Both of my little ones have been fighting a cold on and off for about a month. They both seemed to be on the mend, and then started getting congested again. On Thursday evening Ethan was really coughing and by the middle of the night his breathing was very retracted and he was coughing a lot plus breathing really shallow. I took him to the ER where he was put on an o2 monitor, satting around 87-90%. They did nebs on him right away, his breathing improved, sats went right up, and he became himself again within minutes. It was definitely the right decision, but the whole experience has been awful!
They did blood work to check white blood cell count (normal) x-rays to check for pneumonia, etc (clear lungs), tested right there for RSV and Influenza (negative for both), looked in his ears, no infection (more about that in a minute. . .). Imagine my shock and dismay when they decided to admit him, and told me that even though per the test and his appearance/symptoms he does not have the flu they were admitting him and treating him as though he does. They started iv fluids (he had been and continues to be drinking/eating fine), two types of nebs (no problem there, I know he needs them) i.v. steroids, Tamiflu (pedi said he wasn't willing to risk not giving it - okay. . .maybe. . .I'm still NOT thrilled), and i.v. antibiotics. That, I am pissed about! One doctor looks in his ears and says "no infection". 15 minutes later a different doctor looks in his ears says "double ear infection, start iv antibiotics. Okay, which of these idiots should not have a job, for one, and secondly, if he DOES have an infection it is so mild the first doctor missed it and strong i.v. antibiotics seems like major overkill!
I am really disgusted with all of this. The tests they do are horrible too. Blood draw, nasal swab (more like a brain swab as far up as they go) x-rays (for babies/toddlers they shove them in a container that is about the size of a 2 liter bottle - seems that way - that clamps against their sides, presses their faces into the front of it, and pins their arms up above their heads. Scary scary scary for these little ones.), then starting the i.v. I felt that if they made my baby cry one more time I was going to punch somebody.
I also feel like I have either somehow failed or have been disillusioned about my ability to keep them well.
We have a nanny and have stopped taking the kids out and about for the winter. They eat well - my kids will eat just about every veggie, including ones like broccoli and spinach! - and they get a multivitamin, fish oil, and probiotics, plus extra vitamin D. We keep all of our well baby appointments (just had one the Monday before all this happened, ironically) and also see a homeopath with them and use homeopathic remedies to treat symptoms whenever something comes up. Sigh. . .so this just upsets me that I try so hard to do everything right now I've still got one baby in the hospital and the other one sick at home on nebs and oral steroids.
Just sick of trying so hard and feeling like it did absolutely no good. And I just want my little boy back home. I was in the hospital for so long before I had them, and it was 4 months after they were born before we had both of them at home. The last place I ever wanted to be with either of them ever again was back in a hospital.
I am sorry for the long post. . .just had a lot to get out.
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In the hospital:-(
- By sshuckhart
- Posted November 7, 2009 at 3:36 pm · 9 replies
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- By EvinsMom
- Posted November 7, 2009 at 3:56 pm
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Wow. I am so sorry. I can only imagine how you must feel.
We had a similar, but short over night soon after we got home last year.
It's maddening having to go back. The inconsistencies infuriated me.
We also go to the same measures at you do at home, and I feel this was a bit of a wake up call to me. Nothing is cootie proof.
Do you think they got something at their well visit?
I hope they both get better very soon- and you two get home even sooner.
Sending wishes for strength-
Amy
- By rainysmom
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 9:08 am
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I am saying prayers for you and your family. How frustrating and frightening! My daughter is 3 in January, and I remember how horrific those first 2 years were with health issues. Hang in there. Sounds like you're doing everything you can. Keep asking questions and persisting.
Hugs, Lisa
- By SpeasHill
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 10:12 am
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Ugh. I am so sorry. I hope everything clears up quickly and you can get the heck out of that place ASAP. Maybe when you are back home it will be easier to trust that what you have done for your kids has helped. Who knows how many other bugs they would have picked up if you weren't as vigilant? Unfortunately, I think EvinsMom is right - nothing is cootie-proof! (And I love that phrase, by the way!) Hang in there, and know that you don't have to apologize to us for a long post venting - we get it!
- By violetsmom
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 1:31 pm
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So sorry your little guy is sick. As a nurse, I am wondering what caused the respiratory distress?? Have they come up with a definitive diagnosis yet, or are they still giving you the run around? I am wondering if he had some sort of asthma reaction or bronchiolitis?? Keep us updated. Hopefully you will be home soon. I know it's frustrating when you don't have answers and they just treat because they don't really know what's wrong. I am deathly afraid of Violet getting sick and going back to the hospital. Hopefully they are being good to you and taking good care of your little guy
- By mythreepreemies
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 7:58 pm
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I am so sorry you are having to deal with this. I also have B/G twins and am dealing with some of the same issues as you except the rehospitalization of one of them yet...My whole family was sick in mid August and my daughter started the severe wheezing, fortunately it was during drs office business hours. We spent 4 hours there with the other twin screaming the whole time. I was alone with both twins for this sick visit. They kept her on the O2 monitor and 3 nebs later due to my begging I was able to take her home only if I watched her VERY closely that night. Of course my other twin got the same thing 2 days later. I am so worried what I will do if one goes back into the hospital and the other is home sick, I also have a 3 year old. Maybe next time you will have a neb at home and will not have to go to the ER. I also am getting my on O2 monitor for my house for the winter son I can spot check when I get worried when they are sick. My son was on O2 for 2 months so I feel comfortable doing this. I feel like they will always error on the side of caution when dealing with preemies and put them in the hospital for observation. I don't know about you but I spent 4 months there and don't want to do that again. I hope you get your little boy home again soon!
- By sshuckhart
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 9:49 pm
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Well, we were able to bring Ethan home tonight. He is on oral steroids, Tamiflu, antibiotics, and 2 neb meds.
Violetsmom, the diagnosis ended up on his paperwork as bronchiolitis. I don't even know what that is. Is it kind of a vague "this fits because it's not anything else" thing? I think I'm still really steamed from this whole experience, start to finish.
Yesterday the on call doctor, his nurses, and the respiratory tech all said he shouldn't need to be there, but his doctor wanted him there for sure until today. Fine. However, he didn't even come in to see him today until almost 2:00 in the afternoon. It's mighty tough to keep a 1 year old happy confined in a small room when he's feeling well.
We have to follow up with an ENT in 2 weeks - due to what think must be a very mild ear infection if one of the doctors who looked at him missed it. Plus, he hasn't had recurring ear infections. I just don't get it!
- By Henrysmom
- Posted November 8, 2009 at 9:54 pm
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So sorry to hear that! I hope your little ones get better soon! That first year w/ Henry I was constantly listening to him w/ the stethoscope! Any little cough or heavy breathing and I was freaking out! My son had RSV and pneumonia before he left the nicu... it was terrible. It took 4 nose swabs/tests before the RSV came up positive and at that point he was already on a ventilator. Until then they weren't sure why he had pneumonia. It was very frustrating and afterwards, I became a total bitch about his care!
Like SpeasHill said... I'm sure you have prevented your little ones from getting many things! It's impossible to keep them away from everything, but it sounds like you're doing a great job! Keep up the good work!
- By violetsmom
- Posted November 9, 2009 at 12:42 am
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You are doing a great job. It was hard to keep my 3 month old happy in the tiny room for her sleep study. I can imagine a one year old! Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the bronchioles...."itis" always means inflammation. This can happen for a number of reasons. It can be an infection, an irritant, asthma etc. Like you said...they don't know what happened, so that was the diagnosis. It's good to hear you are home away from the germ factory!
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