The full story:
Lexi had been on antibiotics for 14 days. She took the last dose Wednesday afternoon. She had a sinus infection and ear infection I just couldn't get rid off.
Thursday afternoon after we came home from the zoo she got a low grade fever, nothing major only 100.9.
She didn't feel great Friday and her fever was a little higher, 102. She didn't sleep well that night and was up every 2 hours.
Saturday her fever stayed around 102 all day Saturday, we tried cool bathes, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, sitting outside without a jacket. She was refusing to eat and drink most of the day. She didn't sleep well. She was up until after 1am then back up at 2:30am until 4am then back up 5:30am until 7:30am.
Sunday her fever rose no matter what we tried. She woke up with a dry diaper and didn't have one all day. Her fever continued to rise. I took her to instacare. The check in lady talked to the Dr to make sure she could be treated there. The Dr said yes. So we paid our copay, we sat and waited and waited. Finally the triage took us back and she talked to us for a few minutes, took her temp 103.8. Then she went to talk to the Dr. She came back and said that we had to go to the hospital.
So Lexi and I loaded back into the van and started the drive to Primary Childrens.
When I got Lexi out of her car seat she was bright red. She was breathing really shallow and almost limp.
We went into the ER. The immediately triaged her, temp 106. Heartrate 220 (normal for her age is 140). O2 level was at 79%. The nurse called Shock Protocol on the intercom and we were rushed back to a room and within minutes there were nurses, Drs, techs etc. there. Her IV was started, her blood drawn, catheter in, meds given within 10 minutes of being there. They were worried she was going into shock because of her high fever.
We had someone with us constantly for about the next hour. Her breathing got better, her heart rate was lower at 180 but still not in the normal range. She still hadn't wet a diaper but weren't as worried she was going to go back critical. We stayed in the ER for about another 5 hours. More fluid. More times taking vitals. The labs came back it wasn't a UTI, it wasn't one of the 12 most common viruses going around. The Dr. explained that it wasn't like on TV and that they had a magic computer system to scan the sample and match it to what it was. And viruses mutate fast so it's almost impossible to rule them all out. At about 9pm the Dr came in and said they wanted to admit her. They hadn't ruled out meningitis, she still had tachycardia, and her fever had only dropped to 105.
So Sam loaded up the boys and drove up to Primarys with my blood meter and other random supplies I needed to stay the night.
About 10pm they moved us to the ERTICU or Emergency Rapid Treatment Intensive Care Unit. They explained it as a unit where it can turn critical or clear up really fast. They are hoping you don't have to be there very long and don't have to be admitted to the hospital but you need more care than the ER but they want you close to the ER incase it does turn critical and they need the equipment that is there. They showed you the nurse call button, the Critical Care button and then the Code Blue button. The room had a crib for Lexi, a bed for me and a rocking chair. The unit is pretty small there is only like 16 beds (10 rooms but 3 were double occupancy). We got our own room because we were quarantined. Everyone who came in wore masks, gloves, gowns etc. We had our own nurse, 2 techs and a pediatrician that we shared with one other room.
The nurses were really nice and brought me in a bunch of snacks because they noticed my pump and didn't want me to drop in the night.
We tried to entice Lexi to eat or drink anything. She refused a bottle, slushie, Popsicle, crackers, soda, juice, water everything we tried. She would go to sleep, or when she finally would they would have to come in to take her vitals. She wore the O2 monitor all the time, she still had her IV in, a BP cuff on her leg, but they would come in to take her temp every half hour. Finally about 4am I laid down in the bed with her and they let us sleep for an hour and a half without taking her vitals. Her fever was pretty steady at about 103 and her heart rate stayed about 160 when she was asleep.
Monday morning about 10am her fever broke finally, 100 degrees!
The labs came back that it wasn't a horribly contagious virus, so no meningitis, so we were off quarantine.
After 2 1/2 bags of fluid she had a wet diaper.
She needed to get her heart rate down under 140 and drink over an ounce of liquid in an hour for three hours to get to go home.
She finally met all those criteria about 4:30 Monday afternoon. So we headed home.
They say she win this battle but the war with the virus isn't over. But hopefully with the antibodies she built up with this attack and the meds they gave her she will get over it fast.
That night her fever started rising again. She quit drinking as much. We watched. We prayed. She got another blessing.
Monday night Sam stayed up with her because I was exhausted. He said she didn't sleep well.
Tuesday morning I seized. Sam got up and got ready for work he came in and woke me up at 7:30am. I guess I got out of bed. (I don't remember anything until about 9:45am) I came and sat on the couch. Lexi fell asleep and Sam put her in her bed. Sam left for work, thinking I was just still really tired not realizing I was really low. Seth said I went back to bed. He came in at 9am and tried to get me up because Lexi was awake and my phone kept ringing. I was shaking so he went and got me some sugar.
I got up, got Lexi, decided I wanted boiled eggs so I boiled a lot of eggs. I ate random stuff some containing gluten. About 9:45 my memory starts to come back. I am doing dishes, Lexi is in her high chair throwing food to the dogs, Seth and Chris are eating toast and boiled eggs. I test my blood sugar 26. I drink more chocolate milk I eat another egg. I have a pounding headache. I take Lexi's temp 100. That's doable.
I rush to get stuff done. Get the boys ready for school.
Lexi takes a nap. I work on homework the semester is almost over.
About 3pm her fever is back 102 but it doesn't stay long by bedtime her temp is 98.
Wednesday morning a low grade fever again but it doesn't stay long and with meds is gone.
Thursday low grade fever, but even without meds is gone by the afternoon.
Friday no fever. 24 hours fever free!!! Maybe the war with the virus is over. They don't know what caused her to get sick. They are guessing it was a virus. They don't know why her body had such a strong reaction to what ever it was but hopefully it doesn't happen again to my sweet little girl.
