Re: I'm an Idiot!!

[Guest guest]

I feel like I really messed up this morning.

Firstly, probably has a double ear infection. She complained of it

Monday and since I had an ear infection too, I trusted it wasn't too early to

take

her in (the last three of my ear infections, she's had one within a day of

me, which I find very interesting). With my otoscope, her ears looked as crummy

as they always do, so I took her in. I thought I saw a retraction and some

pinkness in the corner, but the doc described the ear as " pink and healthy " . So

that was a $15 co-pay " wasted " .

She's still complaining and now I'd say her eardrums are a little redder.

Problem is, it's hard for me to see in the " corner " in there, and that's where

hers always seem to start. I really wish I had a brighter light.

So I'm thinking I have to take her in today, but don't want her to miss

school for it, so we'll go in the afternoon. Hope it's still not too early...

hate

wasting those co-pays!

So we go to the bus stop and here comes her friend from down the street who

has been absent since last Friday. Turns out she had what may have been

influenza... some vomiting, 103 fever, dizzy and bedridden for days, plus a

sinus

infection on top. She has been fever-free for over 24 hours but has this very

loose cough.

Here's the part where I'm an idiot. I stood there, mind racing, wondering

what to do. is standing in a little group with this girl, I'm paralyzed. I

didn't want to offend the mom by treating her daughter like a plague-carrier,

so I took discreetly aside and told her not to sit next to the girl and

to stay away from anybody who is coughing like that, as I then noticed there

is at least one other girl she sits with that sounds like that.

Now I'm sitting here knowing what I should have done is say, " Oh NO! I forgot

we have a doctor's appointment this morning!!! Em, we gotta go!!!! " And

hustled her immediately away, and driving her to school today and the rest of

the

week. I mean, the thing we've been so worried about is catching flu, and here

is our closest contact with it yet and I'm gonna put her a foot away???????

IDIOT

I may explain here that this neighbor does not know about 's PID. I have

been winging it on this front... wanting to not have 's PID be the focus

of our relationships with the neighbors. I've handled illnesses by turning a

sickish kid away when they come to play, just saying " gets sick easily " .

Maybe I'm being silly or naive but it's so nice to not have that " difference "

hanging there. I have a girlfriend who knows all about and any time we

can't do something or she wonders where we've been and I explain had

pneumonia or whatever, she clucks and coos and is sort of horrified for us,

she's

very sweet and means well but obviously is feeling sorry for us. (her kids

are never sick) Which is certainly better than some other possible reactions,

but it still isn't " normal " , you know?

So now I'm wondering if I should drive her to school tomorrow or if it's too

late already. Sigh.

(mom to , age 5-1/2, dairy intolerant-related GERD -- currently

has polysaccharide antibody def, previously had transient IgG, IgA, t-cell &

other defs... and also to Kate, born 9/19/02, dairy intolerant)

[Guest guest]

Hi Bunneegirl-

You're not an idiot! I feel the same way when there is another little kid

coughing right into my child's face. I usually make an excuse to pull her away,

too.

Last week my daughter invited a friend over, and then I found out that her

little brother had a stomach flu and was vomiting all over the place. His

sister didn't have it (yet), but I didn't even want her over. But it was too

late by the time I found out! Then I just cringe, and make sure they don't

share a drink or sit too close to each other. Then I realize that there isn't

much I can do, because there were probably 10 kids at school who could have been

in contact with someone else who was sick ... it's futile, I think.

Was lucky enough to get a flu shot? was, but I still don't want

her around kids who have/recently had the flu. My son sits at the same table at

school as a girl who just had strep throat. Her mother was telling me how she

was going back to school last Friday, and I wanted to say " but she hasn't been

fever-free for 24 hours yet " and " she hasn't been on antibiotics for 24 hours

yet " , but what can you do? I feel like the sick-police! You can drive her if

it makes you feel better, but you probably can't shield her from everything, you

know? We try, but we just can't fight those germs!

I know what you mean about people knowing about the PID. The preschool

teacher was explaining to us at the beginning of the year that " one of the

children " has an " immune problem or something " , and I said " oh, that's US " .

, Mom to , 4, IgA Deficient, Asthma, Chronic Ear/Sinus Infections and

Connor, 6

.Here's the part where I'm an idiot. I stood there, mind racing, wondering

what to do. is standing in a little group with this girl, I'm

paralyzed. I

didn't want to offend the mom by treating her daughter like a

plague-carrier,

so I took discreetly aside and told her not to sit next to the girl

and

to stay away from anybody who is coughing like that, as I then noticed there

is at least one other girl she sits with that sounds like that.

