UH OH! Could have been exposed!

[madisonsmom]

[img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img] This may be kind of long.


My sister inlaw came by my work yesterday about 4:30pm so I could listen to my 3 month old nephews chest (he has a bad cough). Anyway to back up a little, she called me on Friday afternoon and said that the baby has not had an appetite (since the night before)and that daycare told her that he "threw up" earlier in the day (on Friday). They also said he had a "wet"diaper (poopy) in the afternoon and had no appetite. So she called the doctor on Friday night and he said he could have a stomach virus and to give him small amounts of Pedialyte. Well, he did not v* anymore so she gave him formula yesterday. He was fine yesterday. Ok...now back to my sister in law coming to my work........


She came in and I got my stethoscope and put the baby on her lap. I listened to his back and then listen to his chest and he coughs in my face! Ok...I was not worried (I did not realize that he was sick with the stomach bug until today) She also has a 3 year old son and she wanted me to listen to him too. So I did. Anyway, the baby was wheezing etc, etc. My sister in law feels fine...everyone is ok.


Well I talk to her later that night and everything still ok...she is worried about him wheezing.


Well she calls me this morning and says that she started v* at 11:50pm last night. She said she v* like every hour and a half until 4am this morning and she feel better today. The baby is fussy and has v* twice so far today. I think he's had a virus....his appetite was nothing on Thursday. It is so hard to tell in babies though but I think that is where my sister in law got it. Anyway..THEY HAVE IT!


SO...my question is can I get it just by being around her BEFORE her symptoms started? They started about 6 hours after I was around her. Could I have gotten it from the baby? He coughed while I was listening to his chest. He was fine yesterday but I still think he had it since he was acting weird on Friday and today he's sick.


So.................................I am going to obsess until Tuesday. Madison's first birthday is Tuesday. I am so worried we are going to be sick. I hate this. I dont know the probabilities of me being exposed.


SOMEONE...please give me some expert advice/opinions. I know there is nothing nobody can do...if I have it, I have it. My sister in law said it wasnt that bad. The actual act of v* does not bother me really, it is how you feel before you v*. LET ME STOP.


Incubation is 24-48 hours generally...right?

[jennyleigh1975]

Well, your sis-in-law was the one who got sick first. As long as she wasnt the one who coughed in your face, I wouldnt think you would have too much to worry about. You said she is already feeling better now, could it have been something they ate, or the flu? I say, you werent around them when they were sick, that you should be ok. Also, they got it within a few hours of each other, I would think that if you were going to get it, you would be feeling it by now. I can honestly say I know how you are feeling, because I would be thinking the same things as you. Keep us posted, I hope you and your family will be ok.

[madisonsmom]

My nephew (who is 3 months old) had NO appetite Thursday night into Friday. He drank a bottle at daycare and v* most of it up. He had one episode of a "wet" diaper (what that means I dont know) It went on his clothes so I assume it was more like d* but on one time. She gave him pedialyte Friday night and he felt better Saturday. Now this morning he v* 2 times and he is not eating and is fussy and sleeping alot. I was thinking he had it first and my sister in law got it from him. You know how babies are...they v* here and there and ok and just when you think they are better they do it again? I could be missing this completely. I think he had it first...and he coughed in my face yesterday.


He is definitely feeling bad today though. She is 90% better. She said she is still tired but she was up all night.

[madisonsmom]

SO...I guess if he was sick yesterday and coughed in my face...then I may be infected[img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]


UGH!

[jennyleigh1975]

I hope that you are not. Maybe we could look at it this way. He coughed in your face, that is respiratory stuff. Now if he had "V" in your face ........... (I know, gross, Im sorry.) then I would be even more worried. How long has it been now since you were around him. How quick did his own mom get it after being exposed?

[madisonsmom]

I was around him 4:30pm yesterday for about a half an hour or so. So it has been over 24 hours...5 in morning will be 36 hours...that seems to be the magic number. Im not sure when she could have been exposed. My best guess is 48 hours at the most. Thursday night is when his appetite diminished. But Friday is when he v* once and had the blow out of poop! (sorry)


Hopefully I am not doomed. I am thinking that I will get it. So its like I plan everything around when I think I will be sick. SO VERY PATHETIC!!![img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]


[img]smileys/smilies_07.gif[/img]I hate emetophobia!

[ontariogirl]

Debbie keep yourself busy, remember what we discussed on msn? Relax, think about what you are doing for Madisons birthday, what are you doing for her birthday? Keep busy girl!

