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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it's not normal for my 5yo to be sick when she has a cough?

57 replies

coffeepleeease · 13/02/2022 07:54

Every time my 5yo gets a cough/cold she vomits with it. Either from the coughing itself or from the congestion. She was sick 5 times last night every time she had a big coughing fit. She wants to eat but then keeps bringing everything back up, it's like this with every cough/cold. I thought she would have grown out of it by now!

OP posts:

Mischance · 13/02/2022 10:29

Whooping cough triggered this with my DD - and went on for months.

Original poster

coffeepleeease · 13/02/2022 10:33

Thanks for all the replies, she's been sick 4 more times this morning. Every time she has a coughing fit. It's hard because she's bringing up everything she eats

OP posts:

ChateauMargaux · 13/02/2022 10:34

Might be worth visiting an osteopath. There might be some tightness that they can release. I know this is not popular on Mumsnet but the homeopathic remedy Ipecachua is associated with coughing and vomiting.

Lockdownbear · 13/02/2022 10:35

@coffeepleeease

Thanks for all the replies, she's been sick 4 more times this morning. Every time she has a coughing fit. It's hard because she's bringing up everything she eats

Oh, that's more of a reflex gag than the gunk I bring up.

mommybear1 · 13/02/2022 10:37

Agree with pp my DS is four and has never had a cold without being sick. I'm hoping he will grow out of it.

Needhelp101 · 13/02/2022 10:41

I was like this when I had Covid, had to keep buckets next to the sofa etc. Not fun. I do think it's quite common in small children though although it must be distressing and annoying for you both.

Original poster

coffeepleeease · 13/02/2022 10:42

Forgot to add, she does have suspected asthma and a blue inhaler to use as and when needed, I've been trying to pin her down to give her it and she just gets worked up and throws up again 🙄 I'll keep persisting though!

OP posts:

cushioncovers · 13/02/2022 10:44

If mine had a phlegmy cough they were always sick when they coughed

skyeisthelimit · 13/02/2022 10:48

DD was like this for years. I took her to to the doctor as it was creating problems at school. The doctor just said that the cough could last for 12-13 weeks and gave her a blue inhaler to take after lunch. He also said to keep using menthol products (age suitable) in order to keep her airways clear. I bought a steam thing where you put in vicks liquid and water and it released it into the air overnight and that seemed to help.

I got fed up with school ringing me to collect her every time that she threw up (always after lunch) and in the end I put my foot down and refused to collect her. I said she doesn't have a bug, you have let her run around after eating, she has a cough and that makes her sick.

CrinklyCraggy · 13/02/2022 10:56

I (52yo!) often cough until I'm sick when I have cold. It's a mixture of the phlegm and the coughing action.

MsSquiz · 13/02/2022 11:02

I still occasionally will retch or be sick when I have a bad cough and I'm in my 30s. Everyone's gag reflex is different

AnnaMagnani · 13/02/2022 11:05

Blue inhaler to use as and when needed - if she is coughing so much she is sick it honestly sounds as if her asthma is very poorly controlled and she needs to go back to the GP.

Does she have a spacer to give the inhaler with? If it's a mask over the face one just go for it as all she has to do is breathe while you puff.

If she is coughing so much she can't eat, she needs seeing today (not tomorrow) - can you get her to a walk-in today? Or get on the phone to 111 now?

Original poster

coffeepleeease · 13/02/2022 11:15

@AnnaMagnani

Blue inhaler to use as and when needed - if she is coughing so much she is sick it honestly sounds as if her asthma is very poorly controlled and she needs to go back to the GP.

Does she have a spacer to give the inhaler with? If it's a mask over the face one just go for it as all she has to do is breathe while you puff.

If she is coughing so much she can't eat, she needs seeing today (not tomorrow) - can you get her to a walk-in today? Or get on the phone to 111 now?

I'm not sure about going back to the GP, I need to be able to get the inhaler in her! Yes she has a spacer, but she goes hysterical and bats it out my hand and/or gets herself that worked up she throws up. I just don't have enough hands to hold down her arms, legs, head, and do the inhaler. It's been like this since she was recently given the inhaler.

