Conference moira::parenting_v3

As a child I spent every winter from end October until spring in bed.  I 
remeber the oxygen tents, the humidifiers, the Vick's Vaporub smell, ick.  All
the pictures of me in the winter are at Christmas time in my dressing gown
when they let me out of bed to open my presents.  That is effectively the only
time I was allowed out of bed.

Nowadays we are extremely lucky to be able to spare our children's suffering
through the use of miracle drugs.  If your child has a tendency to this as I did
they take some antibiotics for a few weeks and operate as any normal child.  
Also, as I did, they will probably outgrow it.  I outgrew it when I started 
school although I still tend to be more prone to this type of infection than 
other people.

The good news is that they don't have to suffer like we did as children.

Concerning your question about refridgeration: antibiotics are living organisms.
They function because they can grow in the life support system of your body.
If They are left outside of a refidgerated system, they lose their effective-
ness.  They will not make your child sick.  They will be less effective.  This
also goes with using them past the date marked on the package.

Over here, if I had done the same thing, I would take the medicine back to the
pharmacy and explain what had happened and they would give me a new dose.

ccb

    My experience with this type of thing is long.....!!
    
    What I was told is that the doctors will class it as "bronchitis" unitl
    there have been 4 attacks, at that point it is re-classed as Asthma. 
    Of course when my son was pronounced "asthmatic" I was devistated.  I
    had pictures of rushing to the hospital with breathing problems, him
    not being able to exert himself etc.
    
    Today, and as I was told, he tends to have less asthma attacks, and
    there are markedly less in severity.  I was told the rule of thumb is
    that if you develop breathing problems, eiher bronchitis or asthma as a
    small child, you will in most cases out grow the problem for the most
    part by elementary school age, whereas if you develop it later on, say
    at school age you likely will have some signs of it for life.  This is
    the case in my husband's family, he wheezed as a child and has had no
    problem since early school age, his brother developed it in early
    school age and today can't visit with us for long due to severe
    reaction to our cats and usual household dust.  My best advise would be
    to contact a pulmonay specialist who deals with children.
    
    As for the pediazole, I believe that medication, just by the sound of
    its name might be steroid.  Don't be alarmed because they are using
    steroids, it's NOT the same type of thing banned for athletes.  This is
    a type used to reduce inflamation, in this case in the lungs and
    breathing tubes.  For us it works wonderfully, but takes about 24 hours
    to begin being effective.  As for leaving it out on the counter all
    day, my pharmacist got a call from me under the same circumstances.  He
    told me that unless the house was warm, say above 65 degrees it would
    still be all right to use, since it was only out a few hours.  But I
    divert to your pharmacist for his expert advise.
    
    Contact me off line if you want to chat further.
    
    Lyn

    Several people I know (including myself) have had bronchitis as
    small children, with different results. One person gets it once
    or twice a year, around stressful times in her life. Myself, I've
    had it maybe 2 or 3 times in the last 25 years. From what I have
    heard from the medical profession, its a possibility that a person
    would be more likely to contract it again later in life, but as the
    previous reply noted, children may also grow out of it. 
    
    In the last 5 years, I've had it once (last year when I was 6 months
    pregnant....no picnic!) and once about 4 years ago that turned into
    a case of pneumonia after I ignored it.
    
    Best advice to someone who seems to be prone to it; watch those colds
    -- treat yourself right when you are sick. DON'T pretend its minor. I
    don't wish anyone to repeat my mistake 4 years ago. 
    
    For the basenoter: read up on it, and most importantly, ask the doctor
    about the chances and possibilities that your child may have future
    difficulties with this. We can only give you experiences and opinions;
    us NON medical-professionals 8-) 
    
    Monica

    My experiences with Bronchitis began when I was two-weeks old and
    lasted until I was 5 years old!  I think I was in the hospital more
    than I was out!  Please don't be alarmed, I'm not trying to scare you.
    
    I had my tonsils removed when I was 5 years old and haven't had
    anything of the sort since!  My daughter, who is now 5, is also prone
    to Bronchitis, strep throat, etc...  gets it all the time just like I
    did.  I asked the pediatrician why they don't remove tonsils more often
    to alleviate these bouts in children and he said basically due to
    mal-practice suits.  The risks involved in putting children under
    anasthesia are high.  The doctors don't want to take any chances.  He
    also told me that they WILL remove tonsils if strep throat, etc has
    been documented 5 times in one year...  By documented, he meant actual
    throat cultures EACH TIME.
    
    My advise is don't be REALLY alarmed, until the baby is older.  They
    won't do ANYTHING unless it's extremely bad!
    
    Good luck!

     No, just because it happens once doesn't mean it will happen every time. 
If the chain of events becomes frequent then you may want to look into
tonsils or asthma, as mentioned in previous notes.  Tonsils are a more likely
culprit if there are frequent infections, and asthma is a more likely culprit
if there is a cough or wheezing without any other symptoms.

     Our son's pattern is to get a cold, which then triggers an episode of
asthma, which hangs on long after the cold symptoms are gone.  Fortunately, 
it's easily treatable with an inhaler.  I don't have any idea how they can 
diagnose or treat someone that young (since both the diagnosis and the 
treatment I'm familiar with require some active cooperation from the 
patient), but it may be worth enquiring about. 
 
 
Clay 

    I'm going to throw this in here, NOT to scare you but to warn you that
    some doctors will "pull out all the stops" in testing a child to see if
    it's bronchitis, asthma or worse.  At less than one year AJ's pedi
    pulmonary doctor requested I have a "salt test", which plain and simple
    is a test for Cystic Fibrosis.  Now I just knew there wasn't a
    possibilty, but the mere mention of this almost literally knocked me
    off my feet.  He said it is a routinely done test, this man is quite
    respected in his field, but it really did throw me a curve.  Pretty
    much the test is painless, they just have to sit still for a half hour
    or so.  He told me it was just one more diagnositic tool used,
    especially when kids become congested more than once before their first
    birthday.  Thank God it was negative!
    
    I just wanted to warn you that some of the possible diagnosises with
    childhood congestion are truly scarey! and just wanted to warn you too.
    
    Lyn

    Lyn,
    You are correct.  Alot of pedi's do quite a few tests on an infant
    with bronchitis.  My daughter had bronchitis at 2 months old.  She,
    like your child, had many tests including the "sweat test" (salt test
    you mentioned).  Unfortunatly, her's was positive.
    >> Now I just knew there wasn't a possibilty,
    It never showed up in my family before so I was quite shocked! so
    anything is possible.  I'd rather they over test than miss something.
    Anyway, back to the topic at hand...
    
    Marie

    My daughter is a chronic bronchitis sufferer. She is currently taking
    Pediazole as well. We had a bad episode when she was about 11 months
    where we took her to the emergency room because of trouble breathing.
    Her last episode (besides the current one) was May. The doctors keep
    trying to classify her as asthmatic (chest xrays, etc.) but haven't
    yet.
    
    What we do now, which helped last winter, is to run a vaporizer in
    her room when she's sleeping, even when she's not ill.
    
    I also had some questions on the Pediazole. I thought the doctor we saw
    said it was an antibiotic. I can't remember what he said it was for
    (secondary infection sticks in my head). If anyone has good info on
    Pediazole, I'd love to hear it.
    
    Jan

    Like .5 AJ's pattern is to develop a cold, a real runny nose miserable
    one, and literally overnight he's wheezing.  And as a matter of fact
    we're in the middle of one of these as we speak.  This one ran the
    usual pattern of runny nose, cold symptoms for 3 days and then he
    started wheezing.  The doctors (pedi and specialist) and I are
    comfortable enough