How can you tell when your child is sick?

[tammykrumrey]

I know this may sound like a dumb question, but how can you tell when your child is having a possible CF 'flare up'? I still, after 8 years, have a tough time telling when we need more intervention. For starters, I have already spoke to our CF clinic, and will be taking my daughter in next week just to be on the safe side. But I was just curious as to how can you tell, besides the obvious cough, that something is flaring up in those lungs?

For example, the last time my daughter was admitted in the hospital (in May) the CF doctor said that had her PFT's not been so bad and had he not requested a X-Ray and seen the cloudiness in the film, he would not had thought she was sick. She had been very grouchy but she looked ok, a little sleepy and she sounded (by stethescope) just fine.

So it's not like I keep an X-Ray machine or a PFT machine at home to check her all the time! She has been quite crabby lately, but is that because she is a typical (very strong willed), almost 9 year old little girl. She does have an increase in cough which hasn't gotten much better after 2 weeks of Cipro and 3 weeks of Tobi (therefore the appt next week). Sometimes I just don't know when there is something going on! We may go into clinic next week, and her PFTs may be just fine. Or maybe not.

Oh, for a side note, she cultures MRSA, and sometimes staph, but that is all she has ever cultured. My younger one started culturing PA two months ago (which has me nervous that my older one has caught it and thus the problems).

So my question is again, how can you tell when there is something brewing besides an increase in cough. Does your little one get irratible? Sleepy? I am just curious. Sometimes I just don't know what is normal or not normal anymore! Our CF Doc said that the problem with CF is that the changes can be so subtle sometimes, and we get so used to these small changes, then all of the sudden it sneaks up on you and things are out of control!
Thanks and sorry so long!

 

[tammykrumrey]

I know this may sound like a dumb question, but how can you tell when your child is having a possible CF 'flare up'? I still, after 8 years, have a tough time telling when we need more intervention. For starters, I have already spoke to our CF clinic, and will be taking my daughter in next week just to be on the safe side. But I was just curious as to how can you tell, besides the obvious cough, that something is flaring up in those lungs?

For example, the last time my daughter was admitted in the hospital (in May) the CF doctor said that had her PFT's not been so bad and had he not requested a X-Ray and seen the cloudiness in the film, he would not had thought she was sick. She had been very grouchy but she looked ok, a little sleepy and she sounded (by stethescope) just fine.

So it's not like I keep an X-Ray machine or a PFT machine at home to check her all the time! She has been quite crabby lately, but is that because she is a typical (very strong willed), almost 9 year old little girl. She does have an increase in cough which hasn't gotten much better after 2 weeks of Cipro and 3 weeks of Tobi (therefore the appt next week). Sometimes I just don't know when there is something going on! We may go into clinic next week, and her PFTs may be just fine. Or maybe not.

Oh, for a side note, she cultures MRSA, and sometimes staph, but that is all she has ever cultured. My younger one started culturing PA two months ago (which has me nervous that my older one has caught it and thus the problems).

So my question is again, how can you tell when there is something brewing besides an increase in cough. Does your little one get irratible? Sleepy? I am just curious. Sometimes I just don't know what is normal or not normal anymore! Our CF Doc said that the problem with CF is that the changes can be so subtle sometimes, and we get so used to these small changes, then all of the sudden it sneaks up on you and things are out of control!
Thanks and sorry so long!

 

[tammykrumrey]

I know this may sound like a dumb question, but how can you tell when your child is having a possible CF 'flare up'? I still, after 8 years, have a tough time telling when we need more intervention. For starters, I have already spoke to our CF clinic, and will be taking my daughter in next week just to be on the safe side. But I was just curious as to how can you tell, besides the obvious cough, that something is flaring up in those lungs?

For example, the last time my daughter was admitted in the hospital (in May) the CF doctor said that had her PFT's not been so bad and had he not requested a X-Ray and seen the cloudiness in the film, he would not had thought she was sick. She had been very grouchy but she looked ok, a little sleepy and she sounded (by stethescope) just fine.

