k2bdeutmeyer Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 DD 10yr has Influenza B. Basically, the ER dr told us there wasn't much we could do except stay on top of the ibuprofen and keep her hydrated. Normally I'm pretty confident in my mothering a sick child skills, but today I'm feeling a little unsure. DD has literally slept ALL DAY. I'm not even kidding. She woke up for about 15 min when I offered her some lunch. She ate about 3-4 spoonfuls of chicken and rice and went back to sleep. She asked for a glass of water just prior to that and drank some. So, my questions: 1. Do I let her sleep as much as she wants, or should I encourage her to wake up and read/watch TV quietly for a little bit? I'm concerned she will not be able to sleep tonight. 2. Do I wake her up to make her drink something? I don't think she's been in the bathroom at all today. 3. How do I determine when she's too dehydrated and needs to go in? I know how to do this in a younger child, but not at her age. 4. If I think she's getting dangerously dehydrated, should I wake her and try to get her to drink a bunch before deciding to take her in? Or, at that point is it too late, and we should just go either way? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k2bdeutmeyer Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 anybody? I did wake her up for ibuprofen. She was 103 and drank a small glass of water with the meds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigomama Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 So sorry:grouphug:. My friends 11yo had this last week. She was very sick, lethargic, sleepy for a whole week. They too went to the ER and were told to provide tylenol/ibuprofen. She said she was nervous about how much DD slept, but she just let her. If she's that sick, chances are she'll sleep all day and all night. I would let her call the shots. My friend also offered soup, broth,etc. but her DD did not eat the first few days. For me liquids of some sort, whether water, juice, Gatorade would be non-negotiable. The last thing you want id to go back to the ER for dehydration. So, maybe ask DD what she feels like drinking and make sure she is, otherwise let her sleep. How this passes quickly and no one else gets it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 :grouphug: our hmo has an advice nurse; i'd call and ask her/him just what you've asked.... when dd had the swine flu, i woke her every 3-4 hours for meds, a cool shower and a minimum of 4 ounces of liquid, 8 if possible. i was most successful with popcycles and icies.... slushies were a good try, too. good luck; its hard when they are so sick. i think its likely a good thing that she is sleeping. fwiw, ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I would let her sleep, and have her drink a cup of juice every 4 hours or so when you give her the Tylenol/ibuprofen. If she drinks a full cup every time she takes the meds, she should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splash Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I had two with this last month and they slept like that for several days. I didn't wake them but did offer fluids anytime they woke. All they wanted was water. Fever ranged from 101-105 for 7-10 days with cough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giraffe Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Try pedialyte or gatorade when she wakes up for medication. When we thought DD had the flu that's what the nurses kept pushing. There is (at Target?) a pedialyte type fluid that's unflavored and tasteless. I can get that into DD mixed with juice. She doesn't know the difference (and hates pedialyte). Let her sleep, and push fluids when she wakes up. Hang in there, mama. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I think if you are waking her up for meds every 4 hrs, you do not need to force her awake. When mine have gotten like this I will bring out the popsicles and sorbet! Sometimes, I bring them down to the couch so I can keep a closer I on them. Keep doing pinch tests for deydration. I don't push solid food or milk when they are this sick. Wash cloths on the forehead, or back of the neck. I also do foot and hand massages. (the short story is when I was 8 we were snowed into a motel, the only dr they could find was a reflexologist? He walked in the room and massaged by feet and hands, my temp dropped almost instantly.) I'm sorry you have a sick kiddo :glare:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillary in KS Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 When my ds4 had influenza B, it was the same way. I could not BELIEVE how much he slept! It was almost 2 weeks before he could make it to lunchtime without a nap. The first few days (before the Dr. knew what he had) he slept almost 24 hours, waking in only short bursts. It was scary. I kept the fridge stocked with things that were nutritious and quick! Since ds wouldn't be awake long, I couldn't spend time he was awake fixing him food. Lots of juice (he would drink more juice than water), applesauce, yogurt, cheese, etc. I pushed liquids as much as I could. Hang in there. I'm sorry he's so sick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 That must be a really yucky strain of Influenza B - most of the time "B" is the milder flu. I would absolutely let her sleep. Her body is telling her what to do - it is working to heal itself. If she is waking to take meds an drinking with those, and she is at rest (thus not losing fluids through sweating, urinating, etc) then she will likely be fine. Sometimes we just have to trust that our bodies know best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 anybody? I did wake her up for ibuprofen. She was 103 and drank a small glass of water with the meds. Are you rotating tylenol and motrin (that's what we were always told to do). We also always kept popsicles and gatorade on hand for the flu. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 We've got B here. Sleep. Fluids. Popsicles. Frozen yogurt. advil. More sleep. She's tired, has body aches, a fever, and a headache. Watch out because it's very contagious. I came down with it three days after my dd. (maybe I shouldn't have slept with her the first night she was sick) I took her to the doctor within 24 of getting her fever so the doctor gave her tamiflu. Her fever is down to 99-100 instead of >103, but she's still tired 5 days after starting the tamiflu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 how is she doing this morning? thinking about you, ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k2bdeutmeyer Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 She is looking much better today! Thank you! She drank a whole thing of Powerade between last night and this morning and it really seems to have perked her up :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coffeefreak Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 This is what we went through too. I bought popsicles and when they were awake, that's how I forced them to hydrate (they were the all fruit popsicles). The only other thing they wanted was water. I would usually only let them sleep 4 hours before waking them up for tylenol (we can't take IB). It has been a nasty year for bugs. My youngest has had the worst time! I hope your kiddos feel better soon! Blessings! Dorinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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