My amazing Thai niece, who Noot and I look after 24/7 has been under the weather today. I received a call from Noot today at school, I put my phone on vibrate only and not just for the pleasure.
So I had just walked into my 11.05am class of year 12 students when my phone stared vibrating. A quick glance at the name and I answered as Noot never calls unless it is something important.
The day had started as normal, like everyday over the last two years plus. I get up and get ready for school, make a small bottle for Ja and then Noot gives it to her. They will both rise anywhere between 7.30am till 11am, depending on how lazy they are feeling, a good life I know.
But today they were out of bed about half past eight, had a shower and then Noot got breakfast ready. This was when Ja first vomited. Noot just shook it off and then Ja wouldn’t eat breakfast, she drank some water and was sick again.
After about 4 times she rang me worried, I asked if she had a temperature, “No”. What had she eaten? “Nothing” Drank? “Milk and water” but nothing out of the ordinary.
So I told Noot to just give her a little water when she wants and monitor and ring me if anything happens and I would come home at the end of the class. I finished the class and was in the office and she rang again telling me that Ja had been sick a few times and she was panicking a little.
So I went home and she was not the usual Ja, she was very sombre and tired looking. Straight away she was into my arms and tears streamed from her eyes amongst cries pleading for an orange ice smoothie.
Noot wanted to take her to hospital but I said to just hang off for a bit, it could be just a bug and she could come well, quickly (I hoped). So I sat on the roll out mattress on the floor and we watched cartoons while she laid in my arms with her head on my chest.
She vomited a few more times, little bits of water. She kept asking for water and getting upset when I would give her little amounts at a time. She finally drifted off about 1pm and slept well for a good 40 minutes before waking and vomiting a little again. She then drifted off again about two and I snuck back to work. Noot said she slept until at least 4pm without being sick. I thought things were looking up.
I arrived home just before 5pm and Noot said she had vomited a few times again. So we were off to see the doctor. The doctor pretty well said what I thought, “She has an upset stomach.”
So after the amazing diagnosis and some medicine we stopped at the market for some food and then home. We bought rice soup, what the doctor recommended and then gave her the anti-nausea medicine 20 minutes before eating. Ja wanted to eat so much and cried when the little amount we had given her ran out.
It stayed down for 20 minutes and then came up again. Again she slept in patches, and then laying very quietly watching TV, which is just not Ja. And the night has continued like this. No temperature, she is just off colour. We have been giving her small amounts of water with a mix that contains nutrients to try and stop her dehydrating.
It will be a long night as I am so protective and will not be able to sleep as I will be so conscious of her. Tomorrow we will reassess and if it looks like no improvement it will be back to the hospital and some much more stern words to the doctor there to make a more careful diagnosis and fix.
It breaks my heart, looking at her and not seeing her being herself but looking forlorn. And it hurts much worse not being able to make her better other than holding her in my arms when she wants. I wish I could take her sickness as any parent would.
It is half past eleven and she is awake, lying next to Noot watching a singing show, her sleep pattern is out the window as she has been napping here and there all day. Tomorrow could be a day off work for me, my first priority if my family and work comes well down the rung on my ladder.
So I hope tomorrow brings a breath of fresh air for Ja, and the diamond of my eye is back to her normal self and driving me crazy like she always does.
Here are a few pictures of Ja as she has grown up with us.
Brunty
6 comments:
No good mate - no good at all. I hope she is feeling better this morning and no need for you to go to that place where people are paid to tell you lies.
I have been through this quite a few times with my son. We take him to the hospital, but they are never much help. We have a routine whereby we make him 'nil by mouth' for three hours then sips of water for two hours, and then rehydration fluids until slowly moving back to solids. If my son vomits during this time we go back to 'nil by mouth' and start again. The main thing is that he doesn't get too dehydrated. It is hard to see a child like this, but it is common. I think even though the doctors don't tend to do much it is always wise to take kids to see them; especially if the vomiting is showing no signs of resolving. Good luck.
Brunty, Ja is gorgeous! You're right, there's nothing worse than feeling helpless when it comes to your kids. I am sure it'll just be a 24 hour bug...hope she feels better soon.
Brunty,
Hope Ja is well soon. I would ask the pediatrician about her weight (did it decrease from the last visit), and if she keeps on throwing up to run her electrolytes. I think pedialyte is available in Isaan. It will replace electrolytes, if she is too dehydrated you might suggest IV hydration.
Mike
Hey Brunty,
This is Jon from Hawaii working up in Nakhom Phanom again. Just read about your niece. One thing that sucks about life is that these things happen even to the most precious and sweetest of people. I hope she gets better soon.
Take Care,
Jon
Hey everyone, thanks for dropping by and all the kind words.
Ja has stopped the vomiting but now has a little temperature, still not eating much only nibbled a little today, but taking fluids and sleeping lots.
So still monitoring her and hope she is back to her normal self very soon.
Memok, yeah I hate the bastards, I wish I had a place I could go and trust 100%, but I cannot. They are more on people threw the door and money in the till.
Paul, I know what you are saying with hospitals not being much help.. And what you recommended is what we have been doing as I had googled a few medical sites last night, late as I couldn't really sleep and virtually what you said mate. Thanks for dropping by and taking time to give me the information.
Snap, Ja is the apple of our eyes, we love her so much. It is that helpless feeling I hate and upsets me, seeing she is not right and just sad breaks the heart but she will come good soon, for sure. Thanks for dropping by.
Hi Mike, pediatricians are hard to find, She hassn't been to the doctor for a while so she is much heavier than her last visit but we weigh her often and she was virtually the same as the last time we weighed her. We are using an electroytes to help her keep her hydrated but now just need her to go to the toilet (poo) but she really hasn't eaten anything so hard to know what is in her bowels. Thanks for stopping by and the information.
Jon, when the ones you love are hurt or sick it does hurt, but worse when so young and cannot communicate what is wrong other than not being themselves and looking so forlorn.
I will just cath up on these missed days with her when she is back on her feet. Thanks for dropping by.
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