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Original poster

URGENT - Advise needed for sicky baby again!

45 replies

Flip · 05/04/2004 21:10

Previously pipb before I start.

Ds2 is four months old and has always had problems with his breathing. He was admitted to hospital and the consultant diagnosed small nasal passages and said not to worry he'll grow out of it. But he now has a pretty bad chest infection and his cry is barely a squeak. I took him to the Emergency Doc last night and he gave him some antibiotics. He's also got an eye infection so I'm putting in drops for that.

He's normally such a laid back baby and I don't know I've got him half the time. But the last few days he's been very clingy and crying a lot. When he coughs he's sick and it's really thick. Tonight after his bath he was wheezing quite badly and I noticed his chest was sucking in and I could see his ribs. I'm pretty sure that's one of the things the doctor said to keep an eye out for. Does anyone know if this is something to be concerned about? He's also breathing a lot quicker than normal. I keep going in to him and he looks so peaceful but he seems to be taking twice as many breaths as normal.

When do I panic? I'm trying not to but it's difficult. Please, any advise on what to look out for.

OP posts:
Nutcracker · 05/04/2004 21:25

The sucking in of his chest is something to be worried about. It means that he is not breathing normaly. DD did this when she had pneumonia.
Is he sleeping any more than normal ?? If he is thats because the extra effort he is making to breath is making him tired.
Really don't want to worry you, but given his previous history i would want him looked at tonight.

kiwisbird · 05/04/2004 21:30

I tend to agree with Nutty on the side of caution, I can remember mum telling me when I was on antibiotics and went from chest infection to pneumonia 3 days later.
Increased respiration would indicate this too is he struggling for breath or in pain when breathing in?
Pain is big feature in pneumonia but often you are too ill to complain.
NHS direct would be useful perhaps or your out of hours doc?

Nutcracker · 05/04/2004 21:36

Another way to check for abnormal breathing is by checking the skin acroos his trachea. If that is being sucked in when he breathes in then that too means that he is not breathing normally.
Have to say I am concerned and if it were me i would go to out of hours g.p at the least.
When dd had pneumonia she went from well to unwell in a matter of minutes. We had taken her to the a&e as we thought her asthma was playing up, but once there she became quite poorly.
Sorry if i am worrying you, but i really think his breathing isn't right.

Freckle · 05/04/2004 21:36

Definitely seek help sooner rather than later. If for no other reason than to reassure you. A tired and anxious mummy is in no fit state to look after a sickly baby. If things have deteriorated from when you last saw gp, this is ample reason to seek further help.

Original poster
Flip · 05/04/2004 21:37

He is sleeping a lot more. He can be looking at you one minute and the next he's asleep. I am worried but I don't want to over react. He's been admitted twice to hospital already in his short life and I feel I'm always calling the out of hours doctor.

OP posts:
Nutcracker · 05/04/2004 21:40

O.k i can understand that but he doesn't sound right. I'm sure that they would rather your ere on the side of caution given his history. Can you ring NHS direct ??? I think when you describe his breathing they will advise you to seek medical help.
DD was so tired with the effort of breathing that she slept virtually non stop for 4 days.

kiwisbird · 05/04/2004 21:42

my dd had a bad virus last 2 weeks, we had doc out, saw GP 4 times and A+E 3 times
thre is no such thing as worrying about what they wil think.
Instinct is well followed honey pie

Nutcracker · 05/04/2004 21:44

Agree with Kiwi

Gem13 · 05/04/2004 21:46

DD (7 weeks) has a nasty cold at the moment and the sucking in of ribs was one of the things the GP said to look out for. Also an increased breathing rate of around 60-80 breaths per minute.

He advised that if I saw either of these I should call the emergency doctor or take her to A and E.

Personally, without panicking, I wouldn't bother with NHS Direct but call the doctor.

Original poster
Flip · 05/04/2004 21:50

I've just been into him to check and he's resting well at the moment and he seems to have relaxed quite a bit. I also went to ask one of the neighbours for advise because she was a peads nurse for 30 years and she came and had a look at him. She told me what to watch out for and reasured me quite a lot. But I'm going to take him back to the GP first thing and get him checked again. During the night if I'm concerned I won't hesitate. But right now while he seems okay I'm going to leave him because if he get's plenty of rest he might start to feel better. Hopefully I'm doing the right thing. I feel as though I am so I must be. I'll just keep a very close eye on him tonight. It's times like this I wish he was still in our bedroom.

OP posts:
Gem13 · 05/04/2004 21:53

Hope you have a good night. Could you put a mattress on his floor if you're worried?

Original poster
Flip · 05/04/2004 21:57

There's a bed in his room. I just need a bulldozer to shift the mountain of clothes off it. I gave away all ds1's clothes and they came back double and treble so I'm swamped. Clearing the bed without disturbing him will be the hard part but I think I need to be in there tonight for my own peace of mind.

OP posts:
Nutcracker · 05/04/2004 22:00

Thats a good idea Flip. Hope all is well and you get some sleep

LIZS · 06/04/2004 10:39

flip

Only just seen this. How is he this morning, did you get to the dr ? Sucking in chest is a sign of a respiratory problem and in particular can be associated with Bronchiolitis a very common viral infection in babies, caused by the RSV cold virus, but which sometimes needs hospital treatment. We had a particularly worrying couple of nights with dd when she developed this - rapid breathing, wheezing, crying like a kitten. Have you humidified the air with a humidifier or wet towels on radiator as this can help.

