A Week Full of Anxiety

Back from a very long and stressful week! I’m just thankful that Amber is now Dengue-free. We were discharged from the hospital last Friday. :)

I still want to hunt down that mosquito and make sure that none of its kind ever exists, for the pain they gave my girl and the heart attack they almost caused me were unbearable!

I’ve learned so much about the disease, which I hoped I have learned from other means and not from a first-hand experience. :(

Since this is a week-long event, expect a very long kwento...

July 11, Thursday

It all started with a call from Judith that the school nurse had called and asked her to fetch Amber from the clinic.

Amber daw approached her teacher and said, “Teacher, I’m hot.”. She already had a fever of 38.8^oC.

July 12, Friday

Noontime, she no longer had a fever but was still feeling weak. And she lost her appetite even for milk. That evening, she again had a high-grade fever.

July 13, Saturday

We decided to have her checked. The doctor requested for a CBC, Urinalysis (because of her history of UTI) and Dengue NS1 (to possibly rule out Dengue). That same day, we had the laboratory tests done at Hi-Precision Diagnostics Plus. Very recommended for their reasonable laboratory fees.

My heart leaped when the test for Dengue came back positive! Her platelet count was still within the normal range but it was already on the low side.

I sent a text message to the Doctor. He replied by telling us to have another CBC test and have her admitted if her platelet went down on the second test.

July 14, Sunday

Hubby and I thought there was no need for confinement yet as her platelet even went up a bit. Doc told us to continue CBC monitoring every day.

The Hubby and I decided to schedule the next blood extraction on Tuesday. We still went to work on Monday to apply for a leave of absence.

July 15, Monday

Amber was already fast asleep at 11PM. I was beside her still monitoring her temperature. Fever is still on and off. Suddenly, she awoke and sat up and started gagging. I held a blanket under her chin in case she vomits. When she did, there was blood – streaks of fresh blood in her vomit. When I looked at her, there was also blood coming from her nose. The memory alone of that night makes me want to weep. Nawindang talaga ako to the highest level!

We immediately rushed her to the hospital. I was crying all the way while I held Amber who seemed unaware of why I was in that state.

We were admitted to the hospital that night. It turned out that Amber’s platelet count dropped to 115. Normal range is 150-450. We were advised to increase her fluid intake but it was very difficult to make her drink or eat anything.

Also, because of the bleeding episode, Doc said that he would already request for a blood bag on standby. A transfusion will be necessary if ever there will be another bleeding – even if it would only be a single drop. Josme, pakiramdam ko talaga hihimatayin ako nung narinig ko yung transfusion. I kept on hoping that Doc was only exaggerating. I never wanted Amber to get to that point. Lahat na ng santo tinawag ko!

July 16, Tuesday

Amber’s last fever was recorded at 8AM. She never had fever again since she was given Paracetamol. We couldn’t let her drink Paracetamol so it was given thru IV.

At noontime, she seemed to already be her usual makulit self. She laughs a lot but she still didn’t want to eat anything.

In the afternoon, she already had a mantra – “I wanna go home, Mommy... Mommy, I wanna go home! Go home!”.

I gave her a pen and something to write on so she will be distracted even for a while. Only then that I noticed she might be ambidextrous. She wrote similar strokes with her left hand since her right hand is supported with an IV splint.

July 17, Wednesday

Platelet count dropped again to 95. No fever for 24 hours. The doctor said that the platelet is still expected to drop in the first 24 hours that she is without a fever. He added that this is the most crucial stage. According to the Med-Tech I had a chat with, Dengue daw attacks during that 24 hours na hindi na nagfever. Dito na rin lalabas yung rashes.

But the platelet should begin increasing within the 48 hours na wala nang fever. So okay lang, I kept on taking Amber’s temperature almost hourly for my peace of mind. Salamat sa digital ear thermometer!

At this point, the rashes came out na rin. Amber was very irritable. She kept on rubbing her soles and palms sa bed sheet. I didn’t know that these were because of the rashes, I didn’t even notice that she already have rashes until Doc pointed them out. Ganun pala yun, parang red patches, para bang sunburn lang. Doc prescribed an anti-itch medicine, that I didn’t get the name, to be given before bedtime to help her sleep well through the night.

July 18, Thursday

It’s been a long 48 hours! But we survived it without a fever. Platelet went up to 118. Doc said, he will allow us to go home the next day even if the platelet hasn’t reached the normal count yet, as long as it is increasing. I wanted to do cartwheels.

He advised us to just have an out-patient CBC monitoring until the platelet is within normal range. That was the point where I noticed that he is indeed cute like what the other patients and nurses said. I guess, I was no longer too worried for my baby girl to notice Doc’s good looks. LOL! :)

July 19, Friday

Platelet count is 135. We went home finally! But we are still required to have a CBC test and see Doc on Tuesday.

There it goes. I’m so thankful that the good Lord saw us through this. Big thanks to our friends and family who whispered their prayers for Amber’s immediate recovery.

My boss’ voice still echoes in my ears when he said that being a parent makes a person emotionally vulnerable. I couldn’t agree more.