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Post by ahoward on Dec 28, 2007 9:50:50 GMT -5
Ok Pam, you asked yesterday if Garren was put on anything other than the albuterol. The answer is no. That was all they gave him and he is so congested. You being a respiratory therapist, I just wondered what you recommended for the congestion stuck in his throat/chest. We've tried the clapping on the back and warm baths to loosen the mucus, but so far, no good! I have no idea what meds otc he can take, esp. since they've taken all the infant stuff off the market. Any advice? We need some sleep...none of us are sleeping well! Thanks for any advice you could offer!  Audrey |
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Post by pamcrt on Dec 28, 2007 10:18:46 GMT -5
Yeah, that's the part that sucks- they've taken all the otc for babies off the counter and there were actually some pretty good stuff. Like I said the albuterol is a bronchodilator- designed to help open up the airways, relax them and make it easier for him to breathe. There are really 2 types of bronchiolitis- viral and bacterial and if it is viral, they usually just treat the symptoms, if bacterial they treat the infection. Antibiotics aren't routinely given only because they usually "don't do any good". Sssooo, that being said... use a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in his room to help loosen the mucus in the airway and relieve cough and congestion. If you use one, clean it daily with household bleach or white distilled vinegar, I prefer vinegar- yes, it smells bad, but the residuals that may be left on the humidifier seem not to "smell" as bad as bleach so I always recommend vinegar- to prevent mold from building up. Avoid hot-water and steam humidifiers, which can be hazardous and can cause scalding if tipped over by accident. At night, prop him in a slight upright position. This may help improve any labored breathing he might have at night and also help the congestion drain better. For whatever reason it also helps reduce what we call WOB- work of breathing. When someone is severely congested and is forced to lay down, the "weight" of the congestion can reduce the size of the airways, decreasing the amount of room there is for them to breathe. Now, on the contrary, Abby would not tolerate being propped up at all, she only wanted to sleep on her tummy, so if he wants to sleep on his tummy, let him, it will drain, but if he only wants to sleep on his back, prop him up. To clear nasal congestion, try a bulb syringe and saline (s a l t w a t e r) (apparently that is a bad word!!) nose drops. You can get this at any store, called Lil Noses saline drops. I use this on Abby ALL the time- pisses her off but does the job. If you don't have a good bulb syringe, invest in one now. Honestly, what I do, and it takes 2 people to do it "good", is put a couple of drops in one nostril, let it sit for a second- don't worry, he won't drown, he'll be so pissed he'll be screaming his head off. Then suction him out pretty good. You may have to do this a couple of times. Then the last time I always just put a couple of drops in there and leave it. And then repeat on the other side. Seems mean, but it works. But beware, if there is anything down there for him to cough up, if he is mad, he may end up throwing it up afterward, which is okay, at least he is getting it up. This can be especially helpful just before feeding and sleeping. It may help him feed better because he can breathe and will surely help him sleep better, but may take a night or two to see a difference. Other than that, give tylenol and motrin (alternating) to reduce fever and make him more comfortable. I hope this helps. I really had to dig into the depths of my memory for this one! ;D on a last note, I have a vicks vaporizer, one that you just put the menthol strips in (Tamara uses one too) and it works fairly well. I also will rub the vicks baby rub on her clothes around her chest. The eucalyptus really seems to help and I think it may have lavender and chamomile in it which are soothing factors. Anyway, it does help them sleep better. |
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Post by mommyof2gurlies on Dec 28, 2007 10:35:46 GMT -5
You kinda just got to get thru it. We've been going thru this on and off the last 3 months. We live in a very damp, wet place...right near the ocean. Its always wet and yucky, and there is mold everywhere. All the things Pam listed were just about all you can do. The humidifier seemed to help Brooklyn a lot....its just a pain in the butt to clean. I prop her crib mattress up a bit (i even do that with Mya...prop her up with pillows) I can't stress enough....give lots and lots of liquids. If Garren will drink water, or whatever...its worth giving. It thins everything out, and really does help. I hope ya'll get some sleep and Garren gets to feeling better soon!!! Its no fun when everyone is losing sleep and miserable  |
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Post by ahoward on Dec 28, 2007 10:52:32 GMT -5
Thanks! I just talked to the pedi office too and they basically said the exact same thing and would not rx anything for the congestion! Thanks again for your help! We'll get through it like everything else!  Audrey |
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Post by pamcrt on Dec 28, 2007 11:13:07 GMT -5
I pretty much figured they wouldn't give you anything. I'm so sorry. I know how much it sucks. Just do the stuff I said and definitely try and push the fluids to thin the secretions like Tamara said. One day at a time... Good luck, let us know how it goes.
Pam
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Post by mallysmommy on Dec 28, 2007 21:49:44 GMT -5
We just started the exact same thing (cough and horrible congestion being treated with albuterol every 4 hours round the clock) and it is awful. I was just reading the other day when you posted and glad we weren't going through it but here we are now. She's been coughing so hard she's throwing up like a whole bottle. Very scary, she's even back in our room bc i'm afraid she'll choke. BUt anyway I wanted to see if you had the same issue, she seems to be getting WORSE with the albuterol.
Pam is that even possible? The coughing is getting really out of hand, to the point even that i can't go anywere by myself bc i need someone in the back seat the suction her airway out if/when she coughs and pucks (she's only 12 weeks old). We started the albuterol on wed night, and i plan on taking her back to the dr on monday. I was just wondering, i do not want to look like a total idiot when we go back.
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Post by mommyof2gurlies on Dec 29, 2007 10:26:50 GMT -5
Pam is the expert in all this stuff....but just with personal experience, sometimes Albuterol doesn't help...and SOMETIMES it has made things totally worse with Mya. Its made her cough more and more. It just opens the airways, it doesnt do anything for moving the mucous.
