Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

SO Alexa has pneumonia.. we are basically taking it minute by minute and trying to keep her out of the hospital nebbing her at home etc. She's been on antibiotics for 2 days, steroid treatment for 4 days and nebbing for about 5....

The last 2 days she's had coughing fits so bad she starts vomiting.. EVERYWHERE...

I'm done. fired. EXHAUSTED isn't even the word. I've been camped out in her nursery on a lousy cot since Sunday...

We have the cool mist humidifier...

She's not eating, barely drinking, I'm getting minimal wet diapers...

HELP!!! Anything I can do for this cough??? Any advice from BTDT moms?? I can't believe this is STILL going on and were were JUST in the hospital 3.5 months ago and she was just sick 6 weeks ago....

Re: Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

Ugh! I wish there were some insight I could lend you Maria. I'm so sorry that Alexa is sick again. From what I've been told, at this young age, there is nothing to give for the cough (cough medicine-wise). The steroids should help with that anyway. Sending you lots of strength, prayers and healing vibes!! Hang in there!

Re: Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

maria - could she be asthmatic????

i ask because when i had Em - you know i was in the hospital like, forever. one of the people i met who was doing a doppler of my heart was an asthmatic - i told her my whole 'story' and she gave me some tips about the asthma cough.... the ONE thing i remember (i was very drugged) was to avoid COLD beverages (icey ones imparticular) like the plague when i was having issues, because the cold would cause the lungs to contract or something, making the cough worse....

maybe you can try warming anything she eats/drinks???

Re: Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

first of all

secondly - it wasn't pneumonia but my brother had this horrible cough that would leave him without air. my mom gave him flax seed tea... she bascially let flax seed boil in water for a really really long time. the water came to be almost syrup like, very thick. she sweetened it a little bit w brown sugar...it took the cough away by the end of the first sip! worth a try

Re: Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

cold works well...try literally standing in front of the Freezer open before a Neb treatment to get her lungs open. They told me take the babies outside for a second before a treatment in the winter ( same reasoning).

Honestly if she is having minimal wet diapers and trouble holding down liquids, I would think the hospital is teh best place for her. Dehydration is just gonna make it all worse.

Poor baby and poor mommy

eta- do you have any of those little back taper thingys that you pound on their backs to loosen the pheglm( sp? )

If not I would try a cupped hand and gently whack on her back for 5 minutes before a treatment as well. Anything to make the treatment more effective.

Message edited 4/1/2010 3:49:28 PM.

Re: Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

Posted by davenjess

maria - could she be asthmatic????

i ask because when i had Em - you know i was in the hospital like, forever. one of the people i met who was doing a doppler of my heart was an asthmatic - i told her my whole 'story' and she gave me some tips about the asthma cough.... the ONE thing i remember (i was very drugged) was to avoid COLD beverages (icey ones imparticular) like the plague when i was having issues, because the cold would cause the lungs to contract or something, making the cough worse....

maybe you can try warming anything she eats/drinks???

Re: Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

Posted by bonitachyc

first of all

secondly - it wasn't pneumonia but my brother had this horrible cough that would leave him without air. my mom gave him flax seed tea... she bascially let flax seed boil in water for a really really long time. the water came to be almost syrup like, very thick. she sweetened it a little bit w brown sugar...it took the cough away by the end of the first sip! worth a try

Re: Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

Posted by dm24angel

cold works well...try literally standing in front of the Freezer open before a Neb treatment to get her lungs open. They told me take the babies outside for a second before a treatment in the winter ( same reasoning).

Honestly if she is having minimal wet diapers and trouble holding down liquids, I would think the hospital is teh best place for her. Dehydration is just gonna make it all worse.

Poor baby and poor mommy

eta- do you have any of those little back taper thingys that you pound on their backs to loosen the pheglm( sp? )

If not I would try a cupped hand and gently whack on her back for 5 minutes before a treatment as well. Anything to make the treatment more effective.

Re: Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

Posted by twinkletoes807

Ugh! I wish there were some insight I could lend you Maria. I'm so sorry that Alexa is sick again. From what I've been told, at this young age, there is nothing to give for the cough (cough medicine-wise). The steroids should help with that anyway. Sending you lots of strength, prayers and healing vibes!! Hang in there!

Re: Pneumonia, coughing fits, HELP!!!!

Posted by Blissful

Posted by dm24angel

cold works well...try literally standing in front of the Freezer open before a Neb treatment to get her lungs open. They told me take the babies outside for a second before a treatment in the winter ( same reasoning).

Honestly if she is having minimal wet diapers and trouble holding down liquids, I would think the hospital is teh best place for her. Dehydration is just gonna make it all worse.

Poor baby and poor mommy

eta- do you have any of those little back taper thingys that you pound on their backs to loosen the pheglm( sp? )

If not I would try a cupped hand and gently whack on her back for 5 minutes before a treatment as well. Anything to make the treatment more effective.

Thanks Donna, at this point she is keeping down enough to maintain some hydrations. Trust me, after HOW SICK she got and HOW FAST last time we are under strick orders to take her to the ER. if x,y,z happen. The positive thing is she has been maintaining a pulse-ox above 95% on room air which is excellent....... if that starts to decline its off to Yale we go

I got the papers from you BTW, THANK YOU!