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Apr 29, 2008

Jackie, poor Jackie

Jack, stretched across my lap, as I type one handed- my left arm asleep from the elbow down, his head laying on it, sick, sleeping. He's MISERABLE!

Day 6, high fever 103, 104.8 was the highest...herpes, simplex 1- Cold sores everywhere, lips, tongue, gums, inside of his cheeks, throat- hasn't eaten, but bits of Jello, pudding... Gatorade, water, Icee to drink, all with a straw- even medicine with a straw. Motrin, Tylenol, Maalox, benadryl, Lidacane swish in the mouth to numb the pain. Codeine... for sleeping. Like making him drink bleach, cries, whines, spits, drools...

He moves, stretches, I move my arm, take a picture of the sleeping boy. Thank me for not getting the swollen lips, massive sores, in the picture. His breath? Putrid, like something died in his mouth.



Edited to add: I forgot to say that Abe woke with a fever of 102º at 4:30 this morning and by this afternoon was 104º (Jack started with a high fever and no other discernible symptoms too). Gus has a couple of sores but no fever... both boys have started medicine to prevent this loveliness from getting as bad as Jack... Yeesh... let's hope it works!

4 comments:

Nellie said...

Hi :) I don't know if I've ever commented before but I stop bye once in a while and I just love your family! So cute!

Anyway, I had to comment here... poor thing. I remember being younger and I once had what he is going through right now... it hurts like hell, which I'm sure you realize.

As an adult I still continue to carry the virus (type 1) but rather than getting them in/on my mouth anymore I get them near the opeing of my nose. I usually only get them when I'm stressed or really sick. But something that works for me and maybe you could check with Jack's dr., but I do take Valtrex when I get them (not sure if that is ok for kids to take or not?? Maybe at a lower dose??). It clears them up within 2-3 days.

Hope he's feeling better soon. Take care!

Tricia said...

I get cold sores as well- just got over one in fact. I am assuming I gave him the virus... major mother guilt...I went into the dr. for the first time this time around to get a prescription for Valtrex the next time.

We did not get the medicine for Jack because we didn't know what it was, initially. By the time we figured it out, it was too late.

We have, however, started both Abe and Gus on Valtrex since Abe woke with a fever this morning and Gus sprouted a few sores...Fun times over here...

Bacchus said...

I'm so sorry to hear he is feeling so badly. I hope he is feeling better soon.

Anonymous said...

Hi--

don't know if I've ever commented before either but had to post (as my partner and I sit here and send all the boys lots of healing thoughts--she gets cold sores too)
We ended up commenting to just say that although when my partner took the Valtrex it did seem to suppress the virus and the cold sore went away quicker, she also felt that it messed up her neurological system somewhat for weeks afterward--like the sore didn't develop but that she still had the virus crawling through her-weird twinges here and there, felt like things were crawling under her skin --it wigged her out so much she's said she wouldn't take it again. Granted I'm sure you don't want your kids to go through feeling like this ever again either--if they don't have side effects it's worth it--just thought we'd pass along our conversation as we sit here on our couch :-)

we have three girls we've adopted through foster care and we both enjoy your blog

Julie