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.

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.

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.

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!

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the update OP, I’m glad you were able to FaceTime him and I completely understand why he didn’t want you to meet him there.

I wonder what you’re talking about on the chest xray. I’m the PP who had the DD who ended up with atelectasis (sp?) as a result of scarring from pneumonia which came originally from COVID. Wonder if it’s similar scarring?

I might list the chest findings here. Maybe you all might be able to decipher. He had a previous surgery in 2015 involving his spine. He did follow up X-rays for a while. Plus he had pre op work up including chest X-ray and pulmonary workup. Never came up in results. There’s definitely scar tissue in there somewhere. Google doc associated a couple of things with untreated rheumatic fever from untreated strep or scarlet fever. No way that would go undetected. I mean he was a healthy kid. He was a preemie and had all the things tested. I quit my job and strapped him to my chest for the first year of life, no joke. We walked everywhere, everyday. As an infant, I exposed him to 15 minutes of sunlight— no sunscreen or hat when it was sunny. I made a pact with God because NICU puts the fear of God in preemie moms. I devoted my life to make sure he had the best possible start. He was so extroverted because we did nothing but talk to people and kids from the minute I took him home. He started pre nursery and never looked back. No respiratory illnesses at all like RSV or bronchitis, asthma, or flu. Mostly just runny sneezy colds. Rarely cough type colds. Until college, that is lol. But I relied on my maternal instinct. Took him off reflux med and he was no worse for the wear. Nursed on demand even though they insisted on high calorie crap all the time. I alternated, of course. I am so sorry for rambling. Haven’t slept yet and a little weepy reminiscing. Thanks so much for caring y’all. You kept me company and I’m so grateful. Even to those who checked me on driving there. I get it!

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

How high is his heart rate OP?

I don’t know. Is it listed in stats on the long update? He generally has a high normal heart rate. I do, too. Once the IV was out we connected again. He felt better and able to talk. He requested exactly what I advised which was if he’s on IV fluids they need to add antibiotic, and pain med for the systemic impact. Thanks for asking. I’ll find out Monday when I contact medical records.

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.

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?

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.

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

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

How high is his heart rate OP?

Stats at discharge:
Blood Pressure 133/78
Pulse 120
Temperature 99.4 °F (he never had a high fever)
Respiration 18
Oxygen Saturation 98%

*spent our morning walk

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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?

How high is his heart rate OP?

120 after lying in a bed all night seems high. But I'm no doctor.

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.