Didn't find a doc... now what?

Zista · March 2011

OK, so as you all predicted, his breathing got way worse at night. He sounds miserable. I can't tell if he's struggling to breathe, or just hoarse and coughing. He's had the binky in 5 minutes now, so I guess he's okay breathing? He has a lot of clear runny nose, which I guess is a good thing. So...

1) What can I do for him at this age? I have a humidifier going and a Nose Frida at the ready.

2) When do I freak out and head for urgent care? Can I get any sleep tonight, or should I really be worried and listening?

I'm sure he's fine, but I'm new at this. I'd appreciate any advice about how to make him feel better, and if/when I should get worried.

ETA: What freaks me out is the croupy sounding lungs. I guess I'm really asking... how do I know my baby isn't going to drown in the middle of the night? Now I'm really sad I let the blood oximeter go earlier this week.

LifesPeachy · March 2011

Aw Im sorry your little man is sick Sad Is he sleeping at an incline? Sounds like you know what you're doing even if you think you don't..If he's sleeping, I say sleep! You need it, he will cough if his secretions get too bad..If he gets into a coughing fit, you can try taking him outside into the cool air, that might help. Or into a steamy bathroom. I know they say not to give Tylenol if his temp isn't over a certain mark (100.4? I'm not sure...) but it would make him feel better. It hurts to have a cough! And if it were me, I would be taking Tylenol. If he ever sounds like he is wheezing, his chest retracts, or his color changes, then take him to be seen. Or if he's really miserable, and you're worried sick- just take him to be seen- or at least call your MD for their advice. Hope your night isn't too bad Smile

Seattle_JiLLn · March 2011

Take his shirt off and watch him breathe. If he is really having a hard time breathing you may see his ribs when he breathes in and/or the hollow of his neck might suck in when he breathes. If that is happening go in to urgent care.

m&m823 · March 2011

Do you go to Pediatric Associates? They have a 24 hour nurseline and I've found them to be SO helpful before!

We've spent a few scary nights like that before and usually I ended up holding him on top of me in the rocker/glider all night long just so I could hear him breathing.

Good luck - if it gets scary, go to the ER. It may give you peace of mind.

Irishsapphire · March 2011

My son was coughing, and my pediatrician prescribed an inhaler. The pediatrician was saying that his reflux and his drool (from teething) was getting backed up, and that an inhaler would help. So we have had an inhaler for my son for a couple of months.

Zista · March 2011

Thanks, ladies. He's now woken 3 times since he went down at 6:30, and he can't even properly cry. Nursing no longer works... He just whimpers and gasps for breath.

. Good advice, particularly on whether his chest retracts. I'll watch for that.

Zista · March 2011

M&m - I wish. I've procrastinated finding a better pedi since I figured I'd get my serious medical advice at Children's (we were attending 4 clinics!), and my pedi was just fine ay giving shots. Should have thought about something like this.

. I just rocked him back to sleep in our rocker, but it doesn't have any arms, so looks to be a sleepless night for me.

indigo91804 · March 2011

This is the Urgent Care info for Children's in Bellevue. It is open until 10:30.

Telephone425-454-4644Address1500 116th Ave. NEBellevue, WA 98004
HoursMonday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.I hope he feels better soon.

Seattle_JiLLn · March 2011

Our insurance has a 24 hour nurse advice line too. Dies yours? If not id go to urgent care.

ckmommy · March 2011

Seattle_JiLLn:
Our insurance has a 24 hour nurse advice line too. Dies yours? If not id go to urgent care.

Agreed. C's breathing was so bad once they did x-rays, blood work and a nebulizer treatment. Our insurance delivered a nebulizer at our home that we use whenever he gets that cruddy cough/breathing. You have been doing everything right, follow your gut.

ckmommy · March 2011

Seattle_JiLLn:
Our insurance has a 24 hour nurse advice line too. Dies yours? If not id go to urgent care.

Agreed. C's breathing was so bad once they did x-rays, blood work and a nebulizer treatment. Our insurance delivered a nebulizer at our home that we use whenever he gets that cruddy cough/breathing. You have been doing everything right, follow your gut.

Irishsapphire · March 2011

This is what I googled for croup:

https://www.epinions.com/content_2263588996

https://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t084200.asp

https://www.babycenter.com/0_croup_1615.bc?page=1

Zista · March 2011

Thx. The links are reassuring. It is indeed shaping up to be a long night. I'll check into the inhaler in the morning.

tfarabians · March 2011

I'm late in the game with this but Cruz got Croup a lot. Wrap him up in a warm blanket and go stand outside for a minute with him when he is really coughing and wheezing. The cool air helps a lot, sounds weird but our pedi told us to do this. I would probably take him to urgent care tomorrow and see if you can't get him a does of steriods. Its just a 1 dose thing and it is really the only thing that started to make C improve. Also they can do a nebulizer treatment and that helps too! You might see if they would perscribe the nebulizer for you to have at home. Hugs I know how icky croup is!!

Zista · March 2011

Thanks, ladies. It was rough, but we made it.

Will urgent care prescribe us anything if he is not as bad? He's doing much better this morning, but as everyone says, it gets 10x's worse at night.

indigo91804 · March 2011

Zista:
Thanks, ladies. It was rough, but we made it.
Will urgent care prescribe us anything if he is not as bad? He's doing much better this morning, but as everyone says, it gets 10x's worse at night.

If he has croup, yes. Like PP said, if he needs nebulizer treatments they will help you get that sent to your house as well.

kar5162 · March 2011

Children's urgent care in Bellevue will give him oral steriods if he's got croup and his breathing is rough. They helped Daniel within about 4-6 hours. They did say that croup is usually at it's worst for 2-3 days so he might be getting past it. They were also well aware when we went in that it's worse at night so reviewed and treated accordingly and in fact said that it was a good thing we had come in, otherwise we would probably have been in the ER in the middle of the night. You can definitely take him into a hot steamy bathroom or outside into the cool air and both might help. We found outside seemed to help much more.

They can do a quick pulse-ox test to see whether he actually needs any breathing treatements or his O2 is ok. It's probably fine and no nebulizer will be needed after a dose of the oral steroids. Hope he's feeling better soon.

Want a personalized experience?

Didn't find a doc... now what?

Re: Didn't find a doc... now what?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards