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ds1 fighting for breath, very bad chest infection

214 replies

Greensleeves · 20/11/2006 10:24

ds1 has got a chest infection (caught from me) . I spent most of last night going in and out of his room giving medicines/rubbing Vick on his chest/back/reassuring him. He is much worse today, his breathing is really laboured, his chest is sucking in with the effort to breathe, he can't talk properly because his breath catches at the end of each word. I can hear his chest rattling and wheezing all the way down his back, but he isn't coughing anything up. I have had a serious chest infection myself for the last week (I thoughti t was gone, but it has come back) and it has been a really bad one, for the first few days of it I didn't cough up anything either but then started coughing up really rock-hard infected lumps of blood-stained green stuff. (Yes, I know, TMI, but I am worried ). I assumed mine was worse because I used to smoke, but ds1 seems to be in an even worse state than me.

I have a GP appointment for him later this morning (dh is taking him, because I have no voice at all this morning) but it's not his own GP. I am really worried, crap lungs run on both sides of our family, in fact dh's father died of emphysema, they think his lungs may have been weakened by a severe infection as a child

Does anyone have any advice on how I can clear his chest/halp him to breathe/get him to eat? I don't care what he eats at this point, I have asked dh to get chocolate buttons in case he will eat those - he really is so ill and he's very miserable.

OP posts:
Enid · 20/11/2006 10:25

greeny if this were my child I would take him to a and e I think.

you poor poor things thinking of you

nutcracker · 20/11/2006 10:26

I would also take him to a&e asap. Is he pulling his stomach in under his ribs ??

SherlockLGJ · 20/11/2006 10:26

Close all the windows and doors run a hot bath and then put him in it when it has cooled, the steam should help.

How old is he ?

Greensleeves · 20/11/2006 10:27

Yes Enid, that's what's freaked me out the most, his stomach is sucking in and out under his ribs

OP posts:
misdee · 20/11/2006 10:28

A+E NOW!!!!

Twiglett · 20/11/2006 10:28

A&E .. he needs a nebuliser and probably a chest x-ray

good luck greeny

SherlockLGJ · 20/11/2006 10:28

Oh and don't be fobbed off by the doctor, if he needs admitting he needs admitting.

themulledSNOWMANneredjanitor · 20/11/2006 10:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nutcracker · 20/11/2006 10:29

He needs to be seen now greensleves. Dd had the stomach pulling in thing when she had pnuemonia and we were always told to take her straight in if it happened again.

Twiglett · 20/11/2006 10:29

you can call an ambulance on this if he can't breathe .. they carry nebulisers with them

SherlockLGJ · 20/11/2006 10:29

Oh shit.............Get him to A&E, sounds like it could be Pneumonia.

themulledSNOWMANneredjanitor · 20/11/2006 10:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Enid · 20/11/2006 10:29

good luck greeny

can you get there ok?

nutcracker · 20/11/2006 10:30

Good luck, hope he is ok.

themulledSNOWMANneredjanitor · 20/11/2006 10:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

misdee · 20/11/2006 10:30

DIAL 999 NOW, OR IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO HOSPITAL GO NOW!

dd1 gets like this when she is having a bad asthma attaecking, recessing (suking in under ribs) is one thing to look for during an attack often why i have my hands under her top when she is wheezing to see if its just a wheeze or full on attack.

Twiglett · 20/11/2006 10:30

I had an ambulance called on me in similar circumstances and DD has had Pneumonia too .. please don't think you're over-reacting .. the ambulance service won't

SherlockLGJ · 20/11/2006 10:30

I would call an ambulance.

Aero · 20/11/2006 10:32

Greeny - poor wee thing. Just make sure he's properly checked out. This may involve a chest x-ray. Make sure you shout loud enough if you're not happy with what the GP says. Ds1 suffers badly with his chest and has had pneumonia three times now. The first time I was sent home from the GP with the 'It's a virus' line at least three times before I demanded a proper examination of his chest! GP's couldn't hear anything on his chest and assumed he was ok. Mums know their children best and know when they're truly ill imo. Now, if I'm concerned and take him to the GP, they call the hospital for a second opinion straight away because they are aware of his previous ill health and he now gets the correct treatment quickly - usually a course of ABs.

If his chest is sucking in, then he's definitely struggling with something. Possibly asthmatic?

Greensleeves · 20/11/2006 10:32

He is talking, although he is still having trouble breathing properly, dh thinks we should take him to the GP because our appointment is in half an hour's time and it's only 5 minutes away (am still coughing up revolting infected stuff myself too), do you think it's OK for him to be seen in half an hour or should we call an ambulance now? I would have trouble convincing dh not to wait the half hour for the gp....I could make him take him now and tell the receptionist she has got to bump him up the queue or we're calling an ambulance

OP posts:
Twiglett · 20/11/2006 10:33

NO I DEFINITELY THINK YOU SHOULD CALL AN AMBULANCE NOW

Kidstrack · 20/11/2006 10:33

wishing your ds better soon x

Twiglett · 20/11/2006 10:33

PLEASE GREENY

themulledSNOWMANneredjanitor · 20/11/2006 10:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SherlockLGJ · 20/11/2006 10:34

Good compromise, go to the surgery NOW and say he has deteroriated this morning and you would like him seen NOW

Do not be put off by any dragon of a receptionist.