RSV and Nebulizer questions

saturdaynightdoubletree · January 2011

This is actually for my 2 month old, not my toddler... but the 0-3 board doesn't have much experience with these issues yet.

DS got diagnosed with RSV last night, did treatments at the hospital, and then our pedi gave him some breathing treatments with a nebulizer for home. I have a million stupid questions about the thing... is the mask better than the tube looking thing? Does it matter if LO sleeps through the entire treatment? Is half the stuff supposed to come out the back/sides?

As for the RSV... when will I expect to see improvement? Can I suction his nose right after a breathing treatment, or should I wait a bit? Reassure me... it's good to cough like crazy after a treatment, right!?

I'm a bit insane with all of this right now. Both kids are sick and I just want to make sure I'm doing it right so everyone gets better! TIA!!!

smilelari · January 2011

{{{hugs}}}

LO had RSV when he was about 10 weeks old but I have no nebulizer experience as we stayed in the hospital for 2 nights and they did the breathing treatments for us. As for the RSV, if I remember correctly it peaks around days 3-5 and then starts improving.

saturdaynightdoubletree · January 2011

smilelari:
{{{hugs}}}
LO had RSV when he was about 10 weeks old but I have no nebulizer experience as we stayed in the hospital for 2 nights and they did the breathing treatments for us. As for the RSV, if I remember correctly it peaks around days 3-5 and then starts improving.

thanks. I wish they had just kept us. They actually told me they would because he was under 6 months, but then when they checked with his pedi they sent us home. Stupid pedi is so vague with everything so I feel unsure. He said, "bring him in if he isn't eating enough because he'll need iv's so he doesn't get dehydrated" -- after I just explained to him he hadn't held anything down in 24 hours... DUH! time for a new pedi!!!

GoalieWife · January 2011

We do nebulizer treatments as needed with cough/colds for DS1.
Yes your DS can sleep while getting a breathing treatment. With a 2 month old, it's better if he'll wear the mask, I used to put DS in his swing with the TV on and he'd be out like a light while getting his treatment, but if he won't wear the mask for you, just use the tube and plastic mouthpeice and wave it in his face. Don't worry about it going out the side, it does not have to be direct mouth inhalation to be effective.
If he's coughing after the treatment, it's probably loosening up and he's trying to get it up. But you may want to check with the pedi on that.
Don't be afraid to ask stoopid questions Smile

MommyMich · January 2011

My son has used a nebulizer off and on for the past year. In my experience, the mask is easier to use because they do not have to hold it in their mouth. Yes, the mist will escape through the back and sides of the mask. Sleeping through the treatment is fine, I wish my son would do that.

I don't know about suctioning the nose, I always do right after because it brings stuff up. My son also coughs a lot during and after a treatment. I take that as a good sign, helping to clear his lungs.

HTH and GL to you.

saturdaynightdoubletree · January 2011

GoalieWife:

Don't be afraid to ask stoopid questions

thanks!!! haha, I ask on here what I already asked at the pedi, but he somehow found a way not to answer.

Hope you are snuggled in for the big storm... I'm missing MA (and the doctors there) like crazy right now!!!

GoalieWife · January 2011

Yup, big storm coming...We actually have a dr's appt tomorrow, and they insist that they won't be cancelling appts, I'll bet I get a 7:00am call from them to reschedule!!
I love our Pedi, don't settle, keep looking till you find one you click with!!

healthynut · January 2011

I feel for you! Mine both had RSV at 7 months old last year and were hospitalized, one after the other. We now own a nebulizer. Everything PP's said sounds great. Also, suctioning after the treatment is the best time. Everything is loose and coming out and you'll be the most effective. You can suction anytime, though. Just use some plain sline and give a squirt before suctioning if it doesn't seem moist enough. Also, I found that elevating a mattress helped with breathing during naps. I still do that when they get congested. Our RSV peaked around day 5 and then started to come down. I worked at a pediatric hospital (still do once a month) and the RSV this year is a much less intense strain than it was last year, so that's good news for your LO. My aunt is director of respiratory at a children's hospital and she said the same thing. Good luck.

LSzwaya · January 2011

DS was diagnosed with RSV on 12/15 and had improvements about 4 days later and was completely himself by Christmas. We did it with the mask just because I felt it kept more of the medicine close to his face. It's fine that your LO is sleeping...as long and they're breathing the meds. I would think you could suction his nose as the medicine is in his lungs.

It will get better!!

Quiksilver620 · January 2011

DD got RSV at 11 months. We use the mask (without the elastic band) and I just hold it to her face. It helped to watch a special show with DD to distract her while we did the treatments.

I don't think any should be coming out the back though.

good luck

mechanicsgirl · January 2011

DD had it when she was about 6 months old. It'll look like it's coming out of the back and sides, that's fine. The coughing afterward is normal (per my doc) because the treatment is breaking up a lot of what's in her lungs. She also wanted me to thump on her back afterward to break it up more. Her sleeping should be fine.

Hang in there - DD was nearly back to normal within a week or so.

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