Now I'm sitting here knowing what I should have done is say, " Oh NO! I

forgot

we have a doctor's appointment this morning!!! Em, we gotta go!!!! " And

hustled her immediately away, and driving her to school today and the rest

of the

week. I mean, the thing we've been so worried about is catching flu, and

here

is our closest contact with it yet and I'm gonna put her a foot away???????

IDIOT

I may explain here that this neighbor does not know about 's PID. I

have

been winging it on this front... wanting to not have 's PID be the

focus

of our relationships with the neighbors. I've handled illnesses by turning a

sickish kid away when they come to play, just saying " gets sick

easily " .

[Guest guest]

Hi Bunneegirl-

You're not an idiot! I feel the same way when there is another little kid

coughing right into my child's face. I usually make an excuse to pull her away,

too.

Last week my daughter invited a friend over, and then I found out that her

little brother had a stomach flu and was vomiting all over the place. His

sister didn't have it (yet), but I didn't even want her over. But it was too

late by the time I found out! Then I just cringe, and make sure they don't

share a drink or sit too close to each other. Then I realize that there isn't

much I can do, because there were probably 10 kids at school who could have been

in contact with someone else who was sick ... it's futile, I think.

Was lucky enough to get a flu shot? was, but I still don't want

her around kids who have/recently had the flu. My son sits at the same table at

school as a girl who just had strep throat. Her mother was telling me how she

was going back to school last Friday, and I wanted to say " but she hasn't been

fever-free for 24 hours yet " and " she hasn't been on antibiotics for 24 hours

yet " , but what can you do? I feel like the sick-police! You can drive her if

it makes you feel better, but you probably can't shield her from everything, you

know? We try, but we just can't fight those germs!

I know what you mean about people knowing about the PID. The preschool

teacher was explaining to us at the beginning of the year that " one of the

children " has an " immune problem or something " , and I said " oh, that's US " .

, Mom to , 4, IgA Deficient, Asthma, Chronic Ear/Sinus Infections and

Connor, 6

.Here's the part where I'm an idiot. I stood there, mind racing, wondering

what to do. is standing in a little group with this girl, I'm

paralyzed. I

didn't want to offend the mom by treating her daughter like a

plague-carrier,

so I took discreetly aside and told her not to sit next to the girl

and

to stay away from anybody who is coughing like that, as I then noticed there

is at least one other girl she sits with that sounds like that.

Now I'm sitting here knowing what I should have done is say, " Oh NO! I

forgot

we have a doctor's appointment this morning!!! Em, we gotta go!!!! " And

hustled her immediately away, and driving her to school today and the rest

of the

week. I mean, the thing we've been so worried about is catching flu, and

here

is our closest contact with it yet and I'm gonna put her a foot away???????

IDIOT

I may explain here that this neighbor does not know about 's PID. I

have

been winging it on this front... wanting to not have 's PID be the

focus

of our relationships with the neighbors. I've handled illnesses by turning a

sickish kid away when they come to play, just saying " gets sick

easily " .

[Guest guest]

:

Well, actually I do usually intervene even if it might be " too late " . We've

had a friend over who then started with this wet cough I hadn't noticed before

and I sent her packing. Sometimes I'll make up an excuse (I'll take

aside and tell her we're going for a treat or something) and tell the girl we

have

errands to run and it's time to say goodbye.

Other times I'll say, " you seem sick. we just got over something and really

shouldn't catch something new, so it's time to say goodbye. We'll walk you home "

Then when they come the next time, I don't even let them in the door without

asking, " are you still sick? are you still coughing? " etc., said in a

concerned and caring voice, very friendly and all and it comes out fine. I know

you

can't avoid all the germs but I'm going to do my best to avoid those that I at

least know about!!! I've smacked myself in the head too many times in the past

letting her be exposed to a sick person and then coming down with it -- this

way I know I'm doing whatever I can.

By the way, I did drive her to school the next day to avoid the

recently-had-the-flu busstop friend. It was a win-win situation because I got to

check

lost-and-found and I found my hat that borrowed and lost at school!

got 2 flu shots, which is what she gets every year and her ped was kind

enough to do that again, as they hadn't run out of vaccine. Last year her

baby sister (who had had 1 shot) got the flu bad enough to need Tamiflu but

did NOT!!!

