So so worried about my DS. Any advice?

[strawberrycornetto]

My DS (9 monhts old) has been really poorly for ages. He's been ill since the end of October, which is now about 7 weeks. After 4 weeks, he was diagnosed with bronchiolitis. He was given antibiotics to try and prevent him developing anything else, but a week later was admitted with pneumonia. His xray was apparently pretty bad, he was given iv antibiotics and inhaler/nebulisers. The antibiotics really seemed to help him but I think they discharged him too fast.

10 days later (last Sunday) we had to take him back to hosptial and he was diagnosed with another bout of bronchiolitis, and put back on the inhaler. His chest is still terribly wheezy, he's still coughing and still being sick. He's eating but not well and just projectile vomited what little he ate for lunch. We took him to the GP yesterday who didn't want to give antibiotics yet but said bring him back on Monday. He doesn't have a temperature, which the hospital took to mean that the pneumonia had cleared up.

Can anyone offer me any reassurance? I feel so worried that I am going out of my mind. 7 weeks feels like forever and he's also small and has allergies to milk soya and eggs, so I just feel he's really vulnerable. Is it just that bronchiolitis lingers (and the inhalers won't really make it better, only treat the symptoms)? We have been told we will have to go back to outpatients to be seen again about the pneumonia, so I am worrying there is something underlying wrong with him. Is it worth me calling NHS direct or should I just wait until Monday? I just want to do something to make him better.

if he is wheezy even with inhalers he needs to be seen again.
I think it is the RSV virus that causes this ( my 18mth ds2) had viral pneumonia a few weeks ago but responded well to inhalers. Took 10-14 days to come off inhalers totally and some nights he still coughs then vomits, has inhaler and is right as rain
Consultant told me 4-6 weeks to complete recovery. It's a bugger to shift and thiscold air aggravates it massively.
I'd say it's worth getting him seen again

Thanks Piffle. I remember you posting because my DS was admitted to hospital on the same day. We don't really see much difference from using the inhaler, if at all, to be honest.

I am keeping a really close eye on him. Do you think it can wait until we go back to the GP on Monday evening? He doesn't seem in distress as such, its just that he really isn't getting better.

Strawberry - has he had a clear x-ray following the pneumonia? Could be that it's not completely shifted?

When are you due back in out-patients? I'd be calling to get that appointment as soon as possible or can you call the ward if you're unhappy about him?

My dd had RSV/Bronchiolitis twice in her first year and struggled but she does have underlying issues so wasn't a straightforward case. I think it does often linger on sadly.

if he is responding well enough with inhaler and it eases wheeze for a time and he seems settled then perhaps waiting is ok.
Isit loose mucous wheeze or the asthmatic tight chest wheeze,?

what dose is he on inhaler wise?

Is he on a dairy free diet?

My friend's DS was just like your son for most of the first year of his life. He improved vastly on a dairy free diet.

Sorry you are having such a worrying time .

Sorry just seen you say he is allergic to milk, etc.

He's got an atrovent inhaler, which I think is primarily used to treat bronchiolitis. The wheeze is constant, I'm not sure if its mucous or tight chest, but I'd say a bit of both.

I think I am going to see how he is in the morning. He slept for 2 hours this afternoon and was quite well when he woke up, still wheezy but quite bright in himself. His temp was up when he went to bed though, although not massively.

Saggar, they have told me there is no point re-xraying for 6 weeks because pneumonia takes that long to clear from an xray even if he is better. I am afraid its lingering though, or that he has something underlying wrong with him that is stopping his chest from getting better. I am just so afraid for him. 7 weeks sick seems like such a long time in the context of his little life.

I have no experience with these things to be able to reassure you, just stumbled across your thread and wanted to say I dope your little man gets better soon.

I am a firm believer in getting second opinions or even cutting out the GP and going to the Hospital Childrens unit if you have one. Mum knows best and if you are not happy then you need to get help so that you are.

It does sound like he is getting better from your most recent post though, he has tiny lungs and such a serious infection wont be cleared up in no time.

Best wishes x

i think you need to trust your instincts. you are the person who knows him best i the whole world.
if you are worried and not happy i wuld take him up to a and e or get the out of hours doctor.
he's so little still.

Thank you. My instincts tell me he's not right, but I don't think its an accute emergency for tonight. I may well take him to our paedeatric a&e if he's the same tomorrow though. Its really tough, he's been sick for so long I have lost faith in my insincts a bit, although tbh I have been right so far. Poor little man, he is still so little and below the 2nd centile for his age, but he's so feisty and smiley. I so adore him and just wish I could make him feel better.

it's harrowing seeing little babes struggling. If he issettling and resting that's really encouraging. Bless him I hope you have a decent night and he is ok tomorrow x x

Thanks Piffle. I hope your son is now over it too. What a nightmare!!

Have confidence in your instincts strawberry. Keep on going back if you're not happy. Has ds been well before this? I do know what you mean when you say you lose faith in yourself. Hope he feels better very soon.

Thanks. He seems a bit better today, so I am going to take him to GP tomorrow rather than do anything today. He is still coughing though. Other than his allergy, he was well before this, but he did have CPAP for TTN when he was born, so I guess there is a history of lung problems.