Fighting the flu
1st December 2009
So, did you get the H1N1 shot?
We, guiltily, have not yet. No excuse except we keep forgetting (OK, and maybe another reason, but I put it below in a lame attempt to hide it).
But.
Last week Alice had the flu. Albeit it was short — 24 hours — she still had it. To feel her shaking in my arms with the chills and watch her face turn red as she choked while vomitting in her crib at 2 a.m. was enough of a reminder that we must get the damn shot. I’ve been on second child flu watch ever since, too, just waiting for Lucy to get something.
(Tangent: Why do kids always throw up in the middle of the night? Why not at 9 a.m. when I’m completely awake and not half nekkid clutching my bathrobe? And why always in bed? Why not on the hardwood floors that are at least easier to clean? They’re born programmed this way, aren’t they?)
- Flu clinics are now open to everyone, and the Region of Durham has a full list of local clinics here (many doctor’s offices are administering it, too)
- No matter where you live in Ontario, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has links to every health unit in the province here.
- They also have a really neat self-assessment tool for parents to determine if your child under five or youth/adult over 5 actually has the flu. Check it out here.
- Pregnant? Here’s info on the unadjuvanted vaccine and why it’s so important to get the shot
We have a doctor’s appointment Thursday and will finally get this done and over with. I feel terrible admitting this, but I’ve also been subconsciously avoiding going because I’ll have both girls on my own. How have those of you with two done this? I figure I’ll have to get Lucy done first, ’cause I know Lucy will bolt once she sees Alice freak out. But then do I leave Lucy upset while Alice gets done? Do them both at once?
Help!
The Moms Fight the Flu blog tour is organized by Mom Central Canada to spread the word among Moms about the H1N1 virus & vaccine and what you should do if you think your child has the flu. By making sure Moms have access to reliable information we can help everyone stay healthier this season!
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Honestly, the shot doesn’t hurt. AT ALL. And I’m a huge wuss when it comes to needles. NOT AT ALL. Eirinn didn’t even know the woman had done it. Didn’t notice while it was being done (she was distracted picking out a sticker) and didn’t know what we were talking about when we asked her if it hurt. Avery gave one tiny wail, but I think it was just because we were holding her arms down and she doesn’t like to be controlled like that (or at all).
Hey little girls, be tough, Grandpa got his last week and it didn,t hurt one little bit. Do them tag team, at the same time so it’s over quickly. Tell them Grandpa will drop the elbow on them if they give you a hard time. Love: Pa
We just got ours this past weekend & my daughter cried but she cries for every vaccination. I felt it as soon as it entered my arm, and my arm has been sore ever since. My daughter has a bruise where her shot went in so I am not sure if the lady was rough with it or what. I did give her some Motrin the night of, because if my arm was sore, hers was too!
But yes, get the shot! My daughter was in the hospital at the beginning of November with bronculitis. She was on oxygen and IV antibiotics and steroids for 4 very long days. It was terrifying. That pretty much sealed the deal for me about getting her the shot. I had to wait until she was off all her meds, so that is why we just got it.
Good luck!!
Carly, we had (the three of us girls) our shots about a month ago. The shot doesn’t hurt. The doctor’s use a very thin needle (at least mine does) the only thing I felt was the swab of cotton going across my arm.
The doctor did Lexy first while I held Cait and kept her distracted. She kept trying to look at her sister but I kept making noises at her and pointing to things on the wall.
He did Caity next, she didn’t flinch, then he did me. No problems. We were in and out in 5 minutes.
Like Holly our arms were sore for about a week and my arm had a bump on it for about 10 days – no biggie. You know my reasons for getting the shot.
Both girls had a very slight (less than 1 degree) fever that night which Tylenol took down quickly. No other effects.
I hope that helps and I hope poor little Alice is better, my heart goes out to you – it’s terrifying when they’re very little and so very sick
Wish I could help.
