Wheezing vs. snotty breathing?

fricksgirl · January 2012

Simon is a nonstop river of runny nose. Last night his breathing got pretty quick, my DH said wheezy- he's had that before, bronchiolitis, so we gave him a breathing treatment of Abuterol before bed. I gave him another this morning because he sounded the same- I've emailed his pedi. He was playing normally, eating normally, vocalizing normally- his color was good, didn't appear distressed, just that his breathing was quick and loud.

The trouble is- and I HAVE told this to the doctor and she looked at me like I was stupid- I have a VERY hard time discerning what is actual wheezing and what is just the "Darth Vader"-ish congested breathing. Can anyone advise me or give me tips on this?! Si is very prone to the "rattle" in the chest, and we try to keep him super warm at all times but I think his deal is he's just a respiratory-effected kid.

Anyone's kid have asthma? How did you diagnose/know?!?

I don't want to be a paranoid rusher-to-the-doctor (which most of you know is pretty much my MO) but it's breathing... which makes me nervous.

Advice?

Mama_v2.0 · January 2012

Maybe you should invest in a stethoscope? We did and it gives us peace of mind sometimes when our kids get really sick (though we have no asthma-knock on wood). I think with time you will get to know what is "normal" and what is not.

Mrs.K&C · January 2012

Whenever people hold Travis when he has a cold (which is pretty much all.the.time) they look panicked and tell me he has pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, you name it. He sounds terrible. It sounds like his lungs are full of crap. But, this is how he has always been and it is not in his lungs. Have your pedi let you listen to his chest, then his nose and they area in between - the sound (and it feels like it in his chest, too) really isn't coming from his chest. Maybe that's why your pedi isn't being receptive? Ours happened to be training an intern when he checked Travis once and the intern of course thought he has RSV just by the sound of it, so he went through step by step for her to explain why he didn't think he had RSV. I should say he has had a couple chest xrays for unrelated issues and they've all been clear as well. He just sounds like crap most of the time.

mythreesons03 · January 2012

I don't know myself because I was saying wheezy and Q ended up having croup. What I will say is maybe record it if you can (I know on my iphone I can record) then you can have them see exactly what it sounds like. It sounds like your taking the right steps, hang in there.

Structenggal · January 2012

Getting the stethoscope isn't a bad idea. I can never tell if it's wheezing or congestion either. And I have had a couple of doctors listen with the stethoscope and then say "can't you hear that wheezing?" I NEVER can. I've talked about it with my sister (she and her husband are doctors) and she said it can be really hard to distinguish, but to listen closely to his chest. So I'll put my ear on his chest and listen to his breathing...but I still can't tell. Maybe the stethoscope would help.

fricksgirl · January 2012

I am SO GLAD that I'm not the only one that has trouble with this! Jeez I thought I was dim or something!

Pedi said as long as he has normal color & activity and no chest retractions or anything he should be fine, but to go ahead with the treatment of we thin kit helps, even if it is congestion.

Today was one of many days when I thanked my lucky stars that I have him so close to me at work- so nice to just have to run across the parking lot to check him and not have to worry about him being physically far away from me. Thanks for your answers ladies, totally helpful. Hopefully it just is a cold and will blow over QUICK.

amyfelice · January 2012

I don't know why your pediatrician would think that was odd, I find that most people can't tell the difference between upper respiratory (nasal) congestion and wheezing, which is lower respiratory (lung) with constriction of the small airways or bronchioles, and mucus production. Even doctors trouble sometimes when it is really noisy all over.

If he is breathing fast, then he is probably having some wheeze or lower tract inflammation. Retractions are another sign (which she must have explained, labored looking breaths, using "accessory muscles of inspiration"). A bad cough that interferes with feeds or sleep is another sign that he could have constriction of his small airways. Sometimes we don't hear wheeze, there is just not great air movement in and out of the lungs, which makes it even more difficult to determine what is going on. I find the residents miss that a lot. That's why I tell people not to get stethascopes. It is the symptoms that you need to look for, not a specific sound.

If Albuterol helps, use it. There is really no down side. I hope he feels better! Maybe your pedi needs some sensitivity training.

fricksgirl · January 2012

amyfelice:
Maybe your pedi needs some sensitivity training.

Yah, I think so! Thanks Amy that was helpful as usual. Smile

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