OP posts:

Hoppinggreen · 13/02/2022 11:19

DD always did and was diagnosed with asthma a little older than your DD - we were told that they don’t like to label children as asthmatic too young
Unfortunately it led to her having a fear of vomiting and then some issues around food in general.

AnnaMagnani · 13/02/2022 11:36

Basically she has completely untreated asthma and currently she sounds quite unwell. I still think she needs seeing as asthma is very serious and a child who coughs to the point they can't eat may be very short of breath.

You need advice from the asthma nurse on getting it in to her, the Asthma UK helpline is also really helpful.

Beachbreak2411 · 13/02/2022 11:43

I’m 37 and still vomit when I cough a lot.

Original poster

coffeepleeease · 13/02/2022 11:50

@AnnaMagnani

You need advice from the asthma nurse on getting it in to her, the Asthma UK helpline is also really helpful.

I'll call the Asthma UK helpline, she hasn't seen an asthma nurse it was the GP who said her symptoms sounded like asthma (she has night time cough and coughs after exercise). This was over the phone. She's playing absolutely fine in between coughing and her breathing sounds ok

OP posts:

AnnaMagnani · 13/02/2022 12:12

Night time cough and cough after exercise are absolutely classic symptoms of asthma.

I was a night time cougher my whole childhood - my poor mum didn't know any better and just used to shout 'stop coughing!'

I wouldn't have told you I was short of breath but when I finally got treated in my 20s after a serious attack I was like 'Oh, is that what normal is like? I had no idea'

Kids can't tell you what they don't know.

Hoppinggreen · 13/02/2022 12:23

@AnnaMagnani

Night time cough and cough after exercise are absolutely classic symptoms of asthma.

I was a night time cougher my whole childhood - my poor mum didn't know any better and just used to shout 'stop coughing!'

I wouldn't have told you I was short of breath but when I finally got treated in my 20s after a serious attack I was like 'Oh, is that what normal is like? I had no idea'

Kids can't tell you what they don't know.

I agree It took DD turning blue and a night in hospital before our GP really got interested.

TeddyTonks · 13/02/2022 12:26

@coffeepleeease, I think @AnnaMagnani and other PP are right, to see me on a normal day you'd never know I had asthma but it manifests itself as a cough, after exercise, at night and when I am unwell. I rarely have attacks but when I do they are very scary.

Original poster

coffeepleeease · 13/02/2022 12:28

[quote TeddyTonks]**@coffeepleeease, I think @AnnaMagnani and other PP are right, to see me on a normal day you'd never know I had asthma but it manifests itself as a cough, after exercise, at night and when I am unwell. I rarely have attacks but when I do they are very scary.[/quote]
I'm going to try new tactics to get this inhaler done!!

OP posts:

TeddyTonks · 13/02/2022 12:31

Couple of things that have worked when giving to my DC:

Bribery
Having 2 X spacers and inhalers and letting them 'give' it to a Teddy while you give to them
Letting them do it themselves with much praise for being a big boy/girl

I'm sure that's all obvious but just in case you haven't tried.

AnnaMagnani · 13/02/2022 12:35

@TeddyTonks I pissed off a very rude man at the theatre yesterday who demanded I wear a mask. I wasn't as my asthma was playing up and I knew I would struggle but you couldn't tell to look at me. (I wear a mask prob 95% of the time but sometimes I just can't)

By the interval I was really tight, got the inhaler out and did some ostentatious puffing, coughing and wheezing next to him while looking scarily unwell. He shut up after that

starrynight21 · 13/02/2022 12:38

I'm 63 and I still have that problem. Caused by my strong gag reflex. Your DD is probably the same - nothing you can do about it.

TeddyTonks · 13/02/2022 12:38

I am the same @AnnaMagnani, wear a mask comfortably 90% of the time but if my asthma is playing up it really aggravates it. So difficult, especially in local place where they recognise your face and are used to seeing you in a mask

I'm pregnant now which always aggravates my asthma so could be an interesting few months!

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