Two Questions...Er Proto-call ...and a Question for Our Outcome

Regarding your ER visit, when my daughter was hospitalized (through the ER of a Children's Hospital) they were very good about telling us "This is what we're going to do, and this is why, here is a printout on the medicine we're about to administer. Let us know if you have any questions." That is ideal. However, there was nothing really urgent about her care. It sounds like your son's situation was much different. If they were concerned about him throwing up and loosing more fluids being harmful, then they may have felt it was a time issue and that is fine. If my child is spewing blood from a wound, I don't want them feeling they have to come ask me if it is OK to apply pressure, you know?

Many hugs to you for dealing with all of this... to answer your first question, yes, the hospital did the "right" thing by administering medicine they felt was necessary and then telling you about it. Especially in the ER, doctors and nurses aren't required to inform parents or ask for consent before prescribing medicine. If they did, people could be in pain or even die while waiting for that consent. No one thinks anything of it when a doctor gives medicine through an IV in an emergency situation (think car accident), but when the patient is awake and aware it gets a little trickier. Do they discuss the medicine before giving it? Sometimes... but not always. In your son's case, giving anti-vomiting medicine was probably normal practice when giving extra fluids so they didn't even hesitate. It's good that they told you, though. So yeah - I would not worry that a step was missed or that you weren't properly kept informed.

Hang in there!

Gosh, I so hope you guys are on the mend.
As for your hospital experience, and per our experience, having been to ER one too many times, they don't necessarily consult you before they do anything. If you were dealing with your personal doctor, then yes, everything is discussed prior. But in hospitals, they do according to what is needed to be done, many times without consulting the parents. Good luck mama. Hang in there.

I wouldn't think anything of the ER administering the medicine. In ER situations, this is normal protocol. If they're about to do a procedure -THEN they will usually say something unless it's so dire that they're just working as fast as possible.

Be careful with the fever blisters/herpes! They are HIGHLY contagious and if he touches them and then anything that your other kids (or you touch) you can wind up getting them. Try to keep your other two away from him as much as possible while he has them. Make sure anything he eats or drinks from goes through a hot dishwasher. Sterilize any other oral items with rubbing alcohol! Throw away his toothbrush.

Hope they're all better soon!

As far as the herpes blisters, I don't think I would worry too much. I got the virus from my mom when I was a kid, and I have dealt with it for over 25 years. It's an inconvenience, but in general not much more. I only get sores a few times a year now (during/after a cold, often where I've been wiping my nose till it's raw; at times of high stress; more with pregnancy!) but I probably got them more when I was younger. It is worse when they are inside the mouth (I get them at the back of my throat and occasionally on a tonsil, as well as inside my nose up near the sinus - ouch!) and your biggest concern will be keeping him hydrated. The first outbreak is usually the worst though.
I take reasonable precautions to keep from spreading them to my husband and kids, and so far we've been fine. They are kids, and I am their mom, so I can't always refuse kisses or even sharing food, but I try on the first few days to avoid as much as I can ... usually after about 2-3 days, when they start drying up, they are no longer contagious. Been married almost 16 years and a mom for almost 13 and haven't passed them on yet! :)

I know for a fact that the following illnesses are in the same zoster viral family: herpes I and II, chicken pox, shingles and Epstein Barr (mono)

Chicken pox is usually the first wave which can easily be followed by shingles - since they are one of the same virus, but shingles occurs after chicken pox lies dormant. Herpes and shingles are in the same FAMILY of virals but not the same virus. Only those who had chicken pox either as a child or an adult will be more prone to having shingles - those who had the chicken pox vaccine will be much less prone.

Herpes and shingles are two completely different viruses within the same umbrella viral family. The Zoster family virals are VERY contagious. Yes, most are very common and widespread... but even tho I've had chicken pox and mono, I've never had any sort of herpes and hopefully will not have shingles. Just because 3 out of 5 people have cold sores does not mean I'd want a Mom of a child who's child has them be loose about her supervision in her child's mouth and hands and where they are put - just because it's a common virus. Make sure his hygiene is 10X better than usual during his outbreak and try to keep him from other children if possible until the sores are scabbed and almost healed. No sharing of ANYTHING until sores are 100% gone.

Good luck!

Bless your heart. That is just awful for y'all and him. Im so very sorry! If it were me id let the docs do what they do best, take care of my baby. I would want to know of course what they gave him but I would be ok with it. I hope he gets to feeling better and his wonderful mama gets some rest!

Write to Children's about your concerns. I also was there at o-dark-thirty and later also questioned if I'd given informed consent for something. All turned out well with us as well, but if there's an issue, it's better that it's recorded.

I would be highly upset with whomever exposed your child to this. in my mind, there is absolutely no excuse for exposing others and giving misinformation (telling you your boys couldnt get it). that person needs to be brought up to speed about the disease they're spreading, pronto!!

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I think they did what they were supposed to. If they had pulled you aside and told you they were giving it to him or said it in his presence, he may have gotten alot more upset. I think they did this to avoid your son being more upset--they did what they needed to do. Also when you check in, you consent to treatment which is a blanket statement that covers alot. It means you consented to meds as well. Hope everyone feels better soon!

M

I think the med was needed, they knew their job, & you did sign a release allowing treatment. & with kids, the more you spend time talking....the more they see your ?s/doubts/concerns......the more they'll act up.

Moving on to your concerns with the herpes: my 14yo son does not maintain the antibodies for varicella zoster. He's had 2 full-blown, dr-diagnosed cases of chicken pox.....& possibly 2 other undiagnosed mild cases. He is considered to be high-risk for issues with shingles. My understanding is that once you have this virus, it lies dormant in your system until the right (well, I think wrong) conditions come together & cause a breakout. There is no way to prevent this & you just need to be prepared to deal with..... & most importantly, don't live in fear of it happening. We have also been told to consider pursuing the shingles vaccine when our son is an adult. Hope this helps.....