Ohmygodbabystillsick.
Nov. 23rd, 2005 11:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rivkaAlex has had diarrhea eight times since midnight. She's also drunk more fluids since midnight than she normally gets in 24 hours, because I don't know what else to do but keep pouring Pedialyte into her. She's more or less okay as long as I don't move further than an arm's length away; by preference, that's her arm's length. Every time I get up to dispose of a dirty diaper she bursts into tears, even though I'm only moving about eight feet away. I know how she feels. I've been bursting into tears a lot myself.
I don't know how long she can go on just Pedialyte, which is electrolyte-balanced but has minimal calories. We tried to re-introduce formula by mixing it half-and-half with even yet still more Pedialyte, but it seemed to aggravate her bowels. Then again, she hasn't had a drop of formula since 4am and she's still having diarrhea every hour, so I'm not sure how much worse it could be.
I have a call in to her doctor. I know he's supposed to leave town this afternoon for Thanksgiving. I assume that he will return calls after his morning clinic, but that depends on the irritable person who took my message this morning actually giving it to him.
In less than 24 hours we're supposed to get on a plane. We are going to stay with someone who is immunocompromised. I have no idea if that's safe. I have no idea how we're going to manage a sick, stressed-out baby in unfamiliar surroundings crowded with relatives who will want to get up in her face. I have no idea when I'm going to pack. If Michael's father weren't so ill, I would be at the point of suggesting that he go to Memphis alone, and leave me here to nurse the baby back to health. But this may be the last time her grandfather will ever see her.
Did I say eight times since midnight? Now it's nine times. Her diaper rash is so awful that I can't even think of anything to compare it to.
I just don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can do this at all.
Update: Talked to the pediatrician and cried all over him. He says that as long as Alex stays hydrated - and he thinks I deserve an Oral Hydration Award for the amount I poured into her yesterday - she is in no medical danger from continuing to poop this much. Better out than in, was his opinion. He said that I might as well go back to formula, since she's still having so much diarrhea on Pedialyte. We can try a lactose-free formula. Travel should not be harmful to Alex.
He wanted us to check with my father-in-law's oncologist about whether Alex would be harmful to him; ordinarily anyone not changing her diapers should be fine, but he wouldn't recommend visiting someone who is severely immunocompromised. We had already hit on the idea of calling the oncologist. Reportedly, Michael's father should be fine as long as he avoids prolonged direct contact. Michael's father got very upset at the idea that we might not come.
I don't know how long she can go on just Pedialyte, which is electrolyte-balanced but has minimal calories. We tried to re-introduce formula by mixing it half-and-half with even yet still more Pedialyte, but it seemed to aggravate her bowels. Then again, she hasn't had a drop of formula since 4am and she's still having diarrhea every hour, so I'm not sure how much worse it could be.
I have a call in to her doctor. I know he's supposed to leave town this afternoon for Thanksgiving. I assume that he will return calls after his morning clinic, but that depends on the irritable person who took my message this morning actually giving it to him.
In less than 24 hours we're supposed to get on a plane. We are going to stay with someone who is immunocompromised. I have no idea if that's safe. I have no idea how we're going to manage a sick, stressed-out baby in unfamiliar surroundings crowded with relatives who will want to get up in her face. I have no idea when I'm going to pack. If Michael's father weren't so ill, I would be at the point of suggesting that he go to Memphis alone, and leave me here to nurse the baby back to health. But this may be the last time her grandfather will ever see her.
Did I say eight times since midnight? Now it's nine times. Her diaper rash is so awful that I can't even think of anything to compare it to.
I just don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can do this at all.
Update: Talked to the pediatrician and cried all over him. He says that as long as Alex stays hydrated - and he thinks I deserve an Oral Hydration Award for the amount I poured into her yesterday - she is in no medical danger from continuing to poop this much. Better out than in, was his opinion. He said that I might as well go back to formula, since she's still having so much diarrhea on Pedialyte. We can try a lactose-free formula. Travel should not be harmful to Alex.
He wanted us to check with my father-in-law's oncologist about whether Alex would be harmful to him; ordinarily anyone not changing her diapers should be fine, but he wouldn't recommend visiting someone who is severely immunocompromised. We had already hit on the idea of calling the oncologist. Reportedly, Michael's father should be fine as long as he avoids prolonged direct contact. Michael's father got very upset at the idea that we might not come.
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Date: 2005-11-23 08:08 pm (UTC)Have a bottle in hand during take-off and landing --- she'll need it for the pressure changes, and you don't want to be digging for it when the screaming starts.