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Call the doctor? (I hate these kinds of posts, sorry)

CornbreadsmomCornbreadsmom
in Babies: 9 - 12 Months

LO has been congested since sunday night. He started coughing on monday. He seems to be in good spirits during the day, but is waking up overnight (although last night only once). I have been running the humidifier in his room and using saline drops/aspirator in his nose. He hasn't had a fever. He's asleep now and every so often he coughs, but then goes back to sleep.

Normally I'd just wait it out and see if it gets better. However:

1. I did this last time he was congested and it ended up being (or turned into) an ear infection that she found at his 9 month well visit. Before she even looked in his ears she was going to prescribe antibiotics for the congestion. I want to catch this before it gets to that point.

2. We're leaving on tuesday to visit my brother's family for Thanksgiving. I definitely want to get him seen before that and either make sure it's nothing to be concerned about or get him started on meds if needed. They have a LO and I don't want to get anyone sick.

Would the doctor do anything if it weren't an ear/sinus infection and just a cough/cold? This parenting stuff is such a guessing game sometimes...most times actually lol

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Re: Call the doctor? (I hate these kinds of posts, sorry)

  • Culkinator54Culkinator54
    When in doubt, I always call and talk to the nurse.  She knows the history, and will understand your concern for an ear infection.  Have you tried Vicks on his feet at night?  Slm did that for Leighton, and she said it helped a ton!
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  • jennybeamsjennybeams member
    Do you ever elevate the head of the bed to try and avoid the congestion from pooling in the ears? 
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  • slmcronelawslmcronelaw

    Leighton had a horrible cold last week and I ended up taking her in because I thought it might be an ear infection too, but it wasn't.  The dr. said I could give her 1/2 teaspoon of robitussin or mucinex for the congestion, and I did that a couple times.  Besides that I was putting Vicks on her feet at night before bed and putting her socks over them...it helped A TON!!!  Her cold is completely gone now plus the Vicks helped her sleep soundly at night.  Good luck!

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  • CornbreadsmomCornbreadsmom

    imageCulkinator54:
    When in doubt, I always call and talk to the nurse.  She knows the history, and will understand your concern for an ear infection.  Have you tried Vicks on his feet at night?  Slm did that for Leighton, and she said it helped a ton!

    Yeah, I think I will call-it never hurts to get their professional opinion.

    I haven't tried Vicks, although I do have some. Thanks for the suggestion!

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  • saskysasky member
    imagecait0324:

    Would the doctor do anything if it weren't an ear/sinus infection and just a cough/cold?

    Not likely.  Although I would agree with the pp that it's worth a call, and probably worth going in to have the doc check it out considering the history.

    DS has had 2 colds so far, with very similar symptoms as yours is having (cough after a day of congestion, waking up with a cough, but generally in decent spirits).  We had it checked out both times for fear of an ear infection, and he never had one.  The doc told us to keep up with the humidifier and saline drops.

    Another suggestion he made was that if the congestion gets bad, you can temporarily change to a non-lactose based milk/formula because the lactose can make congestion worse. 

    GL!  I hope LO feels better soon! 

    Baby Boy #1 born 1/15/2010

    Babies #2 & #3 arriving Spring 2014 (EDD June 18)

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  • Lynn1980Lynn1980
     If it weren't an ear/sinus infection and just a cough/cold. Then I would say no they arn't really going to do anything, you probably arn't already doing!
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  • LuckyBride06LuckyBride06 member
    I would. Especially b/c your going out of town. DS had the same thing 2 weeks ago and, although there is nothing much you can do for them besides humidifier and saline, I got him checked out anyway because he was staying the weekend with my parents and I wanted to make sure he was ok before I left him. It turned out to be just congestion and there was nothing the pedi could do, but it made me feel better leaving him.
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  • CornbreadsmomCornbreadsmom

    imagejennybeams:
    Do you ever elevate the head of the bed to try and avoid the congestion from pooling in the ears? 

    I haven't tried that. He's so all over the place in his crib though-I feel like he would just roll to the lower end. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try though-thanks!

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  • DEElicious18DEElicious18
    I say call the nurse. That's what the nursing line is for. Go by instinct. If your gut is saying he should be seen, get an appointment. I say this because a few weeks ago C was congested. No big deal. We did all the things you're supposed to do and he wasn't getting better. One night he started breathing heavily and wheezing. I called the on call nurse, she said to wait it out. It was 11PM. SO and I decided to take him to the ER. Turned out to be RSV. My gut told me something more was wrong then a cold. Because you guys are going away on Tuesday, I don't think waiting should be an option.
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  • CornbreadsmomCornbreadsmom
    imageslmcronelaw:

    Leighton had a horrible cold last week and I ended up taking her in because I thought it might be an ear infection too, but it wasn't.  The dr. said I could give her 1/2 teaspoon of robitussin or mucinex for the congestion, and I did that a couple times.  Besides that I was putting Vicks on her feet at night before bed and putting her socks over them...it helped A TON!!!  Her cold is completely gone now plus the Vicks helped her sleep soundly at night.  Good luck!

    Thanks! I have Vicks so I may give that a try.

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  • CornbreadsmomCornbreadsmom

    imageDEElicious18:
    I say call the nurse. That's what the nursing line is for. Go by instinct. If your gut is saying he should be seen, get an appointment. I say this because a few weeks ago C was congested. No big deal. We did all the things you're supposed to do and he wasn't getting better. One night he started breathing heavily and wheezing. I called the on call nurse, she said to wait it out. It was 11PM. SO and I decided to take him to the ER. Turned out to be RSV. My gut told me something more was wrong then a cold. Because you guys are going away on Tuesday, I don't think waiting should be an option.

    I remember when you had to bring him in-that was scary!

    I have a call into the nurses line and hopefully they'll call me back soon. He didn't have this cough the last time he was sick so that's why I'm a little more concerned than just being sniffly.

    I'll post an update when I get more info!

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