Sleepless night sick college kid ER

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op it really could be from Covid, even if he recovered ok. I am the pp who asked about scarring and my dd really was barely sick from covid and it turned into a much bigger deal. This was spring 2022 and she had had all available vaccines. We were really surprised about the lung damage but at the time the doctors said they just don’t know enough about long covid and what the after effects will be from even a mild infection.

I’m so sorry your daughter has damage. That’s very unnerving given many who suffer from long Covid and a small population of people who don’t believe it. I hope your daughter is ok. Way too young for this. I appreciate your input. I left a message for the pediatric cardiologist who did a full workup before his previous surgery. Still have his summary and no red flags. Figure we’ll continue where we started. I called ER radiology to preemptively ask someone if it might be another patient’s results. Crickets. He was released at 8am. The report was added to discharge notes at 7:57 am. There are 5 results that could be independently scary, and independently may be caused by anxiety, stress, breathing difficulty. Some indicate myocardis. He’s in the age and gender range. Best of health and happiness to your daughter. She’s in my ❤️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm feeling for OP right now. Both of my kids' first time ever ER visits were during college. One a plane ride away. Now the 3rd kid is headed 8 hr's drive away (and has not yet been to the ER). Fortunately, all 3 were a stone's throw from world class hospital systems and ERs. Just something to think about. I'll continue to follow this thread. Hoping good news from OP; DS sounds like a great kid.

Thank you! It is definitely something parents should think about. There are world class hospitals in the city 8-10 miles out. He just went to the closest one a few blocks from his apartment because of very labored breathing. His friends panicked when he tried to sip water and it dribbled out because he couldn’t swallow. They did their best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:120 does seem high, but I guess it could be the infection. Hopefully it’s not epiglottis or an infected boil.

What should HR be for a healthy 20 yr old?

About half that.

Op- he’s never been half that. More like 75. Me too. When we first FaceTimed once he was in a bed, I noticed how he was moving his head left to right many times. I think he was anxious from lying flat, nearly closed throat and difficulty breathing. The IV was just in.

75 is totally normal for a non-athlete. I’m sure the dehydration, fever, and fighting the virus or infection is making his body work hard. Hugs to you and hope he’s feeling better soon. Try to sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was in college (many years ago), at the very end of term I passed out from dehydration, fell and ended up fracturing my jaw. The crappy medical center in my college town thought it was no big deal, told me to eat soft food and it would heal up on its own. I was supposed to stay on a few days past term to go to a wedding. At a certain point I felt horrible, my fever spiked really high and I called my parents, across the country. Somehow I flew home the next day (my parents changed my ticket maybe got a car to take me to airport.... I dont remember this), met me at the airport,took me straight to an oral surgeon they knew (even though it was sunday), x-rayed, sent to hospital and put on IV antibiotics that night and I think I had jaw surgery the next day and spent most of the summer with my jaw wired shut (instead of on a language and culture program in italy, which had been the plan). at any rate, I was a capable adult, but the medical care wasn't great there (obviously) and if my parents hadn't stepped in to help I am not sure what would have happened. Of course, this was long before cell phones so communicating and updating was harder.

OP, hope your son gets better soon.

Omg. That’s traumatic. How are you now? And thank you! Love everyone here for caring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm feeling for OP right now. Both of my kids' first time ever ER visits were during college. One a plane ride away. Now the 3rd kid is headed 8 hr's drive away (and has not yet been to the ER). Fortunately, all 3 were a stone's throw from world class hospital systems and ERs. Just something to think about. I'll continue to follow this thread. Hoping good news from OP; DS sounds like a great kid.

Thinking of op!

😊 thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just as an aside, DH and I spent morning walk trying to figure out a school 2.5 hours away with an crappy affiliated hospital, lol. But then realized you might not be in DC area.

JMU?

[Anonymous]

Go take care of him. I never get parents who think it's the roommates responsibility. He is lucky to have the roommate he does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. My kid just got admitted to the hospital for the 3rd time in 6 weeks for tonsil issues each time. Nothing to add but commiseration. The world stops when your kid is extremely sick.

It does. Tonsillitis is in the mix of crud going around. Hope this is the last hospital visit for yours. Commiserating from here ❤️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go take care of him. I never get parents who think it's the roommates responsibility. He is lucky to have the roommate he does.

