I love this sweet girl!
The kids and I stayed home from church today because our sweet Emma is sick. She has oral herpes. It breaks my heart. This little girl has had a fair share of sicknesses in her young life like any other normal kid but this time around has been especially hard for me.
Back in February when I was 7 months pregnant with Thomas, I got a TERRIBLE case of oral herpes. I've never struggled with canker or cold sores in my life. Derek will get them once in a while, not a big deal. My immune system had been playing tricks on me because of the pregnancy. Then I got exposed to one of Derek's cold sores on his lip. Well, the first symptom I started feeling was very swollen and purplish/reddish gums, swollen glands, and I thought I may be coming down with strep.
The next day I broke out in fever, was achy all over my body, and my throat hurt. I went to a family practitioner, he did a strep test, and blood work and I was told it would take a couple days to get the results back. Throughout that same day I started feeling sores develop all over my tongue.
The next day, I got the strep test back; negative. Still waiting on blood tests. The sores progressed and spread ALL over my gums, cheeks, COVERED my tongue...I couldn't talk well at that point. I can't even describe what it felt like, let alone LOOK like. I'll spare you the details. Water burned my mouth, everything did.
The next day they spread on my lips and it was just progressively getting worse and worse. Mind you, I was pregnant. I was SO worried about little Thomas boy. I knew I was losing so much weight because I could barely open my mouth do drink anything. I was bed ridden. Still waiting to hear back the blood test results. FINALLY I had had it that no one had answers for me as to what the heck was going on with me. I had a few ideas of what it could have been, herpes being one of them. My cousin Kendall told me she went through the EXACT same thing when her husband (fiance at the time) had a cold sore. When they thought it was gone, they kissed..apparently it was still lingering and she had an oral herpes break out. Her systems had been much like mine were. SO, I go into the doctors office with no appointment...couldn't talk, Derek had to do most of it for me. They could see what bad shape I was in and got me in pretty quickly with another Doctor, the previous doc I had been to was not in the office. I was just SO upset at this point and wanted some answers. They reported back that my blood results were normal. All they could tell me was that it was 'viral infection'. sigh. Ok, so now what? The doc told me to just rest and prescribed me some numbing wash. I was so frustrated because I wanted to know EXACTLY what it was.
The next day I was referred to a chiropractor/accupressurist. My friend said that he has been able to help her and her family with quite a few illnesses they had as well as allergies they had had. He has certain methods that help. I was desperate and got in the next day. He ran ALL these tests. To make a long story short, he ended up testing my herpes level and it was VERY weak. Meaning, it had to be oral herpes. He did his treatment and sent me home.
After that day, sores were lessening in my mouth day by day. By about the 7th or 8th day I was MUCH better. Went to my baby doctor's appointment and found out I lost 10 lbs....luckily Thomas was okay though.
To this day I still have weird tingling and numbing on the tip of my tongue. I'm thinking the sores did some nerve damage to my tongue..but it's ok. I can still taste just fine. It just feels like the after effects of burning your tongue on hot soup or something.
WELL..I tell you this experience because I have been paranoid of spreading it to my children. I've tried being cautious in sharing food/drink with Emma, not perfect but I try. Especially when I don't feel any sores developing, I think it's ok. But I guess it can be spread even when the sores aren't surfaced, they can just be sitting like a seed in any area of your mouth and still be transferred to someone by saliva contact; kisses, sharing food, etc...This makes it SO hard.
But I have been extra cautious since my experience. One of my fears is spreading it to my child.
Two days ago, Emma broke out in fever during the afternoon. I gave her motrin, let her rest.
Yesterday, she still had her fever but was eating pretty well and was in good spirits over all. So good, that she was laughing and I noticed her gums were REALLY red and swollen. My heart dropped. Derek checked her tongue and low and behold a sore was on her tongue. I had a melt down. After I got myself together I called the on call doctor office and got an appointment. He knew RIGHT away that she had herpes. I was relieved that he could pin point it right away. Wish the doctor that I had gone to could have recognized it.
Luckily we took her in right away and caught it this early. Because we got her in quickly, he gave her a prescription that will help her so she doesn't have as bad of an outbreak like I did. I got emotional in the doctors office just hoping and praying that she won't suffer like I did.
She's on prescription now, takes motrin, and benadryl and maalox (mixed) to spread around her mouth and then drink after. She HAS to stay hydrated first and foremost. He said if she doesn't stay hydrated then they will have to hospitalize her. We're keeping a good eye on her. She continues to be in great spirits. Let's just pray nothing gets spread to Thomas. She can't touch him and she's great at being obedient with that. Scary stuff.
Thanks for listening (reading I guess :) ) I just had to vent.
Note: if you start feeling swollen gums, sore throat and start getting sores, don't take it lightly. Get into the doctor right away. If they can catch it early enough (first couple days) then they can prescribed medicine to help lessen the out break. I was too late when I went through it because the doctor didn't even suggest it might be herpes; I feel like he took it lightly. I'm just glad the doctor who saw Emma knew right away and acted quickly. I guess it's more common with children then with adults.
Daddy's little boy
This little guy (well maybe not so little) is growing up EVERYDAY! At his two month appointment, he weighed a whopping 13 lbs. and 24 inches long. Weight= 80%tile Height= 85%tile. I wonder what he weighs now. :)
Thomas and cousin Finn being held by Oma.
Thomas and cousin Finn being held by Oma.
