Assuming you've read the posts below you're as well versed in E. coli and HUS as us. But all that information glosses over the emotional toll it takes on the patient and family/friends.
Background
About 10-12 days ago Carmen started having diarrhea and an irritable personality. We figured it was a little stomach bug and didn't think twice about it.
About 5 days ago Boo started experiencing similar symptoms. Again, we figured it was a little stomach bug he's picked up from Carmen so we didn't really think much about it. Carmen had started to get better and it stood to reason Boo would follow suit.
But this last Friday night everything changed. About 5pm we changed his diaper but instead of diarrhea we found what looked like a mixture of blood and mucus. That prompted a phone call to the doctor who told us to get him to Children's Hospital.
Day 1-Friday
We arrive at Children's about 8pm where they start running tests trying to determine the cause. Boo was fairly dehydrated and they put him on an IV. He also had blood work, X-rays and an ultrasound. They kept ruling things out like Intussusception (a condition where part of the intestine folds into itself like a telescope), appendicitis and a specific blood disease whose name escapes me. They took a stool sample and figured it was a bacterial infection such as E. coli, salmonella or something else along those lines. Due to his dehydration and lack of appetite/thirst they decided it was best to keep in the hospital for observation for a few days. During this whole time Boo was having frequent diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. It was coming in waves generally about an hour apart.
Day 2-Saturday
The frequent diarrhea and severe abdominal pain continued throughout Friday night and Saturday. He had a few bursts of energy where he would color or interact with people but for the most part he slept. He didn't drink more than 8 oz over the course of the day. In the afternoon we received the news the test for E. coli came back positive. It was a long day as everyone was super tired.
Day 3-Sunday
Sunday didn't start well. Boo didn't have any energy and spent all morning and the first part of the afternoon doing nothing but sleeping and pooping. The diarrhea and severe abdominal pain continued. He continued and still continues to have blood in his stool. At one point we thought he was starting to develop a fever. We kept looking for signs of improvement but nothing came. Finally about 3pm this afternoon there were some signs of life. While the diarrhea and pain continued he was awake and alert. He has been drinking more fluids and even ate some string cheese and yogurt. He puked up a bunch of the food but didn't seem too phased by it. He has some pretty bad diaper rash as he's pooping about 24 times per day.
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