So it's not like I keep an X-Ray machine or a PFT machine at home to check her all the time! She has been quite crabby lately, but is that because she is a typical (very strong willed), almost 9 year old little girl. She does have an increase in cough which hasn't gotten much better after 2 weeks of Cipro and 3 weeks of Tobi (therefore the appt next week). Sometimes I just don't know when there is something going on! We may go into clinic next week, and her PFTs may be just fine. Or maybe not.

Oh, for a side note, she cultures MRSA, and sometimes staph, but that is all she has ever cultured. My younger one started culturing PA two months ago (which has me nervous that my older one has caught it and thus the problems).

So my question is again, how can you tell when there is something brewing besides an increase in cough. Does your little one get irratible? Sleepy? I am just curious. Sometimes I just don't know what is normal or not normal anymore! Our CF Doc said that the problem with CF is that the changes can be so subtle sometimes, and we get so used to these small changes, then all of the sudden it sneaks up on you and things are out of control!
Thanks and sorry so long!

 

[Jane]

It is hard to tell sometimes. My kids usually become more lazy and more tired when there is something coming. They often have more cough, but not always. Usually they cough up mucus and sometimes gag when eating because of sinus junk.

Don't you wish there was a red flag instead of gray ones?

 

[Jane]

It is hard to tell sometimes. My kids usually become more lazy and more tired when there is something coming. They often have more cough, but not always. Usually they cough up mucus and sometimes gag when eating because of sinus junk.

Don't you wish there was a red flag instead of gray ones?

 

[Jane]

It is hard to tell sometimes. My kids usually become more lazy and more tired when there is something coming. They often have more cough, but not always. Usually they cough up mucus and sometimes gag when eating because of sinus junk.

Don't you wish there was a red flag instead of gray ones?

 

[damiensmom]

I have noticed a few things that seem to be the "please no" signs and I notice my sons eyes get a thin red line around them as if real tired but not in the white the outer eye lid, hes eyes get glassy maybe just more so or more often. I seem to worry when the depth and even shape change. I have noticed when my son was sick hes whole face changes it is like I can see cf I see that periodically when he has a hard day. It scares me. this last time damien was in the hospital the diffrence in him by the time we came home so clear. Yet the changes were suttle and graduale getting to the hospital point untill a few days before. I still wonder why I second guess myself. This last time he never had a fever. He has only been hospitalized after dx 1 other time and had a fever for 2 days and he was only 4 months and I waited 2 days to long to take him to emergancy. So I guess I am hopefull when i see no fever. I found that to be a false hope this september. I did see the eyes change and hes face change in shape . Crazy I know but ill swear by it<img src="i/expressions/brokenheart.gif" border="0">

 

[damiensmom]

I have noticed a few things that seem to be the "please no" signs and I notice my sons eyes get a thin red line around them as if real tired but not in the white the outer eye lid, hes eyes get glassy maybe just more so or more often. I seem to worry when the depth and even shape change. I have noticed when my son was sick hes whole face changes it is like I can see cf I see that periodically when he has a hard day. It scares me. this last time damien was in the hospital the diffrence in him by the time we came home so clear. Yet the changes were suttle and graduale getting to the hospital point untill a few days before. I still wonder why I second guess myself. This last time he never had a fever. He has only been hospitalized after dx 1 other time and had a fever for 2 days and he was only 4 months and I waited 2 days to long to take him to emergancy. So I guess I am hopefull when i see no fever. I found that to be a false hope this september. I did see the eyes change and hes face change in shape . Crazy I know but ill swear by it<img src="i/expressions/brokenheart.gif" border="0">

 

[damiensmom]

I have noticed a few things that seem to be the "please no" signs and I notice my sons eyes get a thin red line around them as if real tired but not in the white the outer eye lid, hes eyes get glassy maybe just more so or more often. I seem to worry when the depth and even shape change. I have noticed when my son was sick hes whole face changes it is like I can see cf I see that periodically when he has a hard day. It scares me. this last time damien was in the hospital the diffrence in him by the time we came home so clear. Yet the changes were suttle and graduale getting to the hospital point untill a few days before. I still wonder why I second guess myself. This last time he never had a fever. He has only been hospitalized after dx 1 other time and had a fever for 2 days and he was only 4 months and I waited 2 days to long to take him to emergancy. So I guess I am hopefull when i see no fever. I found that to be a false hope this september. I did see the eyes change and hes face change in shape . Crazy I know but ill swear by it<img src="i/expressions/brokenheart.gif" border="0">

 

[fourkidsmom]

My 5 yr old with cf gets "dark" circles under his eyes and I can see it in his face. I usually can tell 1st by that sign believe it or not.

