Rotavirus .... AGAIN!!!

[Ky]

Hi all ...

I have just arrived home from hospital for the second time this year after having to get Bella in there for fluids after getting rotavirus.

The Paediatrician has told us that she obviously has an immune deficiency in this area and that she will end up in hospital after every rotavirus or gastro problem she has. This is the third time she has been hospitalised!

The silly thing is, that her brother and I have both had it this time and we were "sicker" than she was. We both had vomiting and diarrhea for over a week ... Dan really badly ... puddles everywhere and usually on the carpet! Bella just had 24 hours of vomiting!

She is still very weak and not eating or drinking ... we have been let home on gate leave with the promise we will come back if she hasn't started eating or drinking by the end of the day.

The next thing will be visits to the paediatrician ... that is going to cost an arm and a leg!

Warning ... little rant to follow ...

Just because my daughter has been in hospital and I have stayed there to care for her, doesn't mean that I have money to take her to the paediatrician ... how do others manage it? The first visit is going to cost me twice my weekly grocery/clothing/incidentals etc budget! The biggest thing that bugs me is that she has to see a different paed after each admission to hospital which means we have to pay the initial consultation fee of over $160! And ... you have to come up with the money on the spot!

OK, rant over ... I feel much better now!

[Melissa1983]

Ki Kyra

Hope Bella is feeling better. I know what its look to pay Paediatrician and specialist. I have to pay for a specialist for Abby, and we havent got the money either. Its so stupid the price they can charge!

[Funkychicken]

Hi Kyra,
I would chack with Medicare if your visits are claimable because with the new Gap system you actually pay very little once your combined bills for a calendar year reach a certain amout. This amount is actually quite low now-somewhere in the low 100's. I know after two scans and a couple of blood tests we reached the "gap" and now get back the initial refundable percentage plus 80% of the upfront costs. Worth checking out as the stress of paying for medical stuff is terrible especially with current petrol costs etc...
Sal-7 wks to go!

[tinkster]

ok, so, beacuse she has had rota twice she needs a paediatrician?


sorry, i don't think thats necessary
i work as a paediatric nurse at a major hospital and know that sometimes bad things happen to good people, rotavirus is SO easily transferred and everyone copes with it different, some people spew for 2 days, some never do, some have the runs for over a week, some for one day, your daughter obvisouly just had a rough trot, as you said, others in the family had it, she was pretty much BOUND to get it!

so, in my humble opinion, save your money, its not like shes sick all the time, she just got unlucky

hth

[annsam]

Hi there,

My DS was recently in hospital with rotavirus too and had a few illnesses following due to the knock it gives the immune system. Can't help with the paediatrition thing but a natropath suggested to me getting some Inner Health Powder (good bacteria for the gut) and putting a quarter teaspoon in his bottle twice a day for a week. He hasn't been sick since. Might pay to give it a go and knock it on the head. Hope your family gets over these illnesses soon.

[sugar n spice]

Do you have Health insurance? ( i am guessing not) If you do i am sure they would cover around about half the cost or just under. HBF is usually pretty good.

[Ky]

No health insurance and now a big whack of $133.00 taken off my credit card! Aparently I will get some of this back from medicare, but even the amount left over takes a huge chunk out of my budget.

When kids are sent home from our hospital (on gate leave), they are required to go to the paediatrician a few days to a week later to be followed up and be formally discharged to thier doctors care.

Last time Bella was in, she was cared for in the hospital by the other paediatrician, so we had to see him afterwards.

My problem with health insurance is that you have to have the money to pay the premiums! I think it is a great idea, but when you have a family of 4 on less than 25k a year and are not yet elligable for full centrelink benefits/suppliments etc, it is just plain impossible.

We have recieved the most wonderful care at the hospital ... I could not fault them on anything!

Paediatrician has told us to get her to the hospital if she ever starts vomiting again, as her body fat reserves are too low. We need to try and put a bit of beef on her (she eats really well, how do I do this?), but other than that she is a tall and petite framed child with a great diet and outdoor lifestyle and in great health other than this setback!

[WeThree]

hi kyra, hope your little girl is feeling better. when your child is discharged from hospital, it is suggested you see the dr they were under whilst you were there, but you do not have to, i have never done this and have always just followed up with usual paed, this helps with continuity of care etc. if one of the children has been to hospital, i simply show him letter, explain what dr my child was under etc, although my childre have usually been able to be under our paed, even before we had private health insurance. when you see a specialist, you get the bulk of the amount back, although i know it can be a hassle having a large amount up front, even if you r getting most of it back, but seriously, dont drag her to different docs anymore, its not necessary, next time she is in hospital and the ytell you to follow up with dr so and so just smile and say 'yeah no worries' and just go see your paed, its not like they follow up or even remember 2 mins later, its more for if you dont have a regular doctor, and you would like to make sure everything is ok, that you have someone to go see :)
oh forgot to mention, this does not include if your child needs to see a specialist of some description ie heart or kidney specialist, obviouslt then yo would need to go see that doc :)

[jaydensmum]

Im sorry this is happening to you kyra! :( I hope everything works out ok for you. I know how hard it is to scrape money together for doctors bills. I just thought i would let you know that im thinking of you.

jaydensmum

[Ky]

Thanks Naomi ...

It looks like I may have to take her back :(

She has hardly eaten or drunk anything since we came home and only went to the toilet once yesterday to wee and do a runny poo ... I don't think I should risk keeping her home seeing as she dehydrates so quickly.

Am off to ring the paed for advice now ...

[WeThree]

Kyra, i am so praying for little Bella (((HUGS)))

[Ky]

I was told to take her back last night if she didn't start drinking, so I put the hard word on her and basically scared her into drinking ... I hated doing it, but it must be for the best ... surely?

I spent a heap of money yesterday on inner health plus powder, an appetite stimulant and a kids multi-vit, so hopefully with regular use of these, she will start gaining some weight and get her immune system in a good place!

Any suggestions as to how I can get her to gain weight on healthy foods? My friends that struggle to keep weight on seem to eat a lot of junk and I don't want to do this with her ... not that it would matter, as she really isn't much of a junk food eater ... would much prefer to have a plate of fruit and veges! She is not too keen on meat. Maybe I should find a way of increasing her intake of it?? I have already started her on more milk drinks.