As far as the child with strep throat. I've heard conflicting things. They

always send a note home to everybody when someone in class has it, and yet our

ped told us point blank that it is not readily transmissable. So I don't know

what to say about that.

(mom to , age 5-1/2, dairy intolerant-related GERD -- currently

has polysaccharide antibody def, previously had transient IgG, IgA, t-cell &

other defs... and also to Kate, born 9/19/02, dairy intolerant)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/2004 1:37:50 PM Pacific Standard Time,

bunneegirl@... writes:

As far as the child with strep throat. I've heard conflicting things. They

always send a note home to everybody when someone in class has it, and yet

our

ped told us point blank that it is not readily transmissable. So I don't know

what to say about that.

,

Strep throat is 's latest infection. I don't know that I agree with

your Ped, at least not for our kids. For , everything is contagious...but

especially strep.

Sandi, Mom to , age 11. CVID, Tetrology of Fallot, Pulmonary valve

transplant (2003), Mitral valve stenosis, chronic ear, nose and throat

infections--including strep, COPD, asthma, severe allergies (including meds),

Carnitine

deficiency, GERD, suspected Di syndrome.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/2004 5:50:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,

sassykay59@... writes:

I don't know that I agree with

your Ped, at least not for our kids. For , everything is

contagious...but

especially strep.

I think not for our kids also. Brittany has had strep that has hospitalized

her, many times.

Janet, Mom to Brittany, CVID, age 14

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/2004 4:51:01 PM Central Standard Time,

sassykay59@... writes:

> For , everything is contagious...but

> especially strep.

>

Sandi:

I know what you mean. Everybody knows ear infections aren't " contagious " , and

yet has come down with an ear infection within a day of her cousin when

they were together and lately she has always gotten one within a day of me.

I guess while the infection itself isn't technically contagious, the bacteria

that cause it must have been present somewhere and both picked it up?

I've had many many many infections in my life and never had strep throat

somehow. hasn't had it yet either. (famous last words!!!) Wierd!

(mom to , age 5-1/2, dairy intolerant-related GERD -- currently

has polysaccharide antibody def, previously had transient IgG, IgA, t-cell &

other defs... and also to Kate, born 9/19/02, dairy intolerant)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/15/2004 11:03:36 AM Pacific Standard Time,

bunneegirl@... writes:

I guess while the infection itself isn't technically contagious, the bacteria

that cause it must have been present somewhere and both picked it up?

,

The Docs always tell me that when Bri has an ear infection--he picked up

the bacteria from someone/somewhere. But we always hear it's not contagious!

Bri didn't start getting strep until about a year and a half ago. Since

then, it's been difficult to get rid of.

Sandi, Mom to , age 11. Polysaccharide deficiency, IgG1 subclass

deficiency, Tetrology of Fallot, Pulmonary valve transplant (2003), Mitral valve

stenosis, chronic ear, nose and throat infections--including strep, COPD,

asthma,

severe allergies (including meds), Carnitine deficiency, GERD, suspected

Velocardiofacial syndrome.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/15/2004 11:03:36 AM Pacific Standard Time,

bunneegirl@... writes:

I guess while the infection itself isn't technically contagious, the bacteria

that cause it must have been present somewhere and both picked it up?

,

The Docs always tell me that when Bri has an ear infection--he picked up

the bacteria from someone/somewhere. But we always hear it's not contagious!

Bri didn't start getting strep until about a year and a half ago. Since

then, it's been difficult to get rid of.

Sandi, Mom to , age 11. Polysaccharide deficiency, IgG1 subclass

deficiency, Tetrology of Fallot, Pulmonary valve transplant (2003), Mitral valve

stenosis, chronic ear, nose and throat infections--including strep, COPD,

asthma,

severe allergies (including meds), Carnitine deficiency, GERD, suspected

Velocardiofacial syndrome.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/15/2004 6:17:55 PM Central Standard Time,

sassykay59@... writes:

> Bri didn't start getting strep until about a year and a half ago

That must be a big concern with him being a cardiac patient, isn't it? The

risk of rheumatic fever, etc. etc. Would IVIG help?

(mom to , age 5-1/2, dairy intolerant-related GERD -- currently

has polysaccharide antibody def, previously had transient IgG, IgA, t-cell &

other defs... and also to Kate, born 9/19/02, dairy intolerant)