When does it stop being "She's just..." and start being something to worry about?

[OceanPrincess]

DD has been out of sorts for a while ago. Wondering if it is time to do something about it. DD has always been an outgoing, loving life, curious, stop for nothing child. My sister jokes that my kids run and run all day then crash spectacularly at nap or bed time, long outlasting her kids. She loves playing. Loves playgroup, childcare, kinder, playing with her cousins, everything. She's normally a happy, bouncy kid.

Three weeks ago I picked up an extra day of work. That means another early start for the kids, dragging them out of bed, one less day with mum. So she was off colour, unhappy to be going to play with her cousins, starting to tell me she didn't want to go to childcare and I'd say "She's just tired, she's had so many early starts and late nights with me working."

Then two weeks ago she got a rash around her mouth, for which she ended up needing antibiotics (got infected) and a steriod cream to beat. So then she was tired and grumpy and I'd say "She's just got a sore mouth, the ABs are making her itchy, she's a bit uncomfortable."

Round the same time, she was at mum's on a Tuesday (Kinder day) and she decided she didn't want to go to kinder as she was too tired. So then it was both "She's just tired and she's just recovering from her mouth thing." She had a sleep at my mum's house (hasn't had a day sleep since start of the year).

The rash cleared, then started coming back. A week ago today she was coughing all the preceeding night and I kept her home from our Friday activities (music and kinder) as she was lying on the couch telling me she didn't want to go anywhere, crying when I asked her if she wanted to go to music. The rash was back. I started her back on ABs and steriod cream and for the day she lay on the couch, dozing off and on.

Didn't do Saturday swimming, still coughing. Sunday she'd perked up and went to the zoo with the ILs. Seemed ok start of this week but still coughing a little, a dry sort of irritable cough, but she was still sad. Didn't want to go to childcare, told me no one played with her, etc etc. Tuesday mum got her to kinder with tears. I said "She's just missing mum, it's hard on her with me working extra."

Thursday I got the call to pick up from childcare, she'd spiked a bit of a temp (38.6) and had fallen asleep on the floor. I sent mum who took her out to play with her cousins again. Off and on all day. Slept fine last night but didn't want to go to music this morning. Fell asleep in the car, on the way there (I was leading the program so I had to go), really clingy while we were there, Mum picked her up for me and she slept for 2hrs at mum's house. Tried to take her to kinder (photos or I wouldn't have bothered) and she was a bit sad but then picked up and was playing while I watched. Tried to leave, she grizzled a bit, I left, got called back 10 mins later. Now we're home and she is fine. Watching TV, doesn't seem tired, eating some noodles.

Realised while talking to the kinder teachers that I've been making excuses for her tiredness and being out of sorts for a few weeks now. She is not herself. She falls asleep in the car, she's sad all the time, on and off her food, cries and grizzles a lot. Is is time for a trip to the GP?

[Olive]

Absolutely time for the dr's, hope she's back to herself soon xxx

[FabFiona]

Yep. Sounds like she's got a medical condition of some sort. These viruses can take a while to get rid of. Hopefully the Doctor can do something to get your normal happy girl back.

[OceanPrincess]

Thanks guys... writing it all down like that has brought me to the same conclusion...

What can be done for viruses?

[Mak]

Agree it is time for a check up! My crew here have been struggling with the change of seasons and have had a number of colds, coughs, gastro etc. It feels like it has been one thing after the other for the last 8 weeks. We've had a few changes with DD2 starting kinder and DD1 starting school this year and I think the hectic pace of life has hit everyone - I've had to work some extra days as well. Also we've been busy with more social stuff - and I think we're all just worn out. We're having a few more quiet weekends until the school holidays too - more quiet family time and getting outside, fruit and cuddles.
Hope she is feeling better soon. xxx

[Charlotte91]

Sounds like something's not quite right.
Hope you get some answers asap.

[Mak]

Rest, fluids and more rest!
I try to air the house out a few times a week in winter as we tend to close up with the heater on. I also make food with garlic and lots of veg - chicken soup etc. I also pop disinfectant into the clothes/linen after the kids have been unwell. Similiarly I throw out or sterilise toothbrushes - maybe over kill but at least it makes me feel like I doing something. We try to rug up and hit the park so we can all get some exercise and avoid cabin fever if the kids are up to it.
xxxx

[Miss.September]

I'd get her checked out too. Something's not right.

The other thing that crossed my mind - you guys are flat out busy. Do you have a day where you can just chill out at home together during the week/end? Might help her recharge her batteries too.

