strange behavior

What Would You Do?

By heavenschild

@heavenschild (4777)

Canada

April 22, 2008 10:53pm CST

My son fell asleep at school on Friday and so my husband was called to pick him up early.... Friday night he had a fever and so we gave him Motrin before he went to bed. On Saturday he basically only wanted Popsicles and Juice and yet was able to play and laugh and run around. Sunday was basically the same but then in early evening he had major diarrhea and of course a fever once again! We treated him for these and put him to bed as he asked me if he could go night night and was really upset and clingy. Monday Morning I decided to keep him from home and took him to a doctor to find out it was viral and just to push the liquids and give Tylenol if there was a fever. Today I called the Therapist and canceled her as my son slept until 8AM and then was pretty much in his own world...glued to his videos with the remote in his hand! So Not normal for him although he ate some better today from what he was like on the week-end! So, My question is..... Would you send him to school tomorrow? Have you ever had a child that was able to laugh and play and run around but was sick? This has all seemed very strange to me and confusing! What do you think of all of this!? I look forward to your input here and any stories you may have to share along these lines also! ~Heavens~

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11 responses

@carmelanirel (20942)

• United States

23 Apr 08

My son was like this, either running a fever or diarrhea and yet was playing like he was healthy..But those 2 things along with vomiting I wouldn't send him. The fever means he is still very contagious and of course if he has diarrhea, that would not be good..Last fall my son was home three days from school though he was running around feeling great, he is on the bus for almost an hour, no way was I sending him..

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running a fever

sending kids to school

@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

Thanks so much Carmela! He has been free of fever and diarrhea since Sunday night and never did have any vomiting with this! My son has a very short walk and because he had the whole week-end home with it and Monday off school to see the doctor and then straight back home and yesterday off of his therapy I decided to send him today as it is his only day of school this week due to scheduled therapy for the rest of the week so he will be in now until Monday! ~Heavens~

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

24 Apr 08

Yes, that is my hope Carmela! He seems quite congested tonight though

~Heavens~

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@carmelanirel (20942)

• United States

23 Apr 08

So he made it through today? Great I am glad to see that he is doing better and I am sure by next Monday he will be himself again..

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@mbs730 (2147)

• Canada

24 Apr 08

Thats hard because I had something similar with my daughter. She had been battling a cold/virus with a mild infection that was treated by antibiotics (which we all had) ands he had moments of being perky and then being feverish and not wanting to eat or anything again. On Sunday she made a recovery and sent her to school on Monday but had to pick her up early because she was beyond exhausted and went to sleep as soon as I got her. And the fever returned. I was really upset.. and yesterday she was still tired but improved.. and still had a low grade fever. Today she has been completely fever free and back to her normal self. So I am wondering the same thing.. if I should send her to school tomorrow. She may be well enough to go but don't want a setback again!!!

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@mbs730 (2147)

• Canada

24 Apr 08

I hope he gets better soon! The same bug is going around here. I know how it is too, my son is also under the spectrum and its more crucial for him to go to school because of the therapy than it is for my daughter.

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

24 Apr 08

Thanks so much for your understanding! Us "Special" Parents really need to stick together!

How old is your son on the spectrum? ~Heavens~

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

24 Apr 08

Boy, what a go...Maybe you should keep her home again tomorrow! I did send my boy today and now it seems to be a really bad cold as he is so stuffed up tonight! He will be home until Monday anyway now due to his special therapy! ~Heavens~

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@minnie_98214 (10557)

• United States

23 Apr 08

This has happened to me before and it sucks cause you dont know what to do. I thought my son was faking and sent him to school only to have the nurse call I felt so bad. Id say keep him home one more day just to be sure no reason to risk it.

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

Thanks so much Minnie

I know you understand the need to keep our kids on schedule if we can and so I sent him today on advice of my Mom! He made it through the day without a call from the school and now will be home the rest of the week for his scheduled therapy sessions! I am hoping that he is better by Monday! HUGS ~Heavens~

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@carolscash (9492)

• United States

23 Apr 08

Actually, my youngest daughter is the same way. When she is sick, she still finds the way to be able to play. I am always amazed that she can find the strength to do that.If he has a viral infection, I would be sure that he is getting plenty of rest and I would keep him home another day just for that reason. I know that I usually had to stay home a couple of days. If the school will allow you to,then pick up his work and allow him to do it at home at his own pace and he won't be behind when he gets well.

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viral infection

@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

My son is only four and so picking up work for him would not be valuable especially since he has Autism. He had already missed therapy and school this week so I sent him today because he did not have a fever and asked to go to school. He will be home the rest of the week for his therapist so I am hoping he will be O.K by Monday! Thanks so much! ~Heavens~

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• United States

23 Apr 08

I would let him stay home the extra day. I know when my kids are sick like that one minute they will be playing then the next moment they are crashed out on the floor somewhere. I would also keep him home out of consideration for his classmates -- best not to spread it around.

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

24 Apr 08

Thanks but he does seem quite a bad cold tonight! ~Heavens~

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

I agree with you but he was free of fever and diarrhea since Sunday Night so I sent him as it is his only school day this week due to scheduled special therapy for the next two days he will be home the rest of the week any way! Thanks for your suggestion! ~Heavens~

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• United States

23 Apr 08

Glad he's feeling better!

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@ladysakurax (1161)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

If he has energy to run around and play then he could do this at school as well. If it happens that your son is sick again, you can pick him up like your husband did. He will have thursday, friday, and the weekend off. I think it's enough time to rest. However, it's good to see that he keeps on being active and move around. being sick and stay in bed is not good. I remember puking at school but I went back to school the next morning.

