8 Month old coughing at night for 4 MONTHS!! - Going Insane :(

[BritishBeef]

Hi there.
It's been a long time since I posted here but I'm at the end of my tether.

I'm a stay at home Dad with a 3 year old son and an 8 month old daughter.

My daughter has had a really bad dry cough since January!

She only really coughs when she is in her cot for naps/night sleep. She coughs throughout the day but only every now and then.

However, at bedtime she coughs all night long, waking up crying every 10-20 minutes as a result. As this has been going on now for more than 4 months with no respite whatsover, it's really taking it's toll on my Wife and I. We have had so little sleep every night for the last 4 months it's crazy. I can no longer take it. We're all so exhausted.

My DD cannot sleep for more than 10-20 minutes for her couple of naps in the day due to the coughing either.

We have taken her to the doctor so many times I cannot remember them all. She has been seen by at least 5 different doctors and none of them can work out what the issue is.

DD had Reflux from birth (as did our DS).
The doctors now think it's the Reflux causing her to cough at night. It makes sense but as of a few days ago she is now on Gaviscon, Ranitidine and Omeprozole for that and she's still coughing all night. She used to be on Gaviscon and Ranitidine but we reduced it as she was on solids. So we have upped it all again per Doc's request

She has been prescribed Ventolin (in case it was Asthma) and 3 different antibiotics with no joy.
We've tried Vicks on the feet and Vicks plug-ins, a cot wedge to raise her up and also a humidifier. Nothing helps.

I was just wondering if anyone else has had this issue and what the cause was?

I cannot go on much longer like this. I thought I was sleep deprived when she was a newborn but this is a whole another level.

My DS is playing up really badly now because we are too tired to give him all the attention he needs.

My parents know we are going through hell but don't seem interested in helping in anyway other than to take my DS out for the day once a week or so but they are away a lot and my Dad is about to have a knee replacement next week so will be unable to help for weeks.

My inlaws are more helpful but it's sleep that's the issue here.

Anyway, I've gone on long enough. Any help appreciated.

I sympathise Ds has been the same for long periods, however with him we at least know it's asthma.

Have you tried tilting the head of the cot?

Has the inhaler made any difference?

Sorry missed the cot wedge bit initally.

Hi Sirzy, no the inhaler did nothing to help.

have you tried an antihistamine? Not sure what is ok for that age but post nasal drip can cause a lying down cough. You have my full sympathy. unless people have gone through it they don't know the complete torture it is.

sorry forgot to say, post nasal drip can be caused by an allergy sometimes, hence the antihistamine.

Has the dr heard the cough? If not I would be tempted to record it on a phone so they can hear it. May give them more idea what is causing it

We've been having similar problems with dd2, but the coughing has been making her vomit at night. Been given 2 inhalers, told it was phlegm, virus etc. But for the past week we have cut out dairy and she has stopped being sick. Could be a coincidence, we are going to stick with it for a month then try reintroducing them again.

Dd1 has a persistent night cough every winter and keeps being proscribed inhalers, though they won't diagnose asthma for some reason.

I really feel for what you are going through. I really hope its sorted out for all of you soon. I also thought it might be some sort of allergy. DS1 coughed for over a year mostly at night (dry hacking type cough) and we worked out in the end he was allergic to his bedding. We changed his quilt/pillow etc to anti allergy and he has been fine ever since other than if he has a cold etc. We do also give him antihistamine in the summer for hayfever so he is quite sensitive generally to his environment.

Bumperliciso how old is your DD1? Generally they wont diagnose asthma until a child is about 3 or 4 unless it is very serious.

She is 3, I think you are right, and it's not serious. My little sister had serious asthma as a baby/toddler so I know what it can be like. It's annoying when they just chuck drugs at you though. They are doing the same with dd2.