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Original poster

How do I survive yet another night of croup????

16 replies

Rainbowdays · 02/08/2007 20:23

My son has started coughing and I can tell it is going to be another long night of steaming. I have already got the steamer going in his bedroom, and waiting to see if it has some effect. But I am just pregnant and just started to need my sleep and dh is away tonight. I am not sure I will be able to cope. Any suggestions?

OP posts:

eidsvold · 02/08/2007 20:28

tomorrow get yourself to your GP and get them to prescribe a low level steroid that you can give to him to keep those airways open.

OUr dd1 went through a winter of lots of bouts of croup - finally after a few hospital visits - gp prescribed something that we could give when we knew she was going to get the croup - and it was great.

steaming did not work for us.

eidsvold · 02/08/2007 20:28

know that is no help tonight BUT it really did make a difference.

Original poster

Rainbowdays · 02/08/2007 20:58

I have already given him the prednesol steroid tonight, but thank you so much for the suggestion, just knowing I am not alone here helps.

OP posts:

Original poster

Rainbowdays · 02/08/2007 21:00

He is coughing like crazy but it is not too bad yet, he always starts with a wheeze and then gets the high temperature and then the croupy cough starts. The steaming is not stopping the coughing yet. I just have to be patient I guess.

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veryverytiredmum · 02/08/2007 21:07

A steaming machine did not work for us. We did the old fashion thing of closing the bathroom door and running a hot tap to get the room really, really steamy. Then we sat on the floor and sang songs - if he is not too distraught then the singing and breathing takes the steam into his lungs and helps.

filchthemildmanneredjanitor · 02/08/2007 21:12

if the steam doesn't work then take him to a&e.

i am a big believer in not faffing about with this.

you take them along, they give them a nebuliser and it sorts them out.

there is no point putting yourself and them through it.

Original poster

Rainbowdays · 02/08/2007 21:20

Thank you,

vvtm - Thank you, I have the veg steamer going in the bedroom non-stop, the walls are soaked, I would use the bathroom, but our bathroom is pretty much out of action at the moment and we are waiting to move out!!!! But I am allowing the same effect in the bedroom, the posters on the walls are soaked already, good job we only have to live here for another couple of weeks!!!! I have not resorted to the songs yet, but will shortly I think....

Mildmanneredjanitor - Thank you for your support too. If things don't improve in the next couple of hours I will be heading straight to A&E, we ended up there last time after the croup did not resolve in the morning as it should have.... it was a long couple of days in hospital then.

I have also rung dh and asked him to come home if he can, I am not going to be able to manage all night by myself I don't think, whether I head for the hospital or stay here.

OP posts:

filchthemildmanneredjanitor · 02/08/2007 21:22

good idea to get dh home. it's a horrible thing isn't it? i've had both mine in hospital with it. ds1 was the worst and was in for 3 days.

if it's any consolation they seem to be growing out of it!

the nurses told me ibuprofen is a good thing to give them as it reduces the inflammation in the throat.

alipiggie · 02/08/2007 21:23

How old is your ds? If he's over 1 how about giving him some of my "magic honey juice".

I mix about 1tsp of honey with hot water, stir until melted. The add in some Orange Juice and top up with cold water. Let him sip that. It certainly seems to work well for my two.

Whooosh · 02/08/2007 21:27

DD had dreadful coup last week and steamer didn't help at all-partly becazsue we hadstupidly taught her steam is hot and should be avoided [exhasperated emoticon].
GP says croup ususally peaks on 3rd night....

Anyway,we went and bought a vapouriser from Argos and left it on in her room all night.She slept perfectly bt have to say the whole room was wringig wet in the morning-bedding,teddies etc but boy was it worth it for her and me to get a good nights sleep.

Good luck-I know how awful it is.

Original poster

Rainbowdays · 02/08/2007 21:35

Well finally he has stopped coughing and gone to sleep, I know from previous times that this is only a brief respite for him and for us but at least I am feeling a little happier now, I had already packed the bag for the hospital, but I think it might be ok now, I hope.

Thank you for all your support and suggestions here, it really does help me not to feel so alone.

Forgot to say ds is 4 years old, I thought he would have grown out of this by now, what is the normal age to grow out of it???

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chacha3 · 02/08/2007 21:36

My daughter had croup last year. Tried the steamed bathroom didnt work we took her straight to A&E they admitted her overnight gave her steriods to take the inflamation down to stop airways closing! If you are worried do not hesitate to take your son down. Its very distressing for the little one and worrying for us too! Hope he gets better soon Rainbowdays.

filchthemildmanneredjanitor · 02/08/2007 21:43

ds1 had his last bad bout at 6. he is 7 now and has it mildly this year.

eidsvold · 02/08/2007 22:58

until we had the steriod medication - we just took dd1 straight to A and E - due to her condition she has smaller airways - especially through the facial area and it is not something to mess about it.

We did not know what it was the first time she had it - never had it when we lived in the UK - got her first bout the winter she was turning 3 adn I called the ambulance cause the stryder was dreadful. They told us what it was and shipped her off to A and E. The ambos told us it is not something to mess about with either - better to take them to hospital and get it sorted and not to worry about feeling silly. ( cause I felt silly once they told me it was croup thinking it was not serious enough to warrant an ambulance)

We have not had any this winter [touch wood] and she is 5.

pirategirl · 02/08/2007 23:17

totaly know what this is like, my dd5 has had probs with airways, asthma, coughs, and then croup. Most the time i have no idea which is which, and the poor mite ends up taking meds, and inhalers and gets covered in vocks. All seem to be to no effect.

Gp once gave us a steroid tab to dissolve in water, and spoon feed her, this worked.

Next time she got it, about 3 months later, i asked for this tab and the gp didnt really want to give it. I gave it to dd and it didnt work.

Yet the next night she was much better, so it may be the 3 day/night thing.

You poor thing, i am on my own with dd, and I know its totally diheartening to hear, and to know you cant help much.

I know that when they go off too sleep and they stop, it only takes a shift in bed, or me to walk past the door and disturb her and she can start a coughing fit.

I hope that tonight really ens up being the last night for you. take care.

Original poster

Rainbowdays · 03/08/2007 08:45

Thank you all, I was so grateful to have your support last night. I had given ds 2 steroid tablets in the evening, I am sure if I had not done this it would have been a trip to A&E last night. But fortunately only two horrible croup fits and one episode of vomitting, and then like normal with croup, he has woken this morning without a care in the world, as if nothing happened. He is back to the normal cough now, so I am taking a break and coming back online to thank you all.

I will have to go to the GP's later to get more steroid tablets.

Thanks again everyone.

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