I give up, I'm throwing in the towel - need pink eye info

coasterqueen wrote: Why is it if something is going to happen it ALL happens while DH is away. And at the WORST possible times. Didn't I just get done dealing with Kylie's ear infection and reaction to amox? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I go to pick Megan and Kylie up at Terri's and Megan has pink eye, low grade fever and a possible ear infection. The doctor said she couldn't tell if she has one because there is so much wax build up in her ears. WTH? How does that happen. So now that she has pink eye I have to keep her home for 48 hours. Now how am I going to tell my boss that one a week before our HUGE meeting and I have so much work to do to get ready for it I can't see straight?

I swear I'm two shakes away from giving these kids to someone who could take better care of them than I am and checking myself in.


BTW, how on earth do I "maintain" this pink eye. I'm washing everything that isn't nailed down. Do I have to disinfect her toys somehow? I just want to do everything to keep this at bay because I have ONE week before my meeting and the way my luck is we'll all be in the hospital or something else will go wrong before then.

I'm sorry I'm such a pessemist it's just that if there is anything that you can think of that could go wrong while your husband is away, it's happened to me.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Oh NO!!! I don't believe it!! You poor thing!!! Better yet, poor little Megan!

I hope the meds start working soon. I have absolutely zero experience with pink eye. I've never seen it, had it, my kids have never had it, But the ear wax thing is more my territory and there is nothing you can do about it. You can't dig in their ears. I told my ped that the only reason we go in for well visits is so he can clean out Ethan's ears.

I hope Megan feels better soon and you all get some well needed rest before the big trip to Chicago.

amymom replied:

mckayleesmom replied:

Nathansmom replied: First of all

I had pink eye a couple of years ago, and washed everything cloth, as well as disinfected all the counter tops, etc.
I would say wipe everything down really well, antibacterial wipes of some sort and wash all the bedding, towels, etc...I did this daily while it lasted for me.

Jamison'smama replied: Hugs to you Karen--

I get pinkeye a couple of times a year--usually mild cases. I just wash my hands regularly and toss things that come in contact with my eye. Is she rubbing them a lot? It clears up fairly quickly. It is very contagious though--are they having you treat both eyes?

Jack is an earwax kid too--when he had an ear infection, they had to clean out his ears with a scoop-like thing befor they could tell.

redchief replied: Sorry Karen. Not much anyone could do to prevent viral infections... Unless you know someone who carries a micorscope everywhere.

Conjunctivitis can have bacterial, viral or allergic causes. Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye is a general description of an inflammation of the clear membrane that covers the schlera (white part) of the eye. If it's in one eye, it's usually viral. Two eyes usually indicates a bacterial or allergic cause. The only type that's not contagious is the allergic form. Viral conjunctivitis basically has to run it's course, though docs will often prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment. This is more preventative than effective. Antibiotics can prevent onset of bacterial conjunctivitis in a virally infected eye. There, now you know more than you ever wanted about it.

Hope all is well soon!

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I'm sorry Karen! If it isn't one thing, it's another. I had pinkeye when I was a kid but I don't remember much except I had some stuff to put in my eyes and I had to wash my hands a lot. Will they treat Kylie too as a precaution, or do you have to wait to see if she gest it before they'll treat her? I hope it clears up fast!

luvbug00 replied: Oh man that stinks!! I'm sorry BOIL EVERYTHING!! well everything that is boilable. conjuntividas is highly contagious and saline solution helps relieve some of the ichy ness.

jcc64 replied: Ed, I think I'm about to become your disciple. Is there anything you don't know about?
He of course said it best. I can just add that I learned all of that only when Corey had a particulary nasty case a year or so ago. It was so gross that when she woke up, I freaked out and wanted to rush her to the ER, thinking she developed some horrible rare infection that caused her to become blinded overnight ( not a particularly proud moment for me )
Anyway, the pediatrician did concede that it was a nasty case, and actually cultured her eye, believing it to be bacterial. Without waiting for the results of the culture, he prescribed both topical and oral antibiotics, which I obediently administered. When the culture came back, it of course was viral and I felt guilty for overmedicating my child (I am NOT a fan of antibiotics unless absolutely necessary). Everything Ed told you above, I also learned from my brother the pediatrician. That is- most cases of pink eye are viral, and antibioitics are only administered as a precautionary measure. The child would, in most cases, resolve it with her own immune system in the same amount of time. And btw- viral or not- 48 hrs seems like a long time to have to wait- it's usually 24 here.
As far as the ear infection, my kids are prodigious wax producers, and everytime Noah had to be examined for a possible ear infection, they would first need to irrigate his ears to clean them out. I wouldn't worry about it so much- the conventional wisdom about ear infections is starting to lean towards letting them self resolve as well, and just treating the discomfort with pain relievers.
Man, Karen, when it rains it pours, huh? Hope everyone gets better in a hurry!

My2Beauties replied: I am so sorry Karen! Poor you and Poor Megan! What else could go wrong hon? OK I had pink eye as a child 2-3 times and I remember it going away usually within 48 hours and my mom would wash my bedclothes every day and clean everything off that I came in contact with. I also had to wash my hands a lot. I was a lot older so it's going to be hard to tell a baby not to wipe her eye with the same hand she just wiped her infected eye with so it won't spread I hope you can get it under control and that no one else gets infected, just remember disinfect everything if yuo have any doubts!

redchief replied:
Yes, Jeanne, in fact there is something I'm totally ignorant about even after years of research and questions. After 22 years of marriage and two daughters (love ya all) I still don't understand women.

Erin had frequent bouts of conjunctivitis growing up due to her congenital eye problems.

gr33n3y3z replied:
Yes you do have to disinfect her toys
Just spray them down with a disinfect cleaner and not let your other daughter play with them

It should start to clear up in a few days it may get worse before it gets better
She did tell you to treat both eyes right? If not do it bc it can go from one eye to the other.
And make sure you keep her hands clean that is a big must,

About the ears yes John had lots of problems and most of the time he had bad wax build up and made it hard for the Dr to see also.
He did get tubes in his ears at 5 years old bc of way to many ear infections from birth till 5 since then he had not pne problem with his ears.

Hang in there your doing a great job with the kids and everything will be fine

(( hugs ))

jcc64 replied:

Neither do I!