My girls were great when they got theirs… Mya got hers first and told me after it was only a little needle so she didn’t need to cry… Carmen wailed for a few seconds, but it was over pretty quickly… I went today for mine, and the 2nd half of Carmen’s… My arm is sore, and mya complained when I was drying ehr off after her bath..
Good for you for getting it…
I chickened out and let my Mom take the 3.5 year old. She did cry after the fact becuz I think she thought she should. My MOM also took my 7 year old. Aparently he didn’t cry. I also gave both of them doses of tylenol about 20 mins before. Drugs, they do a body good. Both had very sore arms but no other ill effects.
You can DO IT. Take bribes and distractions and do the big one first.
LOL Good luck
We did it almost a month ago now. Stood in those big long lines and tried to keep sane while keeping Maddie sane in and amongst all the insanity. The actual shot hurt about as much as past flu shots that I’ve had do. My arm was sore for about a day, but no bruising. And yes, Maddie cried when she got the shot – but was easily distracted by a sticker, which is far better than when we’ve gotten other vaccinations. I asked her the next day if her arm was “ouchy” – she said no.
Overall – if it makes you feel any more brave – there were very few kids crying at the clinic we were at. Maybe the nurses had gentle touches, but I think this vax may not hurt as much as the others.
you should check with your doctor now where the kids had the flu if they will need the shot. so maybe only you and your hubby will need the shot…Fighting the flu is giving you antibodies too.
Hi Carly,
So far we have had the boys done. They rolled out the program a little differently here, the first week was health care workers, the next high risk, then school aged kids k-Grade6, then school aged kids Grade 7 to 12 and then finally the general public! Alex went for his second shot last night and he did awesome, both times. Just winced and that was it. Isaac, on the other hand, cried for a little bit and then was over it.
Here they make you wait 15 minutes before you can leave in case you have a reaction so each time I brought along the really, really good treats ie. M & Ms and chips. It’s too bad you have to go by yourself with both girls but the best way is to do Lucy first, she’s old enough to know what is going on and you will likely have far more resistance if she sees Alice first. Last year when we had our flu shots done I was in the same boat and that’s exactly what happened. I went first and so did Alex but it made it harder for Isaac. Hopefully whoever is adminstering your shot will let you have a few miniutes of consoling with Lucy before moving on to Alice. Good luck!
Are you getting yours too? If you are, you should go first so you can show Lucy that it’s no big deal. I made AH go first so the girls could see that Daddy was fine. Then Eirinn because she couldn’t wait any longer to get her sticker (she’s a bit of a sticker addict), then me, then Avery.
Oh, and we had to wait, too, so I also brought M&M’s. They must be the best children’s pain medication.
These are all great ideas — thanks!
Lucy is a Smarties addict, so I’ll be stocking up.
Alice has a shoe fetish. Perhaps I need to bring a pair of runners for her to play with. Weirdo.
I hope that Alice is feeling better and pray that Lucy will not get it.Grandma had her h1n1 shot last week but she has been sick with a bad cold. She still has a lingering cough but they gave it to her anyway. I was a bit surprised. Uncle Randy and I got ours at the dr office over a month ago. We were on the shortened list due to my diabetes and his weakened immune system. Both our arms were sore to the touch and had small bumps but we are getting the seasonal one as well. It is a personal decision for us. Smarties and shoes seem like a terrific distraction. Good luck.
Ty and I got it (Nate just turned 6 months)and it killed my arm but Tyler on the other hand was unfazed. What was hell was waiting in the waiting room with an infant and active 3 year old! I went right when the flu clinics first opened in Oct. because we were all within the high risk category (the boys have some breathing problems)and you remember the lines at that point. You can do it with the two girls alone – we mothers are stronger and more capable of dealing with these situations than we give ourselves credit for. Besides, your girls are awesome and may surprise you and deal just fine! Just to make your life easier, however, do bring some special loveys and treats for the little dolls!