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AIBU?

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Original poster

Please help, DS2 just won't stop coughing

67 replies

plhk · 23/10/2024 00:16

He's been poorly for a few days but the cough has now taken on epic proportions.

He's prone to coughs, but I've never seen one as bad as this.

I don't mean to sound selfish but I'm absolutely shattered. I can't even imagine how he's feeling. Last night was bad, he coughed all night.

Tonight is unbearable. He's been sick a couple of times from his coughing fits and he just can not stop coughing. It's almost entirely continuous.

He has 5-10 minute spells where he just won't stop coughing at all. I'm not sure how he manages to catch a breath during that time. He's not gone blue or anything.

I have a humidifier in his room. The only thing that seems to help is Vicks. I've used his inhaler and it's done nothing.

My husband seems very worried too. What else can I do ?

OP posts:
Original poster
plhk · 23/10/2024 00:28

Anyone? We are considering hospital but I think it seems silly for a cough/

OP posts:
McGregor33 · 23/10/2024 00:31

How is his breathing inbetween? Has he got any sort of tugging in at his ribs or chest? Any high temperature etc? This would be my decider in going to be checked over.

My girl had whooping cough and I can totally sympathise on the lack of sleep!

EighteenOhFive · 23/10/2024 00:31

Have you tried vicks on the feet?

slippersandfleece · 23/10/2024 00:32

Have you opened the windows? Given him water? Get him to sit up. Lying on your back makes it worse. If he's struggling with tight chest go on all fours.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 23/10/2024 00:33

See the NHS link, you may need to call 999
It could be an asthma attack. There is a cough variant of asthma. Attacks don’t always come on quickly, some ramp up over hours to days.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/asthma-attack/

nhs.uk

Asthma - Asthma attacks

Find out more about asthma attacks and how to manage them.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/asthma-attack

Bettysnow · 23/10/2024 00:33

Ah poor wee pet. Can you take him into the bathroom and run the shower hot. Just hold him on your knee and for a while with the door closed. The steam will help him. It's nasty when this happens and also I always found that keeping them in through the day stopped them coughing badly at night. Just until he's better. Hope hes better soon

SendMeHomeNow · 23/10/2024 00:35

I’d ring 111 and ask a doc for an antihistamine for him to dry things up. He needs sleep poor boy. That’s what the GP gave my DD when she was like this.

slippersandfleece · 23/10/2024 00:37

Just seen the inhaler mention/ asthma link. Definitely phone 999 or at lease 111.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 23/10/2024 00:39

All the child has been prescribed an asthma inhaler which means he is at least suspected asthmatic:
I've used his inhaler and it's done nothing.
the OP needs to check the link and follow the steps, if she already has, then it’s 999

buffyfaithspike · 23/10/2024 00:42

Hospital
I drove myself to OOH with a continuous cough and sat in the waiting room
Was looking around being nosy as they came speeding out with nebulisers to see who was unwell
Yeah, that was me
I had pneumonia and needed 6 nebulisers that weekend, antibiotics and steroids

The doctor did say to me that I couldn't breathe because of the continuous cough

Original poster
plhk · 23/10/2024 00:45

Thanks for the advice everyone. He's sleeping for a bit. If he wakes up and has another big coughing fit, I'll take him in.

OP posts:
Original poster
plhk · 23/10/2024 00:45

But I can just imagine he's going to stop coughing in hospital and they'll tell me he has a virus / won't do anything to help and send us home again.

OP posts:
buffyfaithspike · 23/10/2024 00:46

Video it if he starts again

Original poster
plhk · 23/10/2024 00:49

I went to the GP the day before yesterday as this actually started as a barking cough with stridor at night.

I kept him calm and managed it at home but hoped the GP would help with some steroids. But because he wasn't coughing at the GP, they did nothing.

The cough has progressed now from barking cough to just a normal cough.

OP posts:
Talkingfrog · 23/10/2024 01:08

If he wakes coughing I would get medical advice. DD was a toddler when she had been unwell . In the evening coughing badly and then was sick twice. After the second time briefly blacked out. We went to children's a & e. By the time we were there she seemed much better (typical kids). They gave us calpol to give her due to her temp (we hadn't given it before taking her because we didn't know if she would keep it down or not), and she perked up. When we saw the doctor, although she was much better, the doctor wasn't convinced she wouldn't go downhill again so kept her in for observation. By the next morning she was near enough back to her normal self. Hope he is better soon

mrsbitaly · 23/10/2024 01:16

Shame it sounds awful for you all. I had this recently and I'm asthmatic. Unfortunately I did have an asthma attack and had to go on a nebulizer and oxygen after 111 sent out an ambulance and gave me a course of steriods, this was the first time it had gotten that bad and i presented the same symptoms you are describing. Keep an eye out for when he's coughing so much he struggles to come up for air, being sick ect and call 111. Ensure he doesn't use the blue pump too much as its very easy to get in a panic and use it alot but it provides very temporary relief. I assume he also uses a preventative pump like a brown pump?
I hope he gets better soon

Original poster
plhk · 23/10/2024 01:41

We are at a and e, his stats seem fine so far.

He's not been diagnosed with asthma as he's too young apparently. But his coughs are very bad.

OP posts:
Ellepff · 23/10/2024 03:00

Both of mine are prone to this. Hospital hospital hospital. Ask them if there’s anything else you can do, but at that age bring them in. Our intuition has been totally wrong for it. When we think they’ll get a nebulizer and be home, they end up staying 2 nights. When we’re super scared they nebulize, give a steroid and perk right up. They’ve never ever dismissed our worries for a young kid with stridor

NobodyGivesADamn · 23/10/2024 03:05

Hope he gets some treatment

Quitelikeit · 23/10/2024 03:11

Do you have pets? Close his windows in case of allergies

give an antihistamine maybe to see if that helps

give him multiple pillows so he is not lying flat

mrssunshinexxx · 23/10/2024 03:21

Isit croup?
Open window cold air helps
Vix on chest nostrils soles of feet . Get him sleeping propped up my kids always better on their tummies with knees upto chest like a baby pose / bum in air than flat on their backs
The obvious one - cough syrup
Regular warm drinks / milk regular pain relief

mrssunshinexxx · 23/10/2024 03:22

The steam is outdated advise for croup - don't do that the advise is now cold air when mine get it I go to the window or front door and just sit there for ages with them nicely wrapped up warm

mrssunshinexxx · 23/10/2024 03:23

@plhk strider is mega dangerous I can't believe they didn't give steroids !

NobodyGivesADamn · 23/10/2024 03:32

They are at the HOSPITAL

BusyMum47 · 23/10/2024 08:33

@plhk

Hope your little one is OK? 🤞

Our son suffered with viral induced asthma & croup from 18mths or so, till around 7yrs, when he finally seemed to grow out of it. Every cold brought with it the cough from hell, A&E visits, inhalers, steroids, antibiotics, no sleep & a whole lot of worry!! Turns out it's quite common but if you're vigilant enough & have a supportive GP, you can usually manage it with minimal hospital admissions. It's bloody hard, though.