What did the dr. say she had??? I'm surprised they put her on albuterol every 4 hours, that little. Albuterol is pretty strong....but I guess they knew what they were doing.
You've used the saline nose drops befor eyou suction right? My ped. told me "if you're counting how many drops you put in, its not enough..." You're supposed to really put them in there. Even if it sounds like they are choking on it. Let them sit for like 25-30 secs. and suction it out. It helps, not a cure all...but helps.
Also, if you take her into a steamy shower (not IN the shower, just in the bathroom with the shower running) it really gets all that mucous moving too. I've noticed i can suction out a ton when i take Brooklyn in there. For the running nose, did they tell you that you could use Benadryl at all? You might be able to use like....1 1/2 ML's of benadryl...(How much does she weigh??) I think I used Benadryl when Brookie was about her age. You just have to be SUPER careful that you measure it right. Benadryl is really safe to give as long as you dose it right. It won't help with coughing, but it really does work for little noses that won't stop running. Of course, I would ask your ped. first. I know thats what they told me to take. There is NOTHING that babies can really take, and especially since they took lots of the market (i wouldnt have given any of that anyways...as it wasnt for Brooklyns age) and benadryl was their only suggestion. That doesnt help for the cough at all...but it helps with all the snot shes swallowing...that in turn goes into her chest.
We still are going thru that. Brooklyn sleeps in her crib in our room anyways...but when shes had her cold I'm listening all night. She coughs and chokes. I'm constantly checking on her....
Especially after that whole seizure incident I'm TOTALLY paranoid.
Especially right after a bottle...when she coughs and coughs she has thrown up too. I'm always afraid she'll choke on her vomit.
Hang in there!!!!
Lots of steam!! Lots of liquids!!!
I would get her rechecked anyways if shes REALLY coughing that much. That sounds pretty intense that you have to suction her out that much....I'm sure shes fine, but its worth getting checked, especially when they are that young. Its better to be safe than sorrt. I literally took Brooklyn in like....a thousand times to the doctor her first 5 months! lol
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Post by ahoward on Dec 29, 2007 11:22:29 GMT -5
Hey Mally'smom! Sorry your going through it too! It's not fun at all. I don't really feel the albuterol is working either. I did start giving Garren Benadryl though per our pharmacist's recommendation. He's 6 months though(almost 20lbs) and they told me to give him 1/2 tsp. I gave him the 1st dose before bed last night and it did seem to help him rest better. I also bought one of those vicks plug in things that Pam and Tamara were talking about and it really does let out the vapor smell in the room. He's still in his room, but we've been up a lot over the past several nights. Last night we only got up twice and it was because he flipped onto his belly and he hates being on his belly! So, Good luck....and maybe try the Benadryl for all her drainage and see if it doesn't help. You are a pharm. tech...ask your pharmacist how much they'd give for her weight and age! Pam really is the expert since she's the RT. Tamara has helped too with all her suggestions! I hope she's better soon and again, I'm sorry you're having to deal with it too! . Audrey |
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Post by pamcrt on Dec 29, 2007 12:00:39 GMT -5
Samantha & Audrey, Okay, here goes, yes, the albuterol can make them cough more and to the point of throwing up... a lot. And this is because it is relaxing their airways so much that all that drainage (mucous) is "sliding" down into the airways, tickling, their lungs (for lack of a better word) therefore making them feel like they are choking and hence they cough and gag. And with all of this comes excess sinus drainage that adds to the picture. Are you giving her full strength albuterol? Try asking the doctor about halving the dose (only using half the vial at a time). This may cut down on some of the other effects you are seeing. Definitely try the benadryl, I'm not sure of the dosage for her age, but as Tamara said, it will really help to dry up those secretions. And again, DEFINITELY USE THE SALINE!! I can't stress that enough. And like Tamara said, if your measuring the drops, then you're not using enough. They won't choke on it. The most that will happen is they will swallow it, maybe gag (ok they probably will), and possibly throw up because of all the excess mucous hanging out in the back of their throats. Don't freak out when that happens, at least they are getting the crap up. And also, I forgot, after you suction the nose, try suctioning out their mouths, in the back, this will make them gag, but you will gets lots of thick sticky stuff... the stuff I always love to get!! If you feel she isn't getting better or if she is running fever, then definitely call the doctor and take her back in and don't feel like an over protective parent. You are just doing your job!! Pam |
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Post by mommyof2gurlies on Dec 29, 2007 17:03:28 GMT -5
Yah, ditto to that. Don't freak out if the saline makes her puke. Thats actually good like Pam said. Babies can't cough up and out the phlegm...they instead puke it out. So at the times when it freaks you out...(as long as its not in TOTAL excess) the puking might be serving a purpose. Brooklyn does that a lot when she has a cold, and i will just suction the mucous shes choking on out of her mouth.....
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Post by pamcrt on Dec 29, 2007 20:33:23 GMT -5
Yeah, Abby does that and it usually comes out in a bubble- really nasty and big like. Freaks the hell out of my husband, but I just suction it and be done with it. Always makes her feel better. I hope all the advice is helping and that ya'll are able to get some sleep, atleast a little... Let me know how everything goes.
Pam
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Post by ahoward on Dec 30, 2007 12:40:14 GMT -5
Pam & Tamara, Thanks so much for all the recommendations! I do honestly think the benadryl and suctioning have made a huge difference. We slept so much better last night. We went out to dinner with some friends and got home about 10:00pm and Garren took his treatment, a bottle, his benadryl and went fast to sleep. He slept til 6am and just needed paci replacement and then he decided he was hungry at about 7am so he got a bottle and went back to sleep til 9am. It was great!!!  Audrey |
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