Does this sound like Flu or Virus?

[natrfrk]

My DD started coming down with something Monday night. Started out with a lot of throat clearing during the day, so I guess she had post nasal drip, and then she got a fever, and then a headache near bed time. Tuesday morning the headache was gone, but she had additional throat discomfort and lathargy and the fever rose all day long inspite of the motrin I gave her. Today, she feels crumby. Her fever has come down a little, but it hasn't broken, it just fluctuates, comes down after baths, the motrin doesn't even touch the fevers. Her throat hurts and she has had a few potty accidents, but no vomiting. Very sleepy. Does this sound like the flu or a virus? Or maybe even strep throat??? She was around a little cousin about a week ago that had strep earlier that week, but he was on antibiotics for a couple days before we saw him.

I'm giving her plenty vitamin D3, Animal Parade Zinc Lozenges, probiotics and eccinachea. I stopped giving her the grapefruit seed extract when I started giving her motrin, because I read that it can be a dangerous combination. And she is so miserable without the motrin, she's miserable either way, but way worse without than with... OTC meds scare me, but I take ibuprofen myself sometimes so I know how it can help and I hate to see her suffer. Any suggestions to speed up her recovery or make her more comfortable?

[natrfrk]

Wanted to say about the vitamins, she was already taking all that before she got sick and it didn't prevent it, :(

She was taking vitamin D3 5,000 IU once a week. But last week I started her on it twice a week, but I have given it to her daily since Sunday. Yesterday, I gave her 10,000 IU I must say it scares me though because I worry about giving her too much.

[Lori French]

Sounds like the flu to me....
You can alternate Tylenol and Motrin every two hours to get the fever to break, if you choose to. Some believe letting the fever run it's course to kill the bug. Dehydration is a *very* serious side effect! Take it seriously. That's what is ending people to the hospital and is also the cause of the headaches (sometimes). Fever can make dehydration happen quickly. Another method of breaking the fever is to soak heavy socks in icy water, putting them on, then wool socks over them to keep the bed dry. It will break a fever pretty quickly....
Good Luck and (((hugs))) to her *and* you!

[Lori French]

How old is she??? I know, I've read adults can take 100,000 i.u. *daily* for a week or more with no side effects. That's how deficient we all are........

[pamelaw]

Firstly, I hope she feels better very soon. Hugs to her and you.

Did she help with any gardening? Raking? Dealing with any mildew or moldy leaves, earth, etc.?

My DH did the clearing up of the dead/dying vegetation and got a mold exposure and the symptoms you describe are what he gets every time. I did a lot of rounds of EFT for him, including surrogately, using these phrases:

Even though I have this illness, I’m a great husband and a good man.

Even though I have a fever of 103.4, my body is strong and resilient.

Even though I have this virus, my body can fight back.

Even though I am sick, my immune system is strong, I want it to strengthen, I want my white blood cells to increase to fight this illness.


Even though I feel rotten and have no energy, my body is amazing and can beat this illness!



Of course, you tailor it to fit your child. It is amazing how much this realigns the body systems and aids it to heal quickly.

HTH,

[natrfrk]

She will be 9 in about two weeks.

I do worry about dehydration. About 5 years ago, she had that horrible flu, and she wouldn't drink and she hadn't pee'd for 2-3 days, and she got to a point where she could not even lift her head or open her eyes. We had insurance and took her to the doctor 3 times in 3 days because every day she got worse and worse. They wouldn't do ANY thing. Finally, one called one evening to check on her and didn't like the sound of her cough over the phone, and called ahead to the hospital and ordered tests and IV's. When we got there, they told me that she wasn't dehydrated ENOUGH! and that if her pediatrician hadn't called ahead, they would send us home!!! But within 20 minutes of that IV going in, she was sitting up asking for toys to play with and food and drinks! But, you know, she wasn't dehydrated enough for treatment???? So now, DH is unemployed and we have no insurance, so what would it take to get treatment this time if need be??? So yes, dehydtration does worry me... I know we shouldn't take in sugar when ill, but I have let her drink some root beer just to get her to drink. DH is going to get her some orange juice for the vitamin C, she will gladly drink orange juice. That should be okay, shouldn't it?

[natrfrk]

Pamela, no she didn't do any of those things. But I had increased the amount of GFSE I was giving her. I thought at first that maybe it had unleashed too much fungus too fast or something??? But either way, I stopped the GFSE to give her motrin for her discomfort...

[fruitvine]

A local ER nurse told me that the fever is the giveaway that it's flu and not a cold, at least for the strain that's going around here. Hope she's better very soon!

[Lori French]

How about watering down the OJ, more water, less sugar and maybe she'll crave the OJ enough to want more?? Chicken broth w/added raw garlic??? I do know sugar is a no no but come on, dehydration is more debilitating than a slower recovery. What about jello or fruit popsicles???
Not dehydrated *enough* is nonsense.......

My grandson, age 7, had confirmed flu a couple of weeks ago and was well in just a couple of days, hopefully it will be the same for her!

[Lori French]

Oh and what about Emergen-C added to water for a fluid. There are lots of flavors available!

[Tina71]

How high is her fever? The Ped at urgent care said that the kids coming in with the flu were having temps like 104. Will she eat popsicles? You could even make your own if you want. They are always good when you don't feel well.

I sure hope she feels better soon. How about a nice bath?

[MommyRose]

We just had a flu virus last week and it came with high fevers. Mine lasted over 3 days. This also sapped my energy like no virus has in awhile. Just when I thought I should see a doctor I started getting better. All 4 of my boys had fever too. We are still in recovery mode. In my case my cough (throat clearing) started before the fever. I also had been on D3 way before I got sick. This virus has worked fast and furious. Fevers, cough, nausea, and runny runny nose for a few days. It cycled through the symptoms with each being intense for 2-3 days. Now I'm just getting my energy back and have some crud left in my chest but not much. Just keep getting the liquids in her and she'll likely work through it. I know gatorade has a lot of sugar in it but it also has lots of electrolytes. Would she drink that? Good luck! :)

[natrfrk]

Well, after my last post, she asked for a bath, and she willingly drank more than she had been. She chose water over the soda because I explained to her how the sugar impairs the immune system. And then she napped and when she woke up her fever was finally going down. It went down very slowly, but it is gone now. And she feels much better. She does have a little cough and that is uncomfortable for her. But I think it's post nasal drip. She's not stuffy at all. And her breathing sounds clear so I don't think it's settling anywhere. The highest her fever got that I know of was 103.8 with one of those thermometers that goes in the ear. I hope it is gone for good. It has been gone for several hours. She is actually out of bed for the first time since Monday evening. She's eating well tonight too! That's a good sign I think, cuz she wasn't eating at all b4.

Anyway, thank you to all of you for your well wishes.... they worked!!! Let's hope it stays that way now!

[HF]

natrfrk, another good "juice" is 50/50 water and apple juice, with a teaspoon of "greens" powder in it. They offer samples like this at the HFS and my young daughter enjoys it.

Hope your little one is doing better now!

[Blissful]

I hope she's feeling better this morning!