I posted this late last night and didn't get much response. I'm hoping someone can give me some advice. I've already called the pedi, but there's really very little we can do that we're not already doing.
DS has a terrible cough. He starts gagging and choking and even threw up last night. I mean really threw up. At dinner, at church, all over me and himself, the floor, etc. It was like big kid throw up. I'm pretty sure his cough is coming from a cold/allergies and just all the drainage. He's pretty snotty. We're doing all the typical things, humidifier, saline drops, bulb sucker, vapor plug, etc. He did this one time before too, when he was sick a few weeks ago. Both times it happened while he was eating though. But he didn't get food caught in his throat or anything like that. Now I'm terrified to feed him, especially out of the house. Has this happened to anyone else?
The nurse said they just start coughing and don't really know when to stop, and it's just a reflex. Or he may have gotten a little piece of something in his throat when he was eating that made him cough a little and it just escalated. I don't know, but I know it sucks!
Re: RP: throwing up
This is probably way TMI, but I don't know how else to answer your question. When my sinuses are draining really badly and the drainage gets kind of tough and rubbery, it will gag me like none other b/c it hangs down the back of your throat, and it doesn't go on down when you swallow, which is not only irritating but also makes you gag more. The only thing I've found that sometimes helps is to eat a dry piece of toast which will kind of scrape it down.
Other than that and what you're already doing, I'd also try a steam shower. That may help loosen it all up for him. Run your shower on all hot water with the bathroom door closed and the exhaust fan off. It should fill with steam pretty quickly. I'd probably strip DS down to a onesie and wear shorts and a t-shirt or tank yourself b/c you will get very warm. Take a few toys in, and stay in there as long as you both can stand it. Even if it's only 5 minutes, it should help move that drainage along faster.