[Liviam]

OP how old is your little girl. I am only asking because DS is 5 weeks off 3 and he is exactly the same. So I'm wondering if it's an age thing like they are about to hit a growth/developmental spurt or another age related thing.

[chody47]

I rekon it's time for a check up too. I also agree with posters above suggesting that maybe a day or few just doing nothing might help her to 'catch up' and feel a bit better.

[OceanPrincess]

She's a feb baby Dan - so coming up to 3.5. It could be a developmental thing, I also thought growth spurt as I used to suffer from shockingly painful growth spurts when I was a kid.

Our diets haven't been the best - soup with some veggies sounds like a good idea!

Pac, yeah we've got not much planned this w/e, neither me nor DH away or working, so we'll have some chill time.

I did think I'd take her out for a special morning with mummy on Sunday but now I'm not so sure. Hmm.

[peanutter]

yes to Drs.

not sure, about viruses ... I'm still getting over mine!

olive leaf extract doesn't seem to be doing much, but as so many others swear by it, so I'm giving it a bit more time... and vitamin C - 4-7gms a day.

lots of water, and (in theory) lots of sleep.

[Sunny Love]

Get some bloods taken. The changes you've noticed in your DD are very similar to those that my DD displayed. Normally I don't post in these areas of BB, but I feel my story *might* be helpful to you.

It took a while, but finally after some bloods were drawn my DD was diagnosed with having a Staph infection in her digestive system, it had started in her nose, gone down her throat with other mucous and entered her gut.

I have been a carrier of the bacteria for a large part of my life and always know when I have an 'outbreak', and without doubt have unfortunatly passed it to her probably through our normal interactions. Yet, I still didn't notice an outbreak or the symptoms in her.
It affected everything for her, she stopped playing so much, stopped eating and putting on weight, became very tired, her temps would fluctuate between slightly high and normal. She had good days, and then bad days. Stopped sleeping through the night, it just wasn't her 'normal' self.

I am so glad I took her to the GP, again, for a second opinion and check-up. What was initally put down to being a fussy eater, having a little cold, and then cutting molars etc turned out to be something more serious and needing attention. TBH, people started commenting about how sick she looked. With my DP's family history, Leaukemia became a concern/worry. Action had to be taken further than what had been taken already.

A course of antibiotics, some of those Vitamin lollies and probiotics, and teaching her to eat again has now seen my beautiful little girl happy and healthy again.

I hope your DD doesn't have anything like what my DD had/s. But it is so worth getting it checked out.

[Lenny]

Going to the Dr won't hurt. I took DS2 a couple of weeks ago, because he cried over everything for nearly a whole week and he was so 'out of sorts'. Dr checked his ears, throat, lymph nodes etc. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but made me promise to come back if i continued to be worried. She didn't make me feel neurotic at all, bless her! And it passed. But at least i didn't worry anymore.

I hope your little girl returns soon xx

[Tegam]

To me I think that we just dont give our kids enough recovery time. As soon as they are well we throw them back into all their normal activities and they just crash again. Steiner has a theory that you keep them home well as long as they were sick. Say three days I'll, three days home perfectly well.

I do this with my kids and whilst they still get sick I don't get the bounce back illness.

[diva det]

hey lovely you described boof to a t !!
he is doing the same thing
i had to stay at kinder with him on tues
also very clingy and didnt want to go to playgroups either for the past few weeks
he doesnt want to go anywhere , he is out of sorts as well
i am tipping his 4 year olds coming through, developmental changes and a growth spurt
my other two went through it as well
and yes it could be a virus chucked in as well
you had bloods done for her not long ago and nothing showed up (elevated white cell count is an indication of something going on)
Viruses cant be treated with meds - you can only treat the symptoms for relief

I started giving boof some rescue remedy to help him emotionally, and trying to get some multis in him as well.

hang in there love
xxxx

[OceanPrincess]

you had bloods done for her not long ago and nothing showed up (elevated white cell count is an indication of something going on)
Viruses cant be treated with meds - you can only treat the symptoms for relief

I started giving boof some rescue remedy to help him emotionally, and trying to get some multis in him as well.

hang in there love
xxxx

Yeah nothing showed up in the blood test results. That I can remember. I'll try to get back in with the same GP tomorrow so they can check the results again.

I might look into the vitamin thing too... Boost her immune system a bit. Can't hurt. I mean I do it for myself when I'm feeling poorly...

[OceanPrincess]

Just thought I'd update - took DD to the GP this morning and she has an "atypical chest infection", something similar to pneumonia apparently.

She's on antibiotics and if she doesn't improve in 48hrs then I need to take her back and organise further tests. Sigh!