We don’t think that at all. They’ve been friends since freshman year. And mine has carted 2 of the 5 to ER in the last few months. They are lucky to have each other. We spoil them with deliveries and meals out now and then. They’re welcome in our home for short holidays when they don’t have time to fly to the other coast. He’s been sleeping since 8:30 am. There are 5 others in apartment living and doing course work. What am I supposed to do? He was infused with antibiotics and pain meds and has antibiotic prescription. Plenty of food, thermometer, first aid ⛑️ stuff. I understand your concern and thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just as an aside, DH and I spent morning walk trying to figure out a school 2.5 hours away with an crappy affiliated hospital, lol. But then realized you might not be in DC area.

JMU?

Nope - not in DMV. You guys are going to stop chatting with me since I’m not an insider. But I’ve been here for a long time. I’m the empathetic poster who always routes for you when your up against the snark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:120 does seem high, but I guess it could be the infection. Hopefully it’s not epiglottis or an infected boil.

What should HR be for a healthy 20 yr old?

About half that.

Op- he’s never been half that. More like 75. Me too. When we first FaceTimed once he was in a bed, I noticed how he was moving his head left to right many times. I think he was anxious from lying flat, nearly closed throat and difficulty breathing. The IV was just in.

75 is totally normal for a non-athlete. I’m sure the dehydration, fever, and fighting the virus or infection is making his body work hard. Hugs to you and hope he’s feeling better soon. Try to sleep.

You are so sweet, thanks. No sleep. Figure I’ll just reset and sleep after he wakes up and lets me know he’s feeling better.

[Anonymous]

Oh gosh, I understand your worry, OP! I hope he feels better when he wakes up. If not, he can always Uber to one of the better medical centers, if need be. Keep us posted!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of the age, every person in the ER who is sick needs a patient advocate. When you are sick and exhausted you just aren’t in the best state of mind to navigate the system. Mistakes happen all the time even with an excellent medical team - they are just overwhelmed.

100%.
Also, as a parent whose college DC has just been through similar, suggest to your DC that they request to be tested for Mono. That’s what it was in her case.

Ditto this. Mono is very common in college and an extremely swollen throat is a sign. Kid should have been swabbed at the clinic or ER for strep, covid, flu, RSV and mono.

If it's mono, he will feel exhausted and it's gonna stick around, so I would check in with him daily, and if the long strep comes back negative, encourage him to go back to the clinic and ask to be tested for mono. FYI, there's no medication for mono, so it's not like the failure to diagnose right away is going to have a negative impact.

Now is the time to mentor him for adult heath skills - does he know how to check the school health portal and Hosp portal for results. He may have to sign up for portals. If labs are not in clinic or hosp portal yet, were they sent to an outside lab like Labcorp - has he set up a portal there?

Does he know how to check the clinical record at the hospital? What you remember when you're sick and what the doctor documents he did or told you can sometimes be very different. Ask him specifically to go back to this record and see what he was tested for and what kind of IV he was given. He can also see heart rate, BP, physical exam notes (were his lymph nodes really swollen, did anyone palpate his spleen - this can tell you clinically about the possibility of mono).

Also, consider this a dry run for you as parents in case something more serious ever happens. Does he have a living will? does he have a signed healthcare power of attorney and a form signed saying you can contact his school and get/give information about him in an emergency? has he shared his user/password for his bank account, doctor portals and any other critical accounts? Do you know the names and cell #s of his roommates or a close friend? Who would you get in touch with if he were too ill to help himself? Did you know school policies about withdrawal and tuition refund? Have you ever looked at tuition insurance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just as an aside, DH and I spent morning walk trying to figure out a school 2.5 hours away with an crappy affiliated hospital, lol. But then realized you might not be in DC area.

Rockingham Mem’l (JMU) My friends and I have so many horror stories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They really should not let him leave without a swab. They can’t know it’s strep without a swab.

He was swabbed at the clinic results come back Monday.

That seems unacceptable to me. Is he in a rural area?

I was swabbed at urgent care for strep and had results within 15-30 min.

I’d go to him.

Omg she said the rapid swab was negative and the culture is pending. A culture takes 48 hours minimum. Time doesn’t move faster at Hopkins than at a rural no name hospital. 48 hours is still 48 hours.