HFMD

Garwyn's HFMD

Julian's HFMD

Never expect my luck was so down. My 2 monsters were down with HFMD just 3 weeks after recovering from a serious viral fever and bronchitis. It took 2 weeks for them to recover and now another so call childhood disease!

~~~~~ Day 1 ~~~~~

4th May 2010 - Noticed Garwyn had some red spots on his hands and feet. I was alerted but thought was allergy cos we have skin allergy problems that run in the family. So I instructed my maid to give him Zrytec. Hours later, it didn't subside, then I began to worry it HFMD. I kept taxting my friend who is a teacher and ask how to tell. I even go to the website to check. The tell sign is having spots on the soles of the hands and feet but Gar Gar was on the back of the hands & feet, that's why I could not be sure about it. The last call from my friend was to shine a torch into his mouth. I saw a lot of red dots on the upper part of his mouth, that confirmed my fear. It was 9.30pm, quickly rushed him to a clinic and get a doctor to confirm it. True enough, it's HFMD!

On my way home, I called my maid and instructed her to prepare Julian fo the news and take him to master bedroom to sleep. But in my heart, I knew quarantine them within the same household would not help much.

I didn't sleep well that night. Julian woke up in the middle of the night and quitely crept back into the room to sleep. Bringing along his 2 pillows & water bottle. So much he could move except the mattress. As he has no mattress, poor little thing slept on the floor near the entrance of the door. I brought him back to "daddy's room" and slept with him for a while. Then back to Gar Gar's room. That night, I was sleeping between 2 rooms.

~~~~~ Day 2 Many Thanks ~~~~~~

Many thanks to those who helped. Julian's teacher asked me to allow Julian to go to school so she could take care of him and I could devout all my time to Gar Gar. In addition, to minimise the risk of infecting Julian. Dr Rhonda gave me a call (even tho' we are not consulting her for HFMD), and taught me how to manage HFMD.

In the evening, I brought Julian to his cousin's place and brought him home after 9pm. The sensible Julian understood the situation at home and he didn't cry when I sent him over to his cousin's place.

Julian told me he was scare to sleep alone. I told him I'll get Aunty Selina to sleep with him. He was really sensible, he said Ok and slept through the night. The next morning, he didn't even step into Gar Gar's room and went to school quietly.

~~~~~ Day 3 ~~~~~

Today Julian came back from Shichida class and when Garwyn saw his brother approaching the bedroom, he quickly closed the door and shut himself in the room. I was very touched by his gesture. Afterall, this little thing is only 2 years old. Thanks to the teachers and maid, we have been telling them how serious is HFMD and it is highly contagious and the need to separate them.

Gar Gar is so tough and brave. The lesions are all over his feets, hands, mouth and diaper area. Dr Watt said the next few days will be the worst for him before he starts to recover. It was itchy and painful but he never compain. He couldn't sleep some of the nights and woke up to scratch. Seeing him suffer and I could not do much, I could only take hot towel to rub on those itchy areas, this really pain my heart. I bought him a tub of ice-cream to soothe his ulcers.

~~~~~ Day 4 ~~~~~~

I was still worrying about how to settle Julian over the weekend but no need to worry about it anymore. Julian was infected.

~~~~~ Day 5 onwards ~~~~~

Julian's case was more serious than Gar Gar. The lesions have spred all over his hands, arms, feets, legs, butt, armpits..... and it was all big and sore. Initially he cried and refused to drink the herbal tea that I'd brewed for him. I was so mad that I chased him out of the house. He cried and cried... a moment later, I went out with the herbal tea and a chocolate egg. I told him, I am his mommy and he is so precious to me. When I see him in pain, it breaks my heart. I am doing all I can to help him not to harm him. He stopped crying and finished the cup of herbal tea. From then on, he ate and drank what ever I'd prepared for him.

I was really glad that both of them could eat and drink cos I heard a lot from other mommies who had this experience told me their kids coundn't eat and drink. We (even the maid) were closer.. going thro so much thick and thin. And the 2 brothers love each other so much in crisis.

Last Sunday (16/05/2010), Julian has got the clearance from the doctor after 10 days of HDFM but a lot of damages hav been done to his skin. He has alot of peeling... Garwyn got his clearance on 11/05/2010 (Tue).