[madisonsmom]

Well I am going to attempt to go to sleep. I have taken something for my nerves but I am still nervous about it. The medication does make it so my anxiety does not make my stomach hurt...it relaxes me. I am still worried though that I will wake up in the middle of the night sick. My husband gets up at 3am to go to work and I will be by myself with my kids. UGH. I am so scared I will be sick and cant take care of them.


Hoping God will not give me more than I can handle!

[hippybamagirl]

I think I read on webmd.com that the stomach flu is spread by fecal/mouth contact (ie, touching a surface that someone who has not washed their hands after using the toilet touched and then putting your hand in mouth) or by dealing with v* directly (ie, cleaning up after it, etc.) - I don't think it is airborne like a cold/cough is. Also, I believe I read that if you get the stomach flu you are contagious from the moment symptoms start. Check www.webmd.com and type in "stomach flu" in the search bar. Also check www.cdc.gov - I read this on one of those websites.


Based on this information, I think you are fine. Just keep washing your hands and remember to stay calm!

[madisonsmom]

Im trying too. Thanks for the info. The baby started showing symptoms on Friday...but seemed fine yesterday. When I was listening to his chest and back I could here is belly rumbling. I did not know he had it then. I suspected it Friday but he only v* once and his appetite picked back up Saturday unless he caught it again...he is SICK today!

[stella9]

For me, I wait until 48 - 60 hours. Once I hit the 60 hour mark,
I feel pretty confident that I will not catch whatever I was exposed
to. It is so hard what is going on with babies, because their
immune systems are so different from ours that they don't always have
the typical illness pathways. I found this to be true just
from being a mom. Now that my kids are older (5 and 7 years old)
when they get sick, their symptoms are relatively textbook.
However, when they were babies I never knew what the heck they had
because they would have the symptoms of one thing and the symptoms of
another thing simultaneously. I was forever referring to my
baby/toddler books to determine what they had and still wasn't too
successful. When my son was 2 1/2, he developed a very high
fever of 106.7!!!! It was July 3rd and nothing was going
around so the doctors were baffled. He had no symptoms other than
aching legs. The rapid strep test showed nothing, but his white
count from a blood test was raging high. The docs were totally
clueless. With such a high fever, he landed in the hospital where
cultures were swabbed from every possible orafice on his
body. After a chest x-ray, we learned that he had double
lower lobe pneumonia. He also had coxsackie virus. He
showed no symptom of either one (the mouth sores showed up two days
later). It was at that time that the doctors confirmed that it
is so hard to tell with babies and young toddlers. Who knows
exactly what is going on with the baby that coughed on you. When
my son was a baby to able three years old, he v*** with every
single respiratory bug he had. He would also v*** if his fever
went beyong 102. Our doctor told us that is completely common
with babies. We would catch the cold part, but not the v****.



Hope this helps and I hope you are doing well as you move into the last hour stretch.



Stella

[madisonsmom]

Well it has been 40 hours. I feel perfectly fine. I am hoping I am ok. Tonight if I feel good I will be able to breathe a little!

[donna1216]

Why did your nephew's daycare keep him if he had v'ed and had a blow out diaper--if the diaper wasn't normal, shouldn't the day care have known?? Hmmm. . .can't imagine where a 3 month old could have picked up that virus. . . . .

I hope you will be fine, I'm SURE you will be!! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MADISON!

[stella9]

There are tons of ways for a three month old to get a virus.



When my son was six months old, even though I primarily breast fed him,
occasionally he took a bottle. A friend of mine was over one day
visiting. While I was feeding my then two year old daughter, she
offered to give my son his bottle. I said okay and watched her
fill the bottle and then shake it while holding the hole on the nipple
with her finger - unwashed mind you. Of course I lunged for the
bottle before it could go in his mouth. But, that is one way to
pass a virus to a baby. You just never know how kids get
sick. Daycare centers are notorious for having gastro things go
around. No matter how much they try to stay on top of things, not
everyone is as vigilent as we emets.



Stella

[madisonsmom]

I still feel ok...nauseous but I think its my nerves. I have lots of stuff going on.

[bethany]

glad you're still feeling well. i know it's hard! hang in there!
-megan

[madisonsmom]

Well it as been 55 hours. (I did have to stop and count)[img]smileys/smilies_05.gif[/img]SO PATHETIC!


I hope I am in the clear.


My brother has it now. Evidently it is a nasty virus. Dont wanna get too graphic. [img]smileys/smilies_01.gif[/img]

[donna1216]

I'm sooo sorry to hear that!!! I hope all is well!