Baby in hospital on holiday, hand hold needed

[glassofbrancott]

Background - DS was born at full term, he didn’t cry/cough/take a deep breath when he was born and SATS were quite low so he was taken to resus table (never resuscitated) for some oxygen for 45 mins then we were discharged as normal the following day. Milk intolerance like DD who is 3 and grew out of it by 15 months.

I had the RSV jab in pregnancy, it hadn’t been rolled out when pregnant with DD. DD has had RSV/bronchiolitis twice in 3 years, hospitalised once.

DS who is 9 months has been hospitalised 4 out of the 6 times he’s had it. Sometimes for a few days of oxygen/nebulisers and observations.

We’ve been in Majorca since last week, 2 days ago, DD & DS started with snotty nose, little coughs, DD complaining of feeling achy, been giving calpol and nurofen when needed.

Last night, DS started the pattern that usually ends up with him in hosp. Awake every hour, coughing so much he vomits any milk, water or food he’s had. By this afternoon, he hadn’t even managed to keep down 20% of his usual intake of fluids. Seen by on call hotel dr who did full exam, COVID and influenza swabs which were negative. DS sucking in at ribs so he said he wanted to call an ambulance. DH gone with DS, I just stood in reception crying as I watched them leave. I hate this.

DD asleep and I’m sat on the balcony sick with worry, he’s had steroids in a syringe and rectal paracetamol for his temp, also inhaler and he’s now started grunting too.

I’ve asked so many times to be seen at home by the Paediatric Respiratory Team but they refuse saying he just catches it off DD from nursery (DD comes home with a snotty nose and mild cough she gets over in a couple of days). The GP finally gave me an inhaler for him a few weeks ago but couldn’t test for or diagnose asthma until 3 years old.

What do I do now? I am so worried that something bigger is underlying and it’s being missed. He’s never had any blood tests during these hosp stays just swabs and treatment such as oxygen/nebulisers/antibiotics when it turned into lower respiratory infections.

We are supposed to be flying home Wednesday. I feel so
sorry for him, even today as he was pulling in at the ribs he was smiling and clapping at the dr examining him.

Anyone ever attended Porto Cristo hospital?

Really struggling with anxiety.

Posting in AIBU for traffic.

Can't offer any advice, but big handhold and sending love 💐

Sweet lad. Sending a handhold. He’ll be okay I’m sure ❤️

Ds broke his elbow on holiday and was treated in that hospital. They were lovely. Really professional and efficient. Made sure we understood what was happening and got a nurse with fluent english for some complicated discussions about surgery. I hope that reassures you a tiny bit.

Your poor ds. I hope he feels better soon

Our DS was constantly in and out of hospital with breathing difficulties, it lasted from babyhood until he was 5. They just kept fobbing us off. We eventually got an allergy test and found out he is allergic to black mould and our house (shitty rental) was riven with it in sneaky places like behind furniture. He was on inhalers and steroids. It got better when we moved. I hope you get to the bottom of it and that your LO is ok!

That sounds so stressful. I think some babies and small children are much more prone to chest related problems but it doesn't mean there is something sinister behind it. Dn was hospitalised numerous times with chest issues. As she got older it improved as her immunity grew.

This sounds awful, very reasonable to feel anxious. I don’t know the hospital but have had good experiences with hospitals in Spain generally, so am sure DS will be in excellent hands.

I’m sorry I don’t have good advice, but if your insurance covers it I’d be asking for every test under the sun. I was diagnosed with something years ago on holiday thanks to being in a private hospital and having insurance, they were so thorough that I finally got answers to years long problems. I would push for this saying until you know what it is you won’t be able to leave and fly etc etc which would cost the insurance more in the long run.

I feel for you and can only say I’m so sorry you’re going through this, and your poor boy keeping having these attacks is definitely not something they should keep dismissing. When you get him home I’d be looking into whatever it’s called where you have the right to choose where you’re treated on the NHS and who by. It’s outrageous that they’re fobbing you off and not doing full testing.

Poor DS. And poor you. Illness is massively stressful at the best of times, but worse on holiday. But it sounds like the on call dr did all the right things and he's under good care now.

If this is any help, some friends of ours had a DS (also second child) who got RSV at around 3 months and fell into a v similar pattern. Caught every cold, all of them turned into chest infections, constantly ill and grumpy, hospitalized a few times. They eventually saw a private paed who said that this is not uncommon, and most kids eventually grow out of it (I think around 2-3). It's not something underlying but just that their lungs never totally recover before getting the next infection. But that dr gave a course of steroids and that did seem to break the cycle a bit. Might be something to investigate. I hope DS is well and back with you soon.

My love. I cant help but I feel so sorry for you all. Good luck xxx

So sorry to hear about your baby. I know it can be very very scary but doctors are so experienced at dealing with this. Please try and remember that he will be in good hands and hopefully with a bit of treatment will be on the mend soon.

