Sleepless night sick college kid ER

[Anonymous]

Roommates Uber’d son to ER. They’re all sick with various campus wide crud. He went from zero to ER. 3 hours in waiting area. First time strep. They’re finally putting IV in now for antibiotics, fluid, and pain med. Said they’re giving him something to lower his heart rate. Is this a thing with strep?

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry your son is sick, OP. Strep sucks. I’m sure he will be fine, but you must be worried. Is he far away?

[Anonymous]

Seem odd for strep. Going to ER for steep seems odd, maybe it dehydration.

Even though people hate parent FB pages for colleges, our has a few local mom who will go to the ER and advocate for students.

[Anonymous]

Dehydration

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry your son is sick, OP. Strep sucks. I’m sure he will be fine, but you must be worried. Is he far away?

You’re sweet, thanks. About 2 1/2 hours away by car. His roommates stayed with him. I’m not worried. He’s a 20 year old junior. But we've been texting all night mostly to make sure antibiotic and pain med are added to IV. He was non violently mugged last week, so I’m hovering a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry your son is sick, OP. Strep sucks. I’m sure he will be fine, but you must be worried. Is he far away?

You’re sweet, thanks. About 2 1/2 hours away by car. His roommates stayed with him. I’m not worried. He’s a 20 year old junior. But we've been texting all night mostly to make sure antibiotic and pain med are added to IV. He was non violently mugged last week, so I’m hovering a bit.

I’m not a parent who hovers, and I’d seriously consider driving to him today if it’s only 2.5 hours. Make sure he’s okay and his space is set up for him to recover—does he have meds, enough food, clean space? And I’d want the info from the emergency room as a huge bill might be following.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry your son is sick, OP. Strep sucks. I’m sure he will be fine, but you must be worried. Is he far away?

You’re sweet, thanks. About 2 1/2 hours away by car. His roommates stayed with him. I’m not worried. He’s a 20 year old junior. But we've been texting all night mostly to make sure antibiotic and pain med are added to IV. He was non violently mugged last week, so I’m hovering a bit.

Sounds like he’s had a rough week. Does he want to come home for a couple of nights? If so just go get him. That’s not hovering, that’s just love. Of course if he wants to handle it himself that’s totally fine too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seem odd for strep. Going to ER for steep seems odd, maybe it dehydration.

Even though people hate parent FB pages for colleges, our has a few local mom who will go to the ER and advocate for students.

It’s OP. He didn’t think it was strep. Was feeling a little off since Wednesday and chalked it up to everyone being sick, including professors. He went to campus health center today and the rapid strep swab was negative. 72 hour test won’t post till Monday. He woke up around 1am and his throat was so inflamed, he couldn't swallow. Roommates just took him to ER. The ER doc didn’t bother doing another swab since he was very sure it was a severe case of strep. So he’s still there hooked up. Plus meds to lower heart rate. Does this sound like a symptom of strep or dehydration like pp said?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry your son is sick, OP. Strep sucks. I’m sure he will be fine, but you must be worried. Is he far away?

You’re sweet, thanks. About 2 1/2 hours away by car. His roommates stayed with him. I’m not worried. He’s a 20 year old junior. But we've been texting all night mostly to make sure antibiotic and pain med are added to IV. He was non violently mugged last week, so I’m hovering a bit.

I wouldn’t drive it for just an er, but if they’re lowering his heart rate via, IV, I’m going

[Anonymous]

They need to swab it to confirm whether or not it’s actually strep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seem odd for strep. Going to ER for steep seems odd, maybe it dehydration.

Even though people hate parent FB pages for colleges, our has a few local mom who will go to the ER and advocate for students.

It’s OP. He didn’t think it was strep. Was feeling a little off since Wednesday and chalked it up to everyone being sick, including professors. He went to campus health center today and the rapid strep swab was negative. 72 hour test won’t post till Monday. He woke up around 1am and his throat was so inflamed, he couldn't swallow. Roommates just took him to ER. The ER doc didn’t bother doing another swab since he was very sure it was a severe case of strep. So he’s still there hooked up. Plus meds to lower heart rate. Does this sound like a symptom of strep or dehydration like pp said?

Sure. If you have a high fever and can’t drink because your throat is so inflamed (both things that happen because of strep), you’re going to get dehydrated.

[Anonymous]

I am kind of shocked they didn’t swab him. Is this in a major city? I would get there too! So sorry OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seem odd for strep. Going to ER for steep seems odd, maybe it dehydration.

Even though people hate parent FB pages for colleges, our has a few local mom who will go to the ER and advocate for students.

It’s OP. He didn’t think it was strep. Was feeling a little off since Wednesday and chalked it up to everyone being sick, including professors. He went to campus health center today and the rapid strep swab was negative. 72 hour test won’t post till Monday. He woke up around 1am and his throat was so inflamed, he couldn't swallow. Roommates just took him to ER. The ER doc didn’t bother doing another swab since he was very sure it was a severe case of strep. So he’s still there hooked up. Plus meds to lower heart rate. Does this sound like a symptom of strep or dehydration like pp said?

Yes, strep can be this severe. Before antibiotics, strep caused heart valve issues, kidney issues etc…

[Anonymous]

Don't ask us, go to see him and ask the doc. It's Saturday. I'd already be in the car.

My Dd was recovering from covid a few years ago at school two hours away (at least two weeks after infection). Seemingly on the mend. She called me on a Saturday night after being a club semi-formal saying she was having trouble breathing and coughing terribly and she had never felt like this before. I told her I'd be there as soon as I could, left at 7 AM on Sunday morning (she wanted to sleep so didn't want to go to ER earlier). Took her to the ER (no wait BTW), and she turned out she had developed pneumonia. I was VERY happy to be there to make sure she got the treatment she needed. She had been previously with her friends but there's no replacement for the parent being there to really understand and make the kid feel supported and less afraid.

Turned out my DD developed atelectasis a few weeks later, another ER visit but this time was at home on spring break.

Long and short of it, get in the car now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They need to swab it to confirm whether or not it’s actually strep.

+1 Hopefully they’ve ruled out epiglottis.