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.

Thank you so much everyone.

Got discharged out of the blue Saturday, booked the next flight I could then sat in the airport for 9 hours. Just wanted to get home to my DD.

Saw GP on Tuesday, thought I’d have to put my foot down and was ready for battle but luckily she really listened to me, referred DS to paediatric consultant and we’ve got an appt through already for 2 weeks time. He’s having a steroid inhaler every day, 2 puffs.

Aww thank you for updating @glassofbrancott wishing you all the best.

Oh OP. As scary as it is, it isn’t that uncommon. DS1 was hospitalised perhaps around 6 of 10 A&E visits but mostly grew out of it at 2.5 after going on a brown inhaler.

DS2 is now 2.5 and is hospitalised every two months or so, for at least two nights.

For both of them, every single cold caused bronchiolitis or a wheeze, no matter the underlying virus.

The care is awful on this. It’s very much “thank you, see you next time”. We’ve seen a private consultant for both and they’ve said the same thing - just need to wait and see if they grow out of it or are asthmatic. We’ve tried everything. Every single holiday has been cancelled or delayed, and we have also had the experience of being admitted abroad. It’s truly incredibly stressful so sending lots of love your way. But seeing how DS1 grew out of it is reassuring that children do grow out of it.

Just to let you know what we have tried, it’s been the brown inhaler, two puffs twice a day. DS1 benefitted greatly from it. DS2 not so much, and he started young at a lower dose before we moved to the normal dose when he turned two.

We also tried Montelukast and had no benefit for either of mine (which I am somewhat glad about because I was concerned about side effects). We also use the blue inhaler at the very first sign of a cold, rather than once they start coughing. We also have a humidifier we use every time they’re sick, and try and keep their nose clear when they’re snotty.

Oh @glassofbrancott - you have my sympathy! Also done bronchiolitis on holiday but in an Italian hospital with a 18 month old. If it gives you hope 2 of my 3 constantly suffered with bronchiolitis/chest infections/constant coughing when under 4. One was eventually diagnosed with mild asthma which they grew out of by age 14, the other was over it by age 7. Inhalers do help, my gp also had a nebuliser at the practice and we could go there as a first port of call and if improved after an hour we were allowed home again…cuts have prob done for that now😔… Don’t panic - hospitals are good at managing this, you do need to nudge your gp into making a sensible plan though if it’s regular!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, and everyone else thank you as well.

My gut is telling me something isn’t right, he’s an allergy baby too. So far dairy, eggs and coconut. So I’m going to see what the consultant says and hopefully have a plan. X

Having allergies is very normal in children who suffer from bronchiolitis and wheeze. We had them too (but DS1 grew out of them). Unfortunately it’s a sign that it could be asthma, but he’s way too young for that to be confirmed.

Good luck OP!

Glad you’re home @glassofbrancott and hoping your DS makes a full recovery and you get a decent consultant. My DD has had two recent hospital admissions (one on holiday) so you have my fullest sympathies. I hope as the days go on your nervous system is able to relax a little and your DS grows out of whatever it is that’s causing this