My 1 year old was diagnosed with RSV last week. And he was put on his breathing machine again. And he’s not getting better. He’s still coughing so bad that he almost chokes. He isn’t eating and isn’t drinking as much. We are still giving him his breathing treatments twice a day. Last night, I put baby vicks on his chest and put some on a bib to hang on his crib. I also ran his humidifier and put some soothing vapors in it. All night, all I heard was him coughing. His nose is running constant and he’s got a little fever of around 100. I’ve been taking him to the dr almost every week for the past month. Between RSV and ear infections, he can’t seem to break it. He’s going to be recommended to a ear nose and throat dr. if he gets 1 more ear infection which will be #5 or #6 in the past year. I don’t know what we can do at home to try and make him feel better? I feel so bad for him because he just looks miserable, but feel like a paranoid mom for taking him to the dr all the time, plus the bills are starting to rack up and I’m always leaving work early to take him. I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations or tips for helping him feel more at ease??? Thanks so much!!
I took him to the Dr AGAIN yesterday and we found out he's got his worst double ear infection AND the flu! She wants us to go to a ENT but my husband thinks its stupid, along with his mother. We got Tamiflu for both boys and an antibiotic, inhaler and of course breathing treatments and over the counter cough syrup! I feel like it's been an endless battle for the past month!
I think I would be trying a different doctor.
I have a friend who's son gets almost like whooping cough every once in a while, and she said the only thing they found that worked was actually steroids.
It may be helpful to elevate the head of his bed to help the drainage from his ears/nose to not settle in his throat and cause him to cough even more. You can either put a few books under the legs of his crib at one end, or what I did was just lift up the matress and put a regular sized bed pillow under it at one end. It doesn't cut the cough completely, but it facilitates the drainage and will also help the ear infection clear quicker.
Oh, hugs to you ! I know exactly what you are going through! When my son was just about to turn 2, he got RSV......as well as pnuemonia and dehydration. I went to the doctor 4 days in a row.....once even getting there before they opened. I watched him breath all night - that super, fast, shallow breathing is horrible and scary! Finally, they admitted him to Children's Hospital for 3 days. He was SOOOO sick. I lost about 7 pounds that week because I was a nervous wreck. Those were the worst days of my life watching him be so sick, and I was so helpless. What I learned was you have to be your child's advocate because no one else will. Don't worry about a doctor or anyone thinking you are a crazy, over-protective momma. It's your job to protect your child regardless what anyone else thinks. You know him best. My son's pediatrician called ahead to the hospital to have him admitted.....it's a good thing because when we got there they (doctors at the hospital) were going to send us home, but then they learned that the pedi called ahead and wanted him to stay. They listen to your child's pedi.
As far as the ear infections, my son had chronic ear infections as well. (He had them for 5 months STRAIGHT!) Finally, I took him to a chiropractor, and after ONE adjustment, they went away. ONE adjustment!
I hope your son gets better soon!!
Hi, V.! I'm so sorry to hear that your little guy is so sick. It's heartbreaking to see them when they're not feeling well. I would try putting Vick's on his feet at night too. It always helps with the cough (believe it or not). Rub a good amount on the bottoms of his feet and put on his jammies or socks. I still do it with my older kids, and nine times out of ten, it helps a ton. I wish you the best of luck with your son. I hope he's feeling better real soon!
Hi V.!
I would try to build up his immune system. All the antibiotics wear down a little ones immune system as much as it helps to build it up. You need to get good bacteria(acidophilus and bifidus) in your little one's system. Give him a good probiotic (one that works and actually gives live bacteria not live at time it's sold to you and dead by the time you give it to him He needs Live good bacteria) Dr's usually won't argue this natural practice because they know that you need to have the good bacteria in your system to fight off the bad bacteria (At least every Dr. we have gone to fully agress-even my daughters specialists at University of Michigan Hospital) Shaklee's optiflora is the best product on the market. It has scientific research to back up it's claims. My girlfriends daughter used to have chronic ear infections and started using these products and she hasn't been on an antibiotic now in over 8 years!!! go to www.shaklee.net/amy_healthyconcepts for more information. The product is optiflora. My daughter was born very premature and she had 2 years of RSV shots to prevent it and she was still sick ALL THE TIME! We had to go to the Dr. this past week and it was the first Dr. appt in almost 2 years (she sprained her ankle at schol) because doing Optiflora and a few other natural vitamins we don't have to go to the Dr's we just don't really get sick!!
About the Vick's-I hate using petroleum jelly on anyone so what I recommend is giving him dialy/nightly baths with mentholated eucalyptus oil (essential oils only) the vapors will go into his lungs, help him breathe better and will help him sleep. Only put like 4-5 drops in his tub (enough to smell the vapors) You can also place some drops on his bib and keep it nearby and it will be much healthier for him.
Also- Get rid of your toxic cleaning products. The Volitol Chemicals (VOC's) that they give off are very harsh on a little one who takes breathing treatments or any little one for that matter. Lindsay used to have breathing treatments ALL the time and she hasn't had one now in over 2 years!! Check out Shaklee's Get Clean line, it is non-toxic, biodegradable and it is safe for you, your family and the environment!
I would be happy to send you some more information. Just get in contact with me.
Good Luck with your little guy-
A.
Hi Valerie
I know this is a little late, but I thought I would put in my 2 cents to see if I could help. My daughter is 11 months. She just had ear tube surgery due to all the ear infections she has had (6 or 7 in 7 months). It was recommended by our ENT. BEST THING WE EVER DID!!!
