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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:
DumbledoresGirl · 22/11/2006 16:53

Good grief Greensleeves. What an experience! Hopefully a one off. Take care and I hope you get some rest over the next few days. You just need to all snuggle up together in front of a warm fire and drink wholesome soup. Any chance?

ilovecaboose · 22/11/2006 16:54

Glad to hear they are both ok - must have been terrifying.

I think asthma can just 'seem' to start up with bad infection that aggrevates the lungs. Maybe it was so mild it was unnoticable before, I do know of others this has happened to.

Also tips here on giving inhalors to little ones

HTH

essbee · 22/11/2006 16:56

Message withdrawn

Overrunnerbean · 22/11/2006 16:56

Hi Greesleeves, sorry to hear about your dss. It must be a real shock that they suddenly had these attacks.
I just want to say that as an asthmatic with two of my three boys with a diganosis and the third probably going down that route, I know how difficult it is giving inhalers to young children who are frightened and fighting for breath. please cat me, if you think I might be able to advise.
If you can't cajole with usual singing or entertainment approach, if you sit on the floor with child lying on their back and your legs over their arms you can then give inhaler. Its not very nice, but is most effective way if necesscary. I stroke their hair and do Old macdonald with mine, if they are suggesting the animals it means they are taking a breath to speak.
Its one of the worst things watching your child struggle for breath, hope this proves to be an isolated incident for your two .

misdee · 22/11/2006 16:57

oh its so good to hear from you, and to hear the boys are starting to recover. how bloody scary, poor you.

havwe they got follow up appointments with an asthma nurse? if not it may be a good idea to get them seen at your gp surgery once they have fully recovered.

misdee · 22/11/2006 16:58

have you got a spacer for them?

pointydog · 22/11/2006 17:04

Glad the treatment's working.

Just to say, dd2's asthma started this way. Thought is was a bad cold/chest infection, admitted and almost taken for granted we knew all about asthma!

singersgirl · 22/11/2006 17:05

Glad to hear you are all back at home. We too have lots of spacer and nebuliser experience, though DS2 knew very early on that it made him better, so opened his mouth for it (he had frequent asthma attacks). Hope things settle down soon.

It sounds like a very nasty virus, and fingers crossed they may never have another wheezing episode again!

BudaBeast · 22/11/2006 17:06

Glad your boys are home Greeny - been out all day but was wondering how you were. Hope you get some rest.

beckybrastraps · 22/11/2006 17:09

Blimey - what a couple of days (and nights) you've had. So glad they're both on the mend - really hope it continues. Take care of yourself and dh now...

nutcracker · 22/11/2006 17:18

Glad to hear everyone is home now and hopefully on the mend.

With regards to the asthma please try not to worry about it. They may only have it very mildy but it be made worse by colds and children often grow out of it.

Dd was diagnosed as asthmatic and 14mths and we did have a few rough years with her but mainly this was when she had a cold/chest infection. She is nearly 7 now and hasn't used her inhaler (touchwood) for nearly a year.

venusinfurs · 22/11/2006 17:20

You poor thing. I hope you have a BIG bar of chocolate to crash out in front of the telly with tonight. Don;t give a single piece to any other person, ya hear? Even the LOs

My friend's little boy went through this at one and is now eight - it NEVER happened again. Take heart from that.

WelshBoris · 22/11/2006 17:23

First I've seen of this GS, glad he is on the mend, DD has chest infections all the time and we spent most of last winter in and out of hosptial with her.

Big kisses to the lovely mini-greeny from the lovely mini-boris x

Tatties · 22/11/2006 17:25

Oh Goodness, just seen this! Poor you Greensleeves, this must have been awful for you. Hope you are all on the road to recovery soon.

hub2dee · 22/11/2006 17:47

Welcome back greeny. Did they check you out as well ? Sounds like you had something similar, if a little milder... take care of yourself.

whimsy · 22/11/2006 17:52

Glad your all home safely at last

Hope DS's and you are are feeeling better soon.

FrannyandZooey · 22/11/2006 18:22

Won't phone you any more tonight my dear

but am so glad to hear you are home, even though you have a long slog ahead of you, and that the boys are safe and getting well

pelvicfloorSNOWmore · 22/11/2006 20:19

Glad to hear that you are all home
I prescribe doing as little as possible with frequent doses of junk
Dont forget to take care of yourself as well Greeny.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/11/2006 20:24

oh arse!

Only just seen this....hope both DS's are better, and now I understand why Mr Snotty said you needed your sleep

Wish you all better soon.

xxx

Miaou · 22/11/2006 20:28

Oh you poor things! What a hard time you have had. Nothing I can do for you up here, but I'll send some good health vibes to the shortsleeves

themulledSNOWMANneredjanitor · 22/11/2006 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WideWebWitch · 22/11/2006 20:43

I'm glad you're all home, how terrifying it sounds.

drosophila · 23/11/2006 08:20

One of DS's school friends had something very similar. He too was/is not asthmatic and yet developed a classic asthmatic type reaction to whatever virus/infection he encountered. He too was in hospital. There must be something going around.

I think the medical profession is a little vague about asthma. My DS is a diagnosed asthmatic but he only ever get an attack when he has an infection. In our day we would just say we had a bad cold with a real bad chest.

schneebly · 23/11/2006 08:26

just seen this greeny - poor DSs Quite frightening for you too I would imagine. Wishing them a speedy recovery. xxx

Papillon · 23/11/2006 11:13

Hey Greensleeves, sorry to hear you have all been so ill, frightening time for you. Franny posted the link to this thread from the 10/10 - so here is wishing you all a speedy, healthy recovery.

and ...Since you missed this godly bit of advice from Paps will put it here for oyu.
Anybody that hs sore throats should gargle onion water... boil one onion in about a cup of water then add some oil. Helps remove toxins from mouth and throat. Also sleeping with a chopped up onion helps you breath at nights - chop finely and put in a muslim cloth.

You would think that gargling onion water would be complete kack but it is neutral flavour and very effective against throat infections.