Grayson has a cough so often that it is difficult for me to remember times when he did not. It varies greatly in severity but usually is present when he is sleeping at night. Recently, his cough took a turn for the worse and became louder and more frequent and was accompanied by wheezing. He spiked a fever of 103 degrees. It was time to call his doctor. His doctor assessed him and feared he may have the beginning of pneumonia. After a chest x-ray, it was determined that he did not have pneumonia but had bronchitis. He had several breathing treatments at the doctor’s office which loosened some of the tightness in his chest. We left with a prescription for an inhaler to be done every four hours and an antibiotic.
He did not improve very much. On his next visit, he had more breathing treatments and was prescribed a nebulizer machine and medication and a short course of steroids. The nebulizer and steroid treatment showed a slight improvement in his symptoms. We continue to give him breathing treatments every four hours (until the doctor tells us to stop). This brings me back to when Grayson was in the NICU hooked up to tubes and leads and was so fragile. Now, he has such a positive attitude about his treatments. I wake him up in the middle of the night to administer a treatment and he is consistently in good spirits about it. He falls right back to sleep until his next treatment. We may be on the road to an asthma diagnosis if his history and family history is an indicator. For now, we will take it one treatment at a time.
Do your children have asthma? Have you done breathing treatments? I would love for you to share your stories in the comments.
Katie says
We do breathing treatments frequently with respiratory viruses. Much less now though at 4-5, than we did at younger ages, but enough that they ask for "breathing medicine" & know when they need it. Olivia saw a pulmonologist for a while, who said she wouldn't diagnose asthma until at least 5, as they could still grow out of it. She just considered it reactive airway in the mean time. My kids had RSV at 2 & I was sort of surprised they took it so hard, being 2. But my pediatrician said he wouldn't expect their post-30 weeker lungs to be caught up until age 7. So since my kids keep improving, I'm not rushing to an asthma diagnosis, if in a few years they still require this, than maybe. Hope your little guy feels better soon.
Theresa says
Thank you Katie.
Reading your story is incredibly helpful. I did not have any reference to compare with Grayson's experience. It is very good to know that his lungs may not be caught up until age 7. I hope he outgrows this and your kids do too. The breathing treatments bring me back to when he was so small and vulnerable. I am glad to know that this can be a common issue with premature birth that can be outgrown. Thank you very much for sharing your story!
: 0 ) Theresa
Mrs FF says
Oh noooo poor baby. I hate then getting sick! i hope it is short lived!
I also have to nebulize K frequently because every now and then she battles with a tight chest. And I have horrible allergies and used to be asthmatic so her dr is also cautious because of the history But said the same thing as the dr Katie mentioned in her comment that a diagnosis of asthma at a young age is not always very accurate. When she was very blocked up we were referred to a physiotherapist to help with clearing her chest and sucking out the snort.
Ps: are you on Instagram? I posted similar pictures of K with the nebulizer
Theresa says
Hi Mrs. FF.
Thank you for sharing your story. I guess it is pretty common for children to have these symptoms and you don't realize it until you talk about it. I need to get on Instagram! That is on my 'to do' list for the near future. You are a talented photographer. I look forward to following you when I set it up.
: 0 ) Theresa
Melissande says
Right now we're in the throes of sickness at our house. My son is in the beginning stages of pneumonia we discovered. He is on his third day of antibiotics. In the meantime I've developed a horrible hacking cough. It's really uncomfortable and makes me glad that for the most part I have a healthy immune system! We have a couple kids (actually none of which are sick currently) that seem to have more trouble breathing when they're sick. We've never had to use a nebulizer or any other treatment so far. I'm so sorry that he's having a hard time. Prayers for him, and you.
Multi-Testing Mommy says
Awwww poor little guy!!
My sister has asthma and when she was younger, she had a nebulizer. She out grew needing to have those treatments at home when she was 6 or so.
Theresa says
Hi Melissande.
Thank you. I am sorry to hear your son is sick and you are too! It is hard to take care of a little one who is sick when you aren't feeling well. Grayson is on antibiotics too (10 day course, 2 times a day). I hope you and your son recover quickly and that your other little ones do not get sick.
: 0 ) Theresa
Theresa says
Hi Multi-Testing Mommy.
I am relieved to hear that so many people outgrow these symptoms. That is great that your sister outgrew it! I hope Grayson does too.
: 0 ) Theresa
Mrs FF says
How's Grayson doing? Hope better and you are seeing improvements?
In the last week we have to go back to nebulizing and poor K was on her first course of anti-Biotics (a horrible milestones) she developed a middle ear infection and a cough.
Yay! I hope you do make the leap and come on Instagram – my user name is mrsff2207
Theresa says
Hi Mrs FF.
Grayson is doing much better. Thank you for asking. I am sorry to hear that K is not feeling well. It is so hard to see your child suffering. I have become a fan of the nebulizer after seeing it help Grayson to the point where he never objected to it. I am thinking about Instagram for the new year. Whenever I get there, I will follow you! I hope K feels better very soon and that her ear infection and cough clear up.
: 0 ) Theresa