However in your case, you need action now. What I did when she was congested is asperate her nose in the tub when the humidity was up from the water. You could elevate his crib so he is not laying flat (think of how you feel when you have a stuffy head, evevation helps)
I really really recommend seeing the ENT Specialist though. They are skilled in that field and can really help. Plus keep in mind that the more ear infections he gets, the more scaring he will get in his ears which could affect his hearing down the road. My brother is 40% deaf in one ear due to all the ear infections he had as a child.
Good luck. Our ENT is Dr Charles Myer at Childrens. He is WONDERFUL.
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/find-professional/...
hope your little one feels better!
When it comes to breathing....I've found NOTHING better than eucalyptus oil. You can put it in a pan of water and heat it - towel over the head and breathe it, put a couple of drops on the pillow on either side of where the head is so that they breathe it when they sleep, I've put it literally under Abbie's nose as she sleeps - and she does it on her own now...just breathing it, you almost instantly hear the change in breathing.
I've actually put a very small amount on the end of her nose before bed and she breathes it WITHOUT all the coughing, etc. or at least minimizes it TREMENDOUSLY!
Eucalyptus is the same thing that's in Vicks but obviously more concentrated in the oil form. THIS WORKS!!
HI Valerie, sorry you have to go through this.
When my second child was 20 days old we had a hospital stay for RSV. It also took a while for it to go away after that. We did the daily breathing treatments until his breathing was better.
When we went to bed I had him sleep in wither his swing propped upright or I would bring his car seat in for him to sleep in. It made a big difference keeping him elevated, I am sure the Dr. told you that.
I also nursed him pretty much 24/7 during that time which made for a more speedy recovery so if you are able to take off of work to do that it would help. Also if you want to take a trip to your local Health food store and ask for an appropriate amount of elderberry extract for him that will help him A LOT as well since RSV is viral.
I hope he gets better soon ; )
Good luck - C.
I just saw your update on the referral to an ENT. I can't believe your husband thinks it is stupid! I'm sorry, two of my three daughters had tubes (1 had 2 sets). They are the best thing! Why continue to let your child suffer when the fix is fairly simple? I would STRONGLY encourage you to see an ENT!
I would get him to an ENT right away. Depending on how close the frequency of ear infections, the ENT may recommend the tubes...my son had 3 ear infections in one month period and ended up getting mastoditis and meningitis. They put tubes in his ears to drain the fluid and he has not had another ear infection since. It is a very simple procedure and out patient. My son was already in the hospital with meningitis when they did the surgery.
Hopefully your son had his Prevnar and HIB as both are vaccine to prevent meningitis. Ear infections can cause meningitis. My son did not have his Prevnar because of the shortage at the time, he was 6 1/2 mos old and now he is 6 yrs old and severely debilitated from meningitis, but is a happy 6 year old.
No, you are not an over protective mom, only you know your son and keep going to the dr to make sure your son is ok. I did and kept getting the same answer that he had viral infection, but the 3rd time was too late in a week and a half, as he suffered a stroke from meningitis.
Does he have allergys? I know when I was a younger I had lots of ear infection and trouble with getting sick with everything. I was diagnosed with a milk allergy and switching to Soy that pretty much fixed the problem. I didn't get sick as often or as bad and I haven't had an ear infection in years (i used to have as meny as 8 in a year) My Son has the same problem as I did. So we use a lot of soy milk and Soy cheese. One or our baby sitters fed him milk products and he got really sick not just Gastintestanal but also the flu for 3 week than a cold for 10 days. She didn't relize that milk is in almost all processed food. The milk weakened his system and made him more suseptiable to diseses.
I think if you are worried about you child when he is sick that going to the doctor is a good thing and don't feel like your paranoid. Mothers know when something isn't right.
HI V. it is good you are using the Vicks but one more thing you might be able to try. This sounds a little odd but try putting the Vicks on bottom of his feet and then put socks on him. My granddaughter was real bad with a cough and a runny nose and I did the above and the next morning she was much better. It sounds like your son is really bad but give this a try. When our daughter was bad my friend told me about it and it did work for her. God bless you and your son. K. P
Have you tried putting vicks vapor rub on the bottoms of his feet and then covering them with socks ? It works to help relieve the cough in most cases. Also try having him elevated for sleep. You can raise the head of his crib or let him sleep in a car carrier that tilts the upper body. This should help keep the mucus from settling and let it drain which should help relieve the cough some.
Your child probably need tubes put in his ears, it is a easy procedure and does help.Be sure no one smokes around him , that can cause more ear infections.
Good luck.
I'm not sure why your mom and husband think it is crazy to see an ENT, but that is the only way he will have tubes put in his ears, which is proven to help drain the fluid from the inner ear, which is why he keeps getting ear infections. Too many ear infections, or fluid behind the ears can cause scar tissue which can affect his ability to learn to speak and cause hearing loss. Everyone would feel very guilty if you had a child with a hearing problem simply because you didnt' make that one ENT appointment!
Make sure he isn't being put to bed with a bottle. Taking a bottle while lying flat causes milk to pool in the back of the throat, increasing chances of developing an ear infection. This isn't the only reason kids develop ear infections, but is a big reason.
Good luck to both of you. Sounds like you are on the right track. I am surprised no one prescribed steroids, and I would think treatments would be more than twice a day. I would consider giving the treatment right before bed to see if that helps the cough/breathing. Sometimes the cough is due to difficulty breathing, so the treatment will help.
R.
I know you have probably received quite a few responses, I have found that for babies as well as children and adults rub Vicks or even the off brand on the bottom of feet and cover with socks at bedtime. This really does help with the coughing. Just make sure you apply liberally. Hope this helps!
Valerie, I apologize straight up if this sounds like a commercial for the company I work with...however, do some research on cleaning products. It is incredible the damage the household cleaners are doing to people. ____@____.com I think it could be worth your while to check it out. A small thing like getting the chemicals out of your home could be the answer. Seriously check it out
S.
