Very Sick Little Boy! - long

MichaelsMommy wrote: What a whirlwind it's been.
Thursday I took Michael to the ped because I heard him
cough once or twice and it sounded really raspy. I expected
that they would say it was the bug of the week and send us
on our way. Not the case. They didn't like the way his
breathing sounded. They sent us over to the hospital for
chest xrays first. It was terrible. They strapped Michael
to a baby chair thing - around his head, middle and feet - he was
screaming bloody murder and looked like baby Frankenstein.
Broke my heart to see him like that and know I couldn't
scoop him up. I had to stand back and let them do their thing.
It seemed to take forever and then they had to do it again
because the first ones didn't turn out Then they had a
therapist come to the house and bring a Nebulizer. She
basically delivered it and trained us on how to use it. We have to do
home breathing treatments with 3x a day- also not fun.
I have to hold a mask to his face for about 10 minutes while he
breathes in these vapor meds. It has to be traumatizing
to him, he cries the whole time - but the ped says it is good
when he cries because he gets more of the meds that way.
They diagnosed him with Bronchiolitis/RSV (respiratory syneytial virus)

Anyway - a day or two go by, he's not better - but worse
The coughing is much more frequent, the weezing is constant,
he's been running a fever pretty much all the time.. Tylenol
can get it down to 99 something but it comes right back.
He's not eating very much at all, and can't sleep at all at
night.

We went back in for a recheck today. They saw he
was that he was worse too. They gave him some antibiotics
and some different meds to put in the nebulizer along with the
ones he's already taking. If the antibiotics don't make him
improve in the next 48 hours they are going to admit him
to the hospital on Monday (or sooner if he continues down hill)
My poor guy.
He's a trooper though, he still smiles and coo's at me
I really hope he starts to improve soon.

So that's why i've not been around for a few days - I expect
it will be a few more before I can catch up on posts. I hope
everyone else is well and I'll update with his progress when
I can.

kit_kats_mom replied: Bummer.
Lauren had RSV and was hospitalized when she was two weeks old. I know the pain of watching them strap your baby down or insert and IV. Watching them hurting and not being able to do anything about it is the worst feeling in the world.
We also have a nebulizer that we used for a month but ours doesn't have a mask. I'd check with your ped to see if you can get one that just blows in their face. Ours has a flexible tube that you just point at the childs face and they breathe in the vapor. I'd imagine the mask would feel very confining to a child, especially if he's already fighting to breathe.
Also, ask your ped to perscribe an apnea monitor. That was the biggest worry with RSV patients according to the childrens hospital. Apparently they can stop breathing in their sleep and die. Our monitor has a band that we wrap around L's chest and two wires that plug into the machine. It goes off if it detects an abnormal heartrate or breathing pattern.
Lauren is fine now but she seems to catch colds quite easily and is on her third one now. I just keep a close eye on her for any of the signs of distress.
Good luck and hugs to both of you.

kit_kats_mom replied: BTW, feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

RSV is VERY VERY VERY contagious so don't take him anywhere. Also, I went out and bought about 20 things of purell when Lauren was sick, and I have them stuck all over the house.

gr33n3y3z replied: I hope Michael feels better I'm sorry to hear he is going through this
Sending get better wishes your way

MichaelsMommy replied: Hi - Thanks

My friend also told me about the different tube and I used
it a few times that way - but I told the Dr this moring and
they said I really need to be using the mask because he
is not getting enough that way.

I worried about that with the RSV being contagious - I'm
starting to feel pretty poor myself - I was blaming on
no sleep until my nose started to run. Dang it!

I've been washing my hands like crazy but I'll get DH to
pick up some purell tonight.

MichaelsMommy replied: Oh and I'm calling about that monitor - that just scared
me to death.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: (((((HUGS))))) Poor little guy! That sounds pretty scary. I hope he starts getting better soon, and you stay healthy!

kit_kats_mom replied:
Oh, Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. My doc did say that was one of the biggest concerns with RSV and babies though. I'm suprised your ped didn't mention it. Maybe Michaels case isn't as bad as Lauren's was or something.

You probably have it too....it's really just a cold in adults but it's wicked. I caught it on the second day in the hospital and I was miserable. Sick, 2 weeks post partum, watching my baby be sick and living on the childrens ward of the hospital. Yuck!

I'll be sending "don't get any worse Michael" vibes your way. having a sick kid at home is bad but it's MUCH worse when they are in the hospital.

MichaelsMommy replied: Well I just called the ped about the monitor. They said
that they usually worry about that with babies that are
6 weeks and under - they didn't give to Michael because
he's older (?) She said if he was that bad he needs to
be in the hospital. She said for me to give the antibiotics
time to kick in and to call later tonight and update them.

I can't help but question them - I suppose I can push
and they'd admit him now - but I'm not sure if I'm
being paranoid - I'm just keeping a close eye on him
and we'll see if this new stuff does any good.

I have not even had a chance to give him another
breathing treatment today because he went straight
to nap when we got home - its been a good 2 or 3 hours.
I think he needed the sleep - I wish I could but I'm too nervous

Kirstenmumof3 replied: Awwww poor little guy! I hope he feels better soon! Also if you are ever in doubt take him back to see the pedicatrician, trust your instincts.

kit_kats_mom replied:
That may be true. Lauren was only two weeks old. Maybe that's why they had her on the monitor. I'm sorry he's feeling bad though. It's just so rough on everyone.

MommyToAshley replied: How scary! Poor little guy, and Mommy... the whole ordeal sounds so scary! I hope the meds kick in soon and he starts to feel better.

And, don't feel bad about questioning the docs, you are just doing what is best for your little boy. I agree, don't hesistate to go back if you need to.

Sending some GET WELL vibes!