Fourkidsmom

 

[fourkidsmom]

My 5 yr old with cf gets "dark" circles under his eyes and I can see it in his face. I usually can tell 1st by that sign believe it or not.

Fourkidsmom

 

[fourkidsmom]

My 5 yr old with cf gets "dark" circles under his eyes and I can see it in his face. I usually can tell 1st by that sign believe it or not.

Fourkidsmom

 

[blopunky]

well-I am noticing that my son gets into his "moody"
 behavior. Like right now, my oldest son has a cold and then
my daughter got it and I knew it would only be a matter of time
before blopunky got it. Sure enough he is blowing out gobs of
green. I know this is maybe just coincidence, but the day after his
last appt. he woke up with a sore throat. I thought maybe it was
due to his throat culture. He kept insisting and today we have the
green. He has also been moody and easy to cry. I always try and
wait a few days and see if he'll kick it on his own. sometimes he
does, most of the time he doesn't. so if he's still green and
sore-to the dr. we go!  <br>
blopunky's mom

 

[blopunky]

well-I am noticing that my son gets into his "moody"
 behavior. Like right now, my oldest son has a cold and then
my daughter got it and I knew it would only be a matter of time
before blopunky got it. Sure enough he is blowing out gobs of
green. I know this is maybe just coincidence, but the day after his
last appt. he woke up with a sore throat. I thought maybe it was
due to his throat culture. He kept insisting and today we have the
green. He has also been moody and easy to cry. I always try and
wait a few days and see if he'll kick it on his own. sometimes he
does, most of the time he doesn't. so if he's still green and
sore-to the dr. we go!  <br>
blopunky's mom

 

[blopunky]

well-I am noticing that my son gets into his "moody"
 behavior. Like right now, my oldest son has a cold and then
my daughter got it and I knew it would only be a matter of time
before blopunky got it. Sure enough he is blowing out gobs of
green. I know this is maybe just coincidence, but the day after his
last appt. he woke up with a sore throat. I thought maybe it was
due to his throat culture. He kept insisting and today we have the
green. He has also been moody and easy to cry. I always try and
wait a few days and see if he'll kick it on his own. sometimes he
does, most of the time he doesn't. so if he's still green and
sore-to the dr. we go!  <br>
blopunky's mom

 

[JazzysMom]

All of us (hubby, daughter & myself) know we are getting sick when we lose our patience quickly. Our tolerance for things is down before we start showing any physical symptoms of a cold etc. Next for me would be appetite & then increased cough etc. I also know my daughter has belly problems by the look on her face. Its the same look she would get when she was being potty trained & had to poop. I have flash backs everytime I see that LOL!

 

[JazzysMom]

All of us (hubby, daughter & myself) know we are getting sick when we lose our patience quickly. Our tolerance for things is down before we start showing any physical symptoms of a cold etc. Next for me would be appetite & then increased cough etc. I also know my daughter has belly problems by the look on her face. Its the same look she would get when she was being potty trained & had to poop. I have flash backs everytime I see that LOL!

 

[JazzysMom]

All of us (hubby, daughter & myself) know we are getting sick when we lose our patience quickly. Our tolerance for things is down before we start showing any physical symptoms of a cold etc. Next for me would be appetite & then increased cough etc. I also know my daughter has belly problems by the look on her face. Its the same look she would get when she was being potty trained & had to poop. I have flash backs everytime I see that LOL!

 

[tammykrumrey]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I, too, notice a huge change in the eyes. My older daughter gets circles and they seem glassier than usual. And the moody, grumpy, impatient Kayla starts to come out. I am glad to see that I am not just imagining that things are signs of an illness brewing!

 

[tammykrumrey]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I, too, notice a huge change in the eyes. My older daughter gets circles and they seem glassier than usual. And the moody, grumpy, impatient Kayla starts to come out. I am glad to see that I am not just imagining that things are signs of an illness brewing!