Swine flu - school closing for a week

[Barnes Mum]

I hope he feels better very soon dinahcat and is soon back at school fit and healthy. There seem to be so many nasty viruses around this year. I totally agree with you, knowing how quickly they can take a turn for the worse, I wouldn't feel happy about leaving mine home alone ill.

[Sallz]

My mum made that mistake with my brother a few years ago. He told her he had a stomach ache and so she left him at home (presuming it was unfinishedhomeworkitis as with often the case with teenage boys). When she came back that evening he had a temparature, so she took it a bit more seriously, dosed him up and sent him to bed.
The next evening she decided to take him to the doctor where he was immediately admitted to hospital with appendictis

Tummy aches are now taken a bit more seriously now (she checks their homework diaries first )

[Mrs C.]

Update on school - around 50 pupils have not returned yet
several were turned away at the door last night and at least one has been sent home this morning.
Any slight sniffle or headache is being taken quite seriously i think

[ReallyMissingHer]

My daughter didn't get up to go to church yesterday morning, got home she was still asleep and I was very thinking here we go she's faking it after having been 100% fine all week.

Anyway woke her up at 1pm (previous attempts by me and the cats having failed to work) and no she was clearly just very tired and went off to school okay not a murmer about not wanting to go back. She did forget her toothbrush though

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Just to let Lonelymom and Barnesmum know that TBA and I have been keeping Louise in our prayers, for some time now. I work on the principle of the Parable about the bloke who kept on knocking --- and eventually the door got opened !

Glad to hear that there is Good News, and I emphasise with Lonelymom, sometimes you wish you had the illness yourself, rather than your child ! but chin up -- things will soon be even better.

[Barnes Mum]

Thanks Neill and of course to TBA too. I think that Louise and Michele have got so many people 'Knocking on the door' on their behalf that He has no choice but to listen! 'Keep on knocking' I say, it does seem to be starting to work.

Louise had an ultrasound scan yesterday which showed the fluid on her lungs. The doctors are hoping to draw some of this out for testing. She has also had other samples taken for testing as they are still unsure as to why her temperature keeps rising so much. Michele is hoping to get the results of yesterday's x-ray this morning too. As soon as I know more I will let you all know.

On a positive note, some of the girls in my house, Louise's friends, were asking me about her yesterday and were all sitting there talking about sending her some 'get well' texts. Unbeknown to me one of them actually decided to ring her there and then and had her phone on speaker so the others could hear. How lovely it was to hear Lou's little voice the other end saying hello!

[Fjgrogan]

No doubt this is a silly question, and the medical people among you will be horrified at my ignorance, but .......... if they can draw off some of the fluid from Louise's lungs for testing why can't they draw off all, or at least most, of it?

[Mid A 15]

No doubt this is a silly question, and the medical people among you will be horrified at my ignorance, but .......... if they can draw off some of the fluid from Louise's lungs for testing why can't they draw off all, or at least most, of it?

The same thought occurred to me.

I can only assume that they want to keep an invasive procedure on somebody in a weakened state to an absolute minimum. I guess also that until they know why the fluid is there there is nothing to stop it recurring which means more invasive treatment.

I could be talking complete Charlie Rap though!

[jhopgood]

On a positive note, some of the girls in my house, Louise's friends, were asking me about her yesterday and were all sitting there talking about sending her some 'get well' texts. Unbeknown to me one of them actually decided to ring her there and then and had her phone on speaker so the others could hear. How lovely it was to hear Lou's little voice the other end saying hello!

Wonderful initiative, if suitably controlled. IMHO, that type of support is as important as the medical support.

[Barnes Mum]

The doctors say that it is not unusual for this type of fluid to build up in the lungs with pneumonia and, as Mid A15 says, it would not be a very pleasant experience for Louise for them to draw some off for testing or to try to remove it all with a chest drain. Unfortunately Louise's blood bacteria levels have risen again today to 380. The doctors at Maidstone have admitted to Michele that they have no idea why, being that she's on antibiotics, or why her temperature keeps spiking. They are now consulting with The Royal Brompton who have recommended two different type of antibiotics, which she has now been changed onto. We are all hoping that this works as they seem to be running out of ideas. Michele has asked for you all to keep up the positive thinking and please keep everything crossed. By this time tomorrow we should know if they have started to work.

[Sallz]

Im really sorry to hear that, these things are always a game of swings and roundabouts.

I have added Louise onto the uni chaplaincy prayer list and am sending plenty of get well thoughts her way.

[Momto2]

Oh goodness, what a rollercoaster for poor little Louise and the family. Everything crossed that the new antibiotics kick in quickly. Naturally, all our prayers and positive thoughts are for them tonight.

Thanks for keeping us posted Barnes Mum.

[kerrensimmonds]

Ditto, thanks for keeping us posted, Barnes Mum, when you must now be busy with other children returned to school. I cannot imagine what Louise and her parents are going through. Yes, absolutely, all positive thoughts and prayers not only from me personally but from all the others at the University of Chichester, the parish of Sidlesham, and the parish of Rustington, who have been praying for Louise and Michele and who have asked that I keep them informed. I do hope that the Maidstone medics. get to the bottom of Louise's problems and manage to resolve them, very quickly. I send my love to both Louise and Michele.
Kerren

[anniexf]

As Kerren said, many thanks to you Barnes Mum for all you're doing to keep us updated. Loads of positive vibes winging their way from Brum to Louise and Michele. Did big sister get back to school ok after her bout?
On the news today it was reported that about 1,000 people in the UK are currently in hospital as a result of this dreadful virus, quite a few being children with no underlying health problems.

[mvgrogan]

Oh! how disappointing after a positive few days! Please send all our love to Michelle & Louise & their family.

I have added them to our (informal) prayer list at Turku Cathedral International Congregation - sounds swish but it's really just about 30 english speakers to attend regular Lutheran & Anglican services in english at the Cathedral (the seat of the Finnish Church...).

Piggy Flu isn't quite so bad here, yet, but paranoia levels are quite high (is it still paranoia if it's true? ).

Positive, happy, healing thoughts are being sent flying through the air from here to there.