Roseola + Toddler = Madness
Jonah had roseola all last week. By Sunday Jonathan and I had drawn up adoption papers.
It started Saturday night with a high fever that lasted four days. I took Jonah to the doctor Tuesday – Tylenol and Motrin were somewhat effective in lowering the fever, but I was concerned that it was lasting so long. And each day he was fussier and whinier and clingier. He didn’t want any food, only milk. He didn’t even want Puppy most of the time.
Jonah was fine in the waiting room, but started crying when we entered the examination room. The more the nurse tried to befriend him, the more he wailed. (Sheesh, lady, can’t you take a hint?!) He weighed in at 21 ½ pounds, still half a pound shy of legally being able to face forward in his car seat (not that that’s stopped us). He cried while the doctor examined him then shrieked hysterically when the nurse stuck his finger.
While we waited for the results of the blood work I felt a panic attack coming on – too much sympathizing with Jonah, I suppose. I held him and slouched down into the chair trying to stay conscious.
The blood work came back fine and the doctor said he probably just had some kinds of virus and it would pass. Which is kind of like saying “oh, they’ll grow out of the colic soon.”
We stumbled out to the waiting room and I flopped onto the couch, covered in sweat. Jonah cried. We ate granola bars and felt better. Then I paid and we left.
Jonah’s outlook on life continued to deteriorate. He hadn’t eaten anything of substance all week and was looking pale. I wondered about grinding up some Prozac and adding it to his milk. Along with copious amounts of brandy.
He demanded to be held. And not just held, but held in just the right position and walked around. Just like colic. Except he weighs nearly four times what he did when he had colic.
I was exhausted – my back hurt from carrying him around so much – and all my spare moments were spent sleeping. Jonathan was traveling all week, but thankfully his mother was here to help. Otherwise I would’ve reserved the Prozac and brandy for myself.
Thursday morning Jonah woke up with a rash on his upper torso. During the day it spread to his neck, face, stomach, and upper legs. I was pretty sure it was roseola, but we went back to the doctor to confirm.
I also looked in my Dr. Spock and What To Expect the Toddler Years books:
“Roseola is a less well known but common contagious disease. It usually occurs between the ages of one and three years, rarely afterward. The child has a steady high fever for three or four days without any cold symptoms. There may be a loss of appetite. Suddenly the fever falls and a flat pinkish rash comes out on the body. By this time the child no longer looks ill but may be cranky and irritable.”
“Cranky and irritable?” It’s more like miserable, surly, and full of rage at the world.
Jonah woke up Monday feeling well and back to his old self. Whew!
As he himself would say: “all done!”
Oct 3, 2007 at 1:43 PM
Reader Comments (11)
I'm glad to hear that it lasted only one week for you (though it is amazing how long a week can be). I am trying so hard to maintain my sanity and stop yelling at this poor, achy, sick, sore child when she whines (ALL day long), so I hope I can hold on and not kill her for another 2 days.