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Original poster

dd has barking croup type cough what can I do to help her?

45 replies

Piffle · 23/05/2006 22:09

DD 3.5 has been ill with fever, runny nose and wheezy cough (she has ventolin for when she has a cough although she is not "asthmatic per se)
She has been well ish in herself today - the barking cough is dreadful at night, she is ok with it, calm...
I guess I will take her to the doctor tomorrow but what will help the bark?
Anything?
I did steam with her last night but as soon as she came out of the bathroom she started all over again, she is sleeping with me - for comfort.
Is this croup or does that just affect babies?
I would google but bloody parental controls are on as dp has done something stupid and I do not know his bloody admin password and he is overseas
ARSE.

OP posts:

EmmyLou · 24/05/2006 17:05

Friend of mine whose dd is prone to croup swears by the sudden cold air walk down street method. I find a plug in vapouriser (Boots sell them and the pads) really helps settle coughing children but of course this won't help with copious amounts of phlegm. Feel for you - its worrying when they're ill let alone the extra washing from vomit...

frumpygrumpy · 24/05/2006 22:03

Piffle, I'm taking acidophilis capsules at the moment and I think the powders for kids sound like a more beneficial source rather than the drinks. Would I get them at the herbalist?

My DD took ill about 6 weeks before Christmas and just got worse and worse ending up in hospital over Christmas. The detail doesn't matter but I just wanted to say that I've been working at building her up ever since (she lost her nails and some hair as her body went through the mill) and its been a long haul. She has been 'well' for months but recently got her spark back and the colour in her cheeks again. Your DD's body sounds like it has been through similar and I just wanted to give you hope that if you keep chipping away at it, it will come. Glad she's got you on her case and I hope her lungs clear and show nothing worrying. Good luck with it, keep us posted and wish you some sleep tonight.

Sexonlegs · 24/05/2006 22:17

Piffle, I really hope things are getting better for you and yours. My dd gets croup quite often, and we have bought a steam humidifier which stays on all night (when she is croupy). I found with the shower thing, that as soon as she was out of the steamy environment, the croupy cough came back. I have to say the humidifier has been worth every penny.
Thinking of you.

Original poster

Piffle · 24/05/2006 22:36

Had a couple of episodes tonight already, the barking is subsiding but she is still really struggling between coughs.
I do so want her to be built up again, she has put on no weight for 7 mths and she is tiny to start with.
I am almost contemplating pulling her out of nursery to give her a few months off being exposed but she loves nursery the two mornings she goes.
Doctor advised us to use the cold air - so unless the cough settles its anothr night in the arm chair with the french doors open
DS 12 is also coughing his lungs out but he is a big strong healthy lad and coping ok.

OP posts:

frumpygrumpy · 24/05/2006 22:53

The cough and the lack of breath is quite a scary thing to hear too, for you and her. Have you got any lavender oil? When my DD has had similar, I put some on her chosen cuddly thing and as she is struggling to get a breath I try to hold her, talk calmly to her and see if I can focus her on seeing if she can breathe in and smell some of it.

She now asks for lavender on her toys or pillow when she's well too, thats the only drawback! (As you are trying to tuck them in and you've done the wee and you've done the story and you've done the kiss and you get the door shut and you hear "mum, you forgot the lavender"... bloody lavender!!)

dolally · 25/05/2006 10:36

How is she today Piffle? another sleepless night?

Original poster

Piffle · 25/05/2006 16:30

Temp still over 39 :(
She is up and around, eyes streaming, nose streaming, and her cough is constant to the point of gagging.
It is responding to nothing, she is exhausted and in a lot of pain from the constant coughing
I hope it is a purge cos surely we will all go mad tonight if this coughing does not ease up.
Thanks for asking btw

OP posts:

chapsmum · 25/05/2006 16:32

piffel sound like she could do with a dose of steroids, phone the GP quick before they shut for the MAY weekend!!!!!

expatinscotland · 25/05/2006 16:37

Aw, Piffle!

Hope you get in touch w/the GP before they shut and if not phone NHS24 for an after-hours appointment so the poor dear (and YOU) can hopefully get some rest tonight.

Original poster

Piffle · 25/05/2006 16:39

HOLY F* its dp's birthday on the 29th I just noticed the sodding date
Will call doc now

OP posts:

azroc · 25/05/2006 16:42

A warm, steamy atmosphere can help.

Original poster

Piffle · 25/05/2006 16:51

Doc said see how she goes overnight, if not a good night he wants to se her at 9am fro possible referral to paeds ward for inhalation steroids

OP posts:

frumpygrumpy · 25/05/2006 17:42

I'm glad the GP isn't fobbing you off. Difficult as it will be, its better to attack it back. Hoping for a better night for you. My DP and I are kind of saving up birthdays until life becomes calmer and then we'll go away somewhere maybe...... Would he be happy with a new CD (online shopping!!!) and a bottle of champers? If not, I would !!!

dolally · 25/05/2006 21:36

piff, my dd, before she was diagnosed asthmatic, used to get these strange nighttime coughs and shortness of breath. I discoverd that, when she had a cold or something if I gave her straight away a decongestant cough medicine, after a couple of days instead of a dry cough she would start actually expectoring (is that the word?) something. In other words some +phlegm would come up and then she was less likely to become breathless. I hated giving her so much cough medicine but it seemed to preclude these breathless episodes. I notice that yyou said your dd yesterday started to cough up phlegm...

It seems to me that you AND YOUR DD are putting up with a lot of time with dry cough and consequent breathlessness.

I suppose the point of my post is are you satisfied with what your doc is suggesting? Please forgive me if I'm barking up the wrong tree. I know you've been thru pneumonia with dd so you probably know what she needs.

bubbles4 · 25/05/2006 21:40

try getting dd to suck an ice cube or an ice lolly
gp told me to try this and it has worked

Original poster

Piffle · 25/05/2006 21:55

Cannot do cold dd is just hostile to cold stuff -will not even eat refrigerated chocolate.
I tried expectorant last night - sudafed she slept from 2-9 am BUT coughed every hourn although never woke for me
I heard it all though :(
Tonight she is really bad though back to barking

OP posts:

chapsmum · 25/05/2006 22:05

piffle if you feel she needs to cough something up, lye her over your knee or a big cussiona and gently but firmly slap her back with flat hands work from the bottom of her chest to top (on her back)
This works best after steaming.
The bark however sound like she could do with a one off dose of oral steroids.
Kids (if bad) can be given this in a and e or by the oncall gp if they are failry stable.

frumpygrumpy · 30/05/2006 14:31

Piffle, I've not been on since last Thursday, is she better?

Original poster

Piffle · 30/05/2006 14:37

Seem to be finally, was rotten on Fri and Saturday nights, wheezy but seemed to be better Sun night with no coughing during the night and last night slept from 8pm til 10 this morning
I also have the bug now am coughing and feeling really weird...
DD is still tired but the actual coughing is tons better, when she does coug its really loose and she is brining it up fine...
Thanks for asking and thanks for all the messages
xxxxxxxxxx

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frumpygrumpy · 31/05/2006 14:22

Shame for you! My DD had, amongst other things, a nasty croupy cough before she ended up in hospital and it always chills me when I hear similar symptoms. Glad she's on the mend. Take care of you!

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