jnr being treated at GOSH last year for Haemolytic Anemia - big thread on that here, beware it is long and upsetting in places: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Since completing all the treatment in November, and being declared in remission at his GOSH appointment shortly after, he's had a few coughs and colds as normal; if anything they've been less often than a regular 2-3yr old as he had so many antibodies pumped into him last year.
Last night however he had a proper nasty sweaty fever... looked a bit off colour heading back from London yesterday evening (Paralympics Athletics was well very popular!) but that seemed due to him waking at 0420 due to being somewhat excited about heading off to the Paralympics... it's fun being 3yrs old you know
Around 2230 though he woke up very upset, sweaty, raging fever, all the nasty signs basically... cue a little Calpol action and a decent drink and he settled until 0430, where the same was repeated, less sweaty but still felt super hot - 38.9°C I think it was. Stirred again at 0830 still baking hot, and wanted to go back to sleep... never a good sign.
Mrs SWH and I had already been through the whole scenario of how is he going to react to a blood test and yes I guess we really do need to call the ward this time, so made the call and thankfully spoke to the staff nurse who knew instantly who we were, a quick check with the doctor and yes it would be a good idea to bring him in.
SWH Jnr and hospitals aren't a good mix, or the rest of us now I guess, given what happened to him before, but he did mighty well, considering he must have been feeling totally crap. Managed to get onto the ward, into a quiet area and sat on Mrs SWH, did a temperature reading (high 37C) and heartrate not too drastic...
...so actually not doing too badly, still one ill looking 3yr old, didn't want Calpol as he didn't trust them that it wasn't a sedative, nor was he up for any throat swab action either, in fact after attempting that it took 15min to calm him down.
So... back home, penicillin in the fridge, swab taken by us and dropped off at the GP and regular Calpol... temperature back down to normal for a bit this afternoon, and he perked up somewhat, playing with SWH Jnr.2 and wanting to play with the dog in the garden. Still distinctly not well though, and temperature back after he had a little tea too. Managed to get a dose of Calpol into him but any attempt at penicillin was spat out again - we're holding off on that (given the temperature came back down rather than raged on as before) and can start if needed on Thursday when the cultures from the throat swab return; seems logical, given the doctor half though it viral anyway.
So, the open access worked, seems they have an improved 'putting the child first' policy there now too, which is refreshing to see, I'd like to think some of my more forthright moments during his treatment last year went some way towards that.
That's quite a long post, quite therapeutic for me at least - possibly a rambling read for the rest of you however!
Here's hoping for a quieter night, and a happier boy in the morning, he seems to have settled well
Since completing all the treatment in November, and being declared in remission at his GOSH appointment shortly after, he's had a few coughs and colds as normal; if anything they've been less often than a regular 2-3yr old as he had so many antibodies pumped into him last year.
Last night however he had a proper nasty sweaty fever... looked a bit off colour heading back from London yesterday evening (Paralympics Athletics was well very popular!) but that seemed due to him waking at 0420 due to being somewhat excited about heading off to the Paralympics... it's fun being 3yrs old you know
Around 2230 though he woke up very upset, sweaty, raging fever, all the nasty signs basically... cue a little Calpol action and a decent drink and he settled until 0430, where the same was repeated, less sweaty but still felt super hot - 38.9°C I think it was. Stirred again at 0830 still baking hot, and wanted to go back to sleep... never a good sign.
Mrs SWH and I had already been through the whole scenario of how is he going to react to a blood test and yes I guess we really do need to call the ward this time, so made the call and thankfully spoke to the staff nurse who knew instantly who we were, a quick check with the doctor and yes it would be a good idea to bring him in.
SWH Jnr and hospitals aren't a good mix, or the rest of us now I guess, given what happened to him before, but he did mighty well, considering he must have been feeling totally crap. Managed to get onto the ward, into a quiet area and sat on Mrs SWH, did a temperature reading (high 37C) and heartrate not too drastic...
...so actually not doing too badly, still one ill looking 3yr old, didn't want Calpol as he didn't trust them that it wasn't a sedative, nor was he up for any throat swab action either, in fact after attempting that it took 15min to calm him down.
So... back home, penicillin in the fridge, swab taken by us and dropped off at the GP and regular Calpol... temperature back down to normal for a bit this afternoon, and he perked up somewhat, playing with SWH Jnr.2 and wanting to play with the dog in the garden. Still distinctly not well though, and temperature back after he had a little tea too. Managed to get a dose of Calpol into him but any attempt at penicillin was spat out again - we're holding off on that (given the temperature came back down rather than raged on as before) and can start if needed on Thursday when the cultures from the throat swab return; seems logical, given the doctor half though it viral anyway.
So, the open access worked, seems they have an improved 'putting the child first' policy there now too, which is refreshing to see, I'd like to think some of my more forthright moments during his treatment last year went some way towards that.
That's quite a long post, quite therapeutic for me at least - possibly a rambling read for the rest of you however!
Here's hoping for a quieter night, and a happier boy in the morning, he seems to have settled well
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