Inconsolable, refusing to eat, fighting sleep...

[cristeen]

Yesterday we went to see auntie and do some shopping. I thought the not eating and mild fussiness was just because of the break in routine. Last night I noticed a bit of a rash on his bottom, nothing major, just some tiny red dots... I put CO on them and it was a lot better this morning. But it took me an hour to get him to sleep last night, screaming the whole time. At 2 am I was making a trip to CVS for some Motrin, which seemed to help a little bit, but he was still screaming. This morning when he woke up he was fine for about an hour, but has been screaming ever since. He only ate enough to take the edge off, def not enough to fill his tummy and is now refusing both breast ad bottle. And now his tummy is covered with the little red dots. I know he's exhausted, but he's just screaming hysterically.

I've left 2 messages for the ped, and it's gotten me nowhere. I don't know if I should try another dose of Motrin - the red dots have me worried. Teething tabs have almost no effect. But he will take a bottle of water/gripe water. He seems to finally be past the ability to fight sleep, but I cannot just listen to him scream all day.

Thoughts? Ideas?

[VeganC]

Has he had a fever? Sounds like it might be roseola. My daughter had it when she was a baby. It's very common and not usually very serious. Here's a link
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Roseola

[cristeen]

He hasn't had any fever so far as I can tell (hasn't felt hot to the touch). He was sweating last night when I was trying to get him down, but I had him swaddled in my arms while I tried to rock him to sleep.

Still haven't heard back from the ped, and it's almost lunch time.

[boobs4milk]

millie is doing something similar. i think it' teething, but who knows. every time i put her down, she screams until she throws up!!! s to you and mr. a!

[elmh23]

I'd expect that to be teething related. My oldest always got a little rash on her bottom like the one you are describing when she was teething.

[mkksmom]

Hope you heard from the ped and figured things out. Poor little guy.

[cristeen]

After I called, chewed them out and threatened to find another ped, I finally got a call from an NP who apologized for the wait - apparently my message got "buried" on the ped's desk (my ped is not in today).

She told me to bring him in with the mix of symptoms he has so they could check for ear/throat infections. We just got home, and the verdict is Coxsackie. By the time we got in there, the rash had migrated to cover his entire body. Luckily the rash doesn't seem to bother him, it's just the sore throat/mouth that's preventing eating.

[newmomroxi]

Aw, poor baby! Nothing's worse than hearing your LO cry and not knowing how to help. Thank goodness you finally got through to your ped. I hope he feels better soon.

[mkksmom]

Poor baby! Glad you got it figured out. Is there anything you can do for his mouth?

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by mkksmom

Poor baby! Glad you got it figured out. Is there anything you can do for his mouth?

Motrin/Tylenol for the pain, and if it progresses to visible sores she suggested giving him a 1/2 tsp of Maalox before each meal, as it will coat the sores (which can ulcerate) in his mouth/throat so that eating isn't too painful.

He was still fussy all evening, but after his dose of Motrin he ate 3 times in about 2 hours, and went to sleep with minimal crying (compared to last night anyway).

And my nightly donor called - I had missed pickup last night since I got home late and I'd forgotten to call. When I told her we'd just gotten back from the ped with Coxsackie, she apologized - we got it from her/them. Her little guy was in urgent care last week with a more severe form of it than we seem to have (103 temp, where my guy doesn't have a temp at all). But, at least now I know what the contagion point was.

[mkksmom]

I'm so glad to hear last night was a bit better. It's so hard when they are sick.