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

Thanks so much ladysakurax I sent him to school today and he was fine we never received any calls and when I picked him up at the end of his day he was happy! Now due to my son's school schedule he would not have went to school at all this week if I had not sent him today as tomorrow and Friday are in home therapy days for him. I am glad that I sent him today! ~Heavens~

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@ladysakurax (1161)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

You are very welcome :D I am glad to see he was ok at school. We will talk again soon^^

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@infobyaj36 (907)

• United States

23 Apr 08

The rule in my house is if you don't have a fever, and your not puking or oosing your going to school. Go ahead and send him but be prepared to pick him up later in the day if it gets to be to much for him. Best wishes

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

Thanks! It's doubly hard for me to decide as he has Autism and so it becomes a difficult decision for me! Monday I just wanted to take him and get him checked by a doctor and then today I knew he would just be too tired and out of it to gain anything from therapy but if he does not go to school tomorrow then he won't have any school at all this week because Thursday and Friday are Therapy days! It certainly is a tough call for me...I am so glad that he is not sick often! ~Heavens~

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@someonesmom (5761)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

Hi heavenschild,

I'm very happy to see that you've started this discussion, as for one thing, it lets me know what's been happening there. I understand how hard this would be to decide, because as many don't know here, your son is autistic. There's no way he'd be able to fake his illness. If it were me, I'd likely keep him home, just to be on the safe side. He will be having his therapy this week, which is an important thing. However, only you can decide. Does he still have the runs? When my daughter was 9 years old, she had a very mysterious illness, that lasted for 3 months, on and off. It got so bad, she even had medical tests, that are usually only given to adults. They never found the cause. One minute she'd be laughing, playing etc., and the next vomiting, and spiking a fever, with severe stomach pains. I was so incredibly worried, as were many others. So, to answer your question, yes, I do believe kids can be running around and playing, but still not really well. I do so hope that your son's better soon. Please take care of yourself too. Love and hugs.

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@someonesmom (5761)

• Canada

25 Apr 08

It makes me happy to hear that he asked to go to school, but I'm sorry to hear that he now has a cold. Hopefully, with the weekend here, he'll be able to get the rest, etc., that he needs, and will be feeling well again by Monday. I hope 'your' weekend goes okay. Take care. xxx

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

Hi Mom! He only had the one bout of diarrhea on Sunday night and that was the last time that he had a fever also and so sufficient has passed as far as that goes with no fever this morning

He ate his egg at breakfast this morning and so I sent him to school. My Mom also thought that he should go as long as there was no fever and he was eating! He actually asked to go to school and he made it through the day without them calling us to pick him up so I am glad that I sent him! His therapist will be here tomorrow and Friday...We'll probably keep him inside for the duration of the week to ensure he can receive his therapy

He definitely does seem to be much better but still has a bit of what I would call a cold....Hopefully by Monday we can have him better! Love and Hugs to you as well ~Heavens~

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@Rozie37 (15499)

• Turkmenistan

23 Apr 08

I have a niece that always loves to play. Anytime day or night she is ready to laugh and goof around. The only time she will not play is when she is sick. That is how we can tell when she is really sick. I know that there are some kind of illnesses where you will get some relief at certain times, maybe due to the medicine or whatever. I would wait and see how he feels in the morning. Check for a fever and everything. If you think that he is faking, all you have to do is cut off all the fun and tell him to stay in bed. If he instantly gets better then you will know that he is ready to go back to school.

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

I wish it was that easy Rozie but my son has Autism and so does not fake illness! I did however assess him this morning and upon finding that there was no fever and he ate his breakfast etc. I sent him to school and he must have been fine as we did not receive a call to pick him up and so I am glad that I sent him because he has in-home therapy for the next two days and no school now until Monday! Thanks so much for your input and suggestions! ~Heavens~

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@mummymo (23706)

•

30 Apr 08

This type of thing happens quite often with kids this age sweetheart and they can be ill but have some energy spikes through it. Both my kids have gone through similar things in the past and more than once and I always think if they aren't 100% you have to assess to the best of your ability whether they would be able to manage a whole day at school and concentrate on what is going on! It is also policy here that if a child has sickness/diarrhoea they shouldn't return to school for at least 48 hours after the last bout. As it has been a week now I do hope that he has fully recovered and is back to his normal loving self! xxxx

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

3 May 08

Sorry that it has taken me four days to get to this Mo! Yes, He is certainly back to his normal self now!

I did send him on the day in question as it was Wednesday and he had not had any diarrhea or fever since the Sunday night and he was fine at school and then had therapy the next day but she didn't push him too much that day! He is now doing great but with this strange warm and then colder weather we are getting now I am very careful with how I dress him! HUGS ~Heavens~

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

3 May 08

I'm in full agreement with that!

~Heavens~

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@mummymo (23706)

•

3 May 08

I am so glad that he is all better heavens - we can't help but worry about them when they are not quite themselves can we? When the weather and climate are constantly changing they seem to pick up more bugs! Here's hoping that the weather will improve soon! xxx

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@gemini_rose (16264)

•

23 Apr 08

My kids are like this all the time when they are ill, they are so up and down that it is confusing to know whether they are ill or not. Viral infections do go like that as well, so one minute they feel fine and then the next they feel awful. Of course any medicines that they have make them feel better too and when a child feels well it goes back to normal and then when the medicine wears off they are bad again. I always keep mine off one more day than they need, just to make sure because like I say it can come back on them really fast.

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@heavenschild (4777)

• Canada

23 Apr 08

Thanks so much Rose! That is exactly why I decided to cancel his private therapist yesterday however I did send him to school today as the rest of the week will be therapy and so he will be home any way! He has been free of diarrhea and fever since Sunday Night so my Mom also felt I should send him today! HUGS ~Heavens~

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