Your gp will be on the look out for this and any development of the chest infection. Hope he feels better soon.

Original poster
Flip · 06/04/2004 11:53

I took him to the GP's this morning and the doctor listened to his chest and was quite concerned. He thinks that he's got asthma and he's given me an inhaler and mask for him. During the night his breathing got worse and at four o'clock this morning we nearly took him to A&E but once he was sat upright in the cool conservatory his breathing improved a little. So he spent the rest of the night asleep sat up in his pram with my dh on the sofa beside him. He didn't wake until almost nine this morning. I have to continue with the antibiotics and use the inhaler three times a day. I am a little concerned now that he thinks it's asthma because something trivial like crying could result in an attack.

OP posts:
LIZS · 06/04/2004 17:01

Sorry he isn't any better yet. He sounds a bit young to be diagnosed with asthma but perhaps the dr means it in the sense of wheeziness associated with the infection rather than necessarily long term. If it is an inhaler for something like Ventolin then it could just be to open up the passages which is what is used to treat bronchiolitis and other chest complaints too, so it should help. If he gets an attack during the night again I think I'd head for A and E though.

Hope you have a better night tonight.

Original poster
Flip · 07/04/2004 09:54

Ds2 is no better and if anything he's getting worse. He's crying for longer and seems to frightened at not being able to get his breath. I took him back to the GP's this morning and the GP was very concerned because he was wheezing so much even though he'd had his inhaler only 30 minutes before. So he's admitting him to hospital to be monitored by a peadiatrician. I'm just waiting for the phone call to say there's a bed for him. I'm feeling really worked up because dh is away with work and I'm on my own. Twice last night I had to use drastic measures to stop him choking and this morning when he started to choke he then projectile vomitted. I'm so worried in case it's something serious that wasn't diagnosed when he was born. I feel sick with worry and wish that dh was here for some support. I know if I called him he'd come home in a flash but I should be able to cope on my own.

OP posts:
Bron · 07/04/2004 09:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Flip · 07/04/2004 10:10

Thanks Bron. I could so use a hug right now. I'm still waiting for the GP to call but DS2 is asleep so he's peaceful. It doesn't stop me checking on him every couple of minutes though. I'm exhausted.

OP posts:
wobblyknicks · 07/04/2004 10:10

Flip - poor you, what a huge worry for you. IMHO, I'd call your DH right now. You need some support - you're a mum but you're not Superwoman. Also, I bet your DH would want to be there rather than finding out about it later. Ask for all the support you need - there's some things that you shouldn't try and cope with all by yourself and I think this is one of them.

I hope things go well at the hospital, big hugs

karenanne · 07/04/2004 10:13

hi flip
hugs coming your way ,i know how scary this is my ds is also 4 mths old and enede up in hospital 3 weeks agao with bronchiolotis ,his symptoms are very much like your sons.luckily he wasnt too bad and only had to stay in overnight and have 2 nebulizers ...they helped amazingly.he has now got an inhaler and spacer which he has 4 times aday,hes also developed eczema so in all probablity will be told he has asthma but at the moment my gp says hes too young to diagnose.
im also abit edgy this morning as hes started coughing again ,no wheeze but after the last episode in hospital its put me on edge.have spoken to my gp who says as long as his temperatures normal and hes not wheezing hes ok.also that the cough is good as it means its coming off his chest,last time that was his problem he wouldnt cough so it wouldnt clear.
try not to worry too much our hospital was great and it will put your mind at rest to get him looked at.
strangley apparently boys are more suseptible to this than girls......

karenanne · 07/04/2004 10:16

sorry forgot to say...olbas oil helps ,and steam .while waiting sit in your kitchen with the kettle boiling or in the bathroom with the hot tap running.it really helps and keep them as upright as poss.

twiglett · 07/04/2004 10:20

message withdrawn

Nutcracker · 07/04/2004 10:20

Hi Flip, sorry to hear that things are no better. I agree with WK i would call your Dh too.
Try not to worry too much about the asthma/inhlaer, my ds was given an inhaler at 6 mths due to eneding up in hospital twice with breathing difficulties. We hardley ever need to use it now.
I hope you get this sorted out and your ds is o.k.
Go call your dh now though, you need some support too.

Original poster
Flip · 07/04/2004 10:22

Thank you WK and Karenanne for your support. I have called dh and told him because I did think about how he'd feel finding out later. But I told him I could handle it and I'd phone him in his meeting if I needed him to come home. He's still a good few hours away down in London somewhere and I live up near Manchester/Bolton. I do need him here but I couldn't tell him that because he'd jump in the car and tear back up the motorway. I wanted him to be relaxed driving home and not stressed. The last thing I need is to be worrying about him getting into an accident. So it was his decision to break from his meeting earlier than planned and be home this evening rather than early hours of the morning. I've just called my mum and she's said that she'll come with me and my dad is going to look after ds1. So I will have some support.

I did ask the GP this morning if he could possibly have whooping cough. There's no whoop with such a small baby just the severe coughing and choking fits that ds2 has been having. He said that a swab wouldn't diagnose it because he's been on antibiotics for a couple of days. I'm taking lot's of deep breaths and trying to stop feeling tearful. I just hope I don't go to pieces at the hospital if he has another coughing and crying fit.

OP posts: