Constantly Congested!

catchr07

My DD is 9 months and has been congested from day one. We found out she is allergic to milk so she has to have prescription formula (elecare) that stopped the projectile vomiting but was still congested. After our pediatrician gave her meds and the usual warm shower, humidifier, and saline drops (which didn't work) everytime we brought her back it was just a cold, and it's normal he says. 

 

We already did allergy testing, nebulizers, and even saw a gastro doctor but nothing is wrong. She has been on 2 antibiotics for reflux but saw no improvement. I was really frustrated after our pediatrician said its just something you'll have to deal with babies have a constant "cold" the whole first year of life. (which i don't believe) 

Is this something anyone else is experiencing I feel like I'm the only person, and feel like there is nothing more to do but it's terrible to see my DD like this. I was thinking about an EN&T doctor but I don't want to go overboard if this really is just a cold.  

AsOctoberFalls

I'd say see every doctor in the world until you get an answer!! It's not normal for a baby to be congested all the time.

FWIW, my son had a constant cough from about 3 weeks on. Our first pediatrician said it was just reflux and refused to medicate even though the cough would keep DS (and me and DH) up all night.  We switched pediatricians when DS was 5 months old. We should have made the switch sooner!  The new pedi referred us to a pediatric pulmonologist.

The pulmonologist dx DS with asthma, but when the treatments failed to help, they sent him for a reflux study, a swallow study and an allergy test. They found that he does have reflux (he never spit up and had NO other symptoms of reflux, so this was a surprise!), and the reflux medication along with the asthma meds stopped the cough completely.

Even once the cough was gone, they still wanted to do the allergy tests and VFSS. The allergy tests were negative, but the VFSS showed that DS was swallowing some into his lungs. He now has to have ALL liquids thickened, which is a pain. I will tell you, though, that once he was on the thickened liquids, we noticed that his constant congestion was gone. We never really even noticed that he was congested all the time until it went away.

Chronic cold symptoms are one of the #1 reasons that doctors order swallow studies. I would make sure I found a doctor who would order one. 

My point is, if one doctor doesn't give you answers, see a hundred more until you get them. Trust your gut. You are your daughter's only advocate!

AsOctoberFalls

Also, is your DD's nose runny or does she just sound congested? Does your insurance require a referral? Mine doesn't, so I'd probably just go ahead and schedule an appointment with an ENT. We have a children's hospital with fantastic doctors, so I usually just go straight to them. 

You are not alone. I know exactly how you feel. It's really difficult! Hang in there. You WILL get answers...you just have to find the right doctor. The good part is that it's probably something minor... You just have to figure out what. Soon, this will be a thing of the past. My DS has been cough free for over 2 months now! 

AmandaP678

I second the ENT!  Does  LO have reflux? I thought Tim was congested as a baby, but they told me it had to do with the reflux

tinaraye

That is certainly not normal. I agree about seeing the ENT. I am surprised your ped didn't refer you. Hope you get this figured out for your LO.

catchr07

She doesn't have a runny nose all the time I would say she has one on and off. 

The pedi said she had reflux bc she would burp and then make this disgusting face like she just puked. She's always rubbing her watery eyes and her nose even when it's not runny that's why I immediately though allergies but since that was rule out I didn't know what else it could be. I will deffiently call my ENT tomorrow and get an appt and hopefully he will also suggest checking out her lungs too!

Thanks for all of your help! 

lilmejo

I know exactly what you're going through. Our LO has been the same way. We've been given the whole saline spray, humidifier, nasal suction since he was born. Our MD told us the same thing that some babies can have this congestion cold like syptoms for the whole first year. I pushed the issue and he an appointment with an ENT next week. I feel like it must be miserable for him to constantly be congested ALL the time. I would take her for a second opinion. Even though we havent found anything out yet I feel better just knowing that the appointment is scheudled. I have also been reading about something called silent reflux which stuffiness if a common symptom.