Poor Little Sick Girl
Jaimie on Jul 1st 2008
Sunday night, Alexa developed a fever of 102 degrees F. It came down with medicine, but kept returning, and, fearing an ear infection, I took her in to see the doctor yesterday. CJ got a sticker there for it being his birthday so he didn’t even mind too much. She doesn’t have an ear infection, in fact, she doesn’t really have anything noticably abnormal other than the fever. And being cranky. Which, actually, is not really that abnormal, especially since she’s been teething lately.
I find it hard to concentrate on anything or get anything done when one of my kids are sick. i think this is a fairly normal reaction by a parent, especially when the child is small and can’t communicate their symptoms very effectively, but I also always feel like I am either under- or overreacting at the same time. Christmas 2006, my cousin (who was barely 5 at the time) went into a coma and ultimately died from an undiagnosed case of Addison’s disease. Ever since then, I’ve found myself getting very over-anxious any time my children are sick. Especially when there isn’t a specific cause one can point at and hold on to and say “Hey, this is what is going on.” A high fever isn’t even a general symptom of Addison’s disease, yet I find myself in the back of my mind nervous that this is the beginning of something huge.
Which it isn’t. My more rational side knows that. But I haven’t figured out quite yet how to let go of the anxiety. I promise, I am not generally a crazed lunatic who worries over every single sniffle and agonizes over every last thing that happens. Although, maybe I am now. I try not to show it though. 
I wish there was a definitive test for the disease but there isn’t really, just testing adrenal gland function. Which I think I am going to have to have done on both kids in the near future for my own peace of mind. Although that won’t be the end - I’d have to keep having it tested every so often. I think.
Tomorrow I shall have to write about something silly or funny or generally light-hearted, all this deep thinking is messing with my head.
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I’m sure if I had a family member that died of an undetected disease at a young age - I’m sure I’d worry just as much as you do.
I hope Alexa is feeling better soon!
Oh - I hate those unexplained fevers too - but I am sure you know they are really actually quite common.
My guess for every child between 18m and 2 years with an unexplained fever is Roseola. So if she breaks out in a rash after the fever breaks, don’t freak out too much like I did.
Good luck!