My little boy had episodes of bronchiolitis like this. Was hospitalised repeatedly in the early years. Needed oxygen at birth but I don’t think that’s the reason really - it seems to be family tendency (his cousins get it badly too). He is four now and hasn’t been in hospital with it for over a year. Has an inhaler daily but I don’t think he has asthma, his bronchioles just seem to be bigger and his lungs and immune system cope better.

Really sorry to hear this where are you? I’m nearby at the moment if you need anything? (Cala mandia)

So sorry to read this. If it’s any consolation (I know it won’t be), my DS was hospitalised on a regular basis from the mildest of colds. I found him foaming at the mouth last winter and he’s almost 7. The doctors know what they’re doing, your baby is in the best hands possible, get some sleep. Sending prayers for quick recovery your son’s way. X

Hand hold OP, it’s so awful having a little one in hospital. Spanish hospitals have a good reputation and they’ll be taking good care of him. I hope he makes a speedy recovery. Please look after yourself as well 🌺

Keeping Everything crossed for you,
perhaps they will do more tests there than you’re even getting in the UK.
I had a sick baby a few years for completely different reasons (urinary tract) and chose holiday in Majorca as I’d heard the hospital you mentioned was a good one and I’d done my research at the time for a suitable place should we need it so I hope that give a small semblance of reassurance he will hopefully get good treatment.
I have chosen to only go abroad to France or Spain so far, as I trust their healthcare when it comes to littles (and the short distance back home!).

Here’s the biggest hand hold possible OP.
Hope the other posters have reassured you that the hospital is a good one.
Hope he’s out soon.

Sending hugs, sounds very stressful
the Spanish docs will be great I’m sure

if possible once home I’d be paying for a private paediatrician if at all possible

unfortunately, though they are usually great with kids I think the nhs are masters at fobbing people off unless symptoms present a certain way. It may be some kind of intolerance but he may well grow out of it. I certainly know a few babies who were sickly when very small but are now totally healthy

I have been in your shoes!
my youngest boy had repeated hospital admissions for bronchitis, chest infections etc from being a baby and always resorted to oxygen, nebs, steroids and antibiotics and later inhalers.
his last hospital admissions was in Covid when he was nearly 3. Some winters we were in every 3 weeks. He eventually grew out of it but even now at 9 every cough or cold goes on his chest.

we also had a hospital admission abroad when he was about 18 months.
it was really scary but they were good.
he had an xray and nebs and an antibiotic injection.
we were going home the following day and the dr agreed we could fly home as long as we went straight to a and e when we landed.
try not to worry (I know it’s easy for me to say!)

if you are on Facebook there’s a really good page called viral induced wheeze support parents network. They were a godsend when I was in the trenches.

Hope he’s soon back with you OP. DD when little would get croup often, was awful watching her trying to breathe. We would spend time in the bathroom with the shower going to raise the humidity as it was dry air that made her worse.

She grew out of it, but I remember how worried I was with it all. Sending hugs.

So sorry to hear this op. We had a similar experience with our dd - she was eventually diagnosed with double aortic arch (which compressed her windpipe and caused breathing issues with any cold type virus). It’s very rare. Worth asking for investigations.

I feel your pain. My third baby had four hospital admissions with his chest in his first year. Any little virus would set him off. He was in for 9 days with RSV it was so grim. I had to stay with him for every second as he’s breastfed.
his second year of life has been much less dramatic. Plenty of cough and wheeze. -just less severe. So hopefully this will happen to your baby too.
mine was investigated for underlying conditions, he had bloods chest x ray and cardiac echo, but my boy ended up losing weight with all the illness so it was felt that investigation was warranted.
Hope your baby picks up soon, poor guy and poor you the worry and anxiety when a child is sick is something else.

No advice OP but wishing your boy a speedy recovery xx

Hope he on the mend quickly.

DS2 was like this as a baby and toddler. They kept telling us he would grow out of it - and he has it took til he was 11/12 ish though.

My daughter had bronchiolitis as a baby and was hospitalised with it once, we were offered a daily preventative inhaler, ask about that when you get back home. Hope your baby is ok and soon back with you xx

My daughter was in hospital numerous times from aged 11 days to 6 years with viral induced wheeze/bronchiolitis. Every admission for around 4 days whilst her SATs stabilised. I was beside myself as we lost my nephew to asthma. We did have both blue and brown inhalers but not sure how much they prevented. I was convinced she would have asthma, but she's now 12 and no asthma at all. It's truly awful, especially these early years where they pick up everything

My son is 2:8, and is on the brown inhaler after three A&E admissions for rib sucking. Is he on the brown or blue inhaler?

We were seen by the asthma nurse at the GP rather than by a doctor.

If he hasn't had them before, please be aware that the steroids will really mess with his behaviour the next 2-4 days - my son was biting and hitting like he never does when he had them. And very sensitive and emotional too.

If it's allergies, it could be something that has a different season to a plant in the UK, but it's worth considering all kinds of air pollution like traffic, strong scents and fireplaces/open cooking etc

Good luck x