I wanted to warn everyone that there are two flu strains going around that were NOT covered in the flu shot this season.  One is characterized by the child complaining of a severe soar throat and then spiking a fever. 

The second strain is with vomiting and fever.

My son had the first strain.  He spiked a fever of 104% that barely responded to tylenol.  I finally got it down to 102% but he was beginning to get a little lethargic.  My husband was out of town and it was my daughter’s 12th birthday.  My son, who is 10 now, is too heavy for me to carry so I was worried that I would have to call an ambulance.  In my town the ambulance won’t take us to the hospital that we have taken Ryan to all of his life for emergencies, etc. (Yale) because there are two other hospitals closer to us.

I decided to give him the shot and head to the hospital.  I am embarrassed to say that BOTH bottles of solu-cortef had expired.  My DH had never replaced the one we had to use last year.  Although I am sure there was a half life to them I didn’t want to risk it.  So, after I found someone to take care of the birthday girl I had the endo call ahead and insist that the instant we walked in the ER door they administer the solu-cortef.  They did it without any questions.  Typically he is up and about within 20 minutes of the shot..... but not this time!!

We were quite unnerved because at first they thought he might have "The Bird Flu"!!!  We were put into isolation almost immediately and no one could come in the room without full hospital protection (mask, gloves, gown etc.).  The poor kid thought he was going to die - literally.  I was not allowed out of the room unless I donned the same.  We went in on Tuesday and were finally released on Thursday.  He was severely dehydrated from the high fever and was administered 11 bags of fluid over the three days in the hospital.  Along with the fluids he was given his cortef and florinef in triple doses AND something called "Tamiflu" which he continued to take until his last dose this evening.

Needless to say, we have had a heck of a week but everything is starting to get back to "normal".  Having said that, my husband is leaving again tomorrow so I hope no one gets sick this time.  Both my children are performing in a local theatre production of "Honk" and they have NO understudies.  Ryan is second lead male.  Talk about performing without a net!?!?

Well, I better go now and figure out what else I can do to make it up to the Birthday Girl.  She was so mature through all of this which certainly helped her mom during all this madness.