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Hey guys

Oh my. The last few days have been rough. Somehow over the last few years I have forgotten what it was like to have to function off of NO sleep. When the kids were little I was a professional! I could juggle all kinds of stuff along with three babies and housework off of just a couple of hours- no problem! Now I'm like an old slug! I've completely lost my super powers in the sleep department.

Maddie is doing pretty good during the day as long as there is something interesting going on, like a princess movie, a new set of markers, Sissy playing UNO with her, that kinda thing. BUT if she's not being entertained or doing something to keep her mind off of it she is hurting and restless. She has been able to get good naps (I'm not so good at the sleeping during the day thing). Night time......oh, night time is a whole other story. They hurt much worse at night and she is so restless that even when she does sleep she is still talking and whimpering. She tosses and turns and calls my name and roots around under me. It's not good.

I am taking notes and pictures of her every day and when this is all over I'm going to try to write a little survival guide for other mamas. Why, you ask? Well it seems that there isn't much common sense information out there on children with Shingles. I have been SO frustrated with the lack of information on how to keep them comfortable and that sort of thing, but I have learned a few tricks. I'm going to share them here so that maybe I can help another sleep deprived mama frantically g**gling "children with Shingles" at 3AM like I was. There seems to be a lot of medical "bla bla bla" but there is no "hey this seemed to help my little girl when we went through the same thing a year ago" kind of stuff because it is just so rare.

I'm hoping that in the next few days we will be over the worst of it and things can start to return to normal! I hope you guys are all doing well and enjoying the last of your summer!! Better go, The Baby is needing my lap and some more Motrin.... poor little angel. xo, Sam

Comments

Anonymous said…
Sorry the little one has shingles. My daughter gets a good dose every year but she is in her teens. Have you tried aveeno oatmeal bath? To help with the itching you might try corn starch browned in the frying pan but be careful not to burn and shake on like powder. It soothes and stops the irritation. My doctor who is old fashioned told me this and it worked. I would also dress her in cotton loose fitting nightdress and keep her cool. Hopes this helps! Trish'
Anonymous said…
You probably already know this but they are very painful, you should give her motrin or advil liquid.
Trish'
Anonymous said…
I've never had shingles, but I have had hives and multiple rounds of horrible poison ivy rashes. What works to help ease the itching for me is a luke warm bath and oatmeal in a towel tied off with a rubberband. You don't want the water too warm or cold. Hot water makes the itching worse.

I hope she feels better soon!
Rachel
ShirleyC said…
I'm so sorry your little girl is having to endure this. Don't they say the shingles is caused from the chickenpox virus?
When my son was little, and had the chicken pox the pharmacist gave me some kind of ointment for burns. He has such an AWFUL case of the chickenpox. There was not an inch of his body that wasn't covered. Ears, eyelids, between his toes - you name it. That ointment did help some, and I used the Aveeno baths.
That corn starch suggestion someone else made might also help, but you can also mix it with some baby powder.
I know when my son was so bad, I tried everything I knew as long as it wasn't harmful to his skin.
Good luck!
Megan said…
I feel so much for your family. Seeing my husband suffer from them, I know how hard it is to see them in pain, and yes it does get worse at night. There were nights I couldn't get to bed until 2 am because HE was in so much pain.

Watch the motrin, though. Hubby popped it like candy because it hurt so bad and he developed an ulcer from the ibuprofen. Also, it can take a long time for the pain in the muscle to go away. The hubster still occasionally has days where it bothers him.

I think being spoiled, ice cream, and chocolate chip cookies help. *wink*
Hug that poor little girl gently for me.
Anonymous said…
I wrote earlier about the cornstarch, please don't mix it with baby powder. It is like a fine powder just put in a shaker bottle and treat it as baby powder. It is not going to hurt her, it is natural and baby powder is harmful to lungs.
Doctors recommend that you don't use baby powder. The burn cream would probably help. They put on burn victims and it takes the pain away and helps to heal the sore quickly, although it has silver sulfate in it and you can get it in low doses but only on prescription but be careful and also there is cortisone cream to help stop itching but again be careful with the amount you put on.
Trish'
Debbie said…
Sam,
I'm so sorry your family has been suffering through this. I have been and will continue to pray for y'all.
Nell said…
Samantha, I wanted to give you some advice or help, but my daughter had shingles when she was 10, 22 years ago, and I cannot remember a thing about it except her doctor brought several other doctors in to see a child with shingles. It was rare. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your sweet little Maddie.
Renata said…
Oh no - I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this. I will pray that she recovers quickly.
Renata
Anonymous said…
I feel so bad for your little one right now. But I still continue to be amazed by you!! Here you are in the middle of all of this and you still think of helping others by documenting your experience. I love reading your blog - even in the not so great times you inspire the rest of us.
None of my children ever experienced that but I have been through chicken pox with a few of my kids and I know the feeling. You feel for them but at the same time it is pretty special to be able to snuggle, read, and care for them for a little while just the two of you. Quality time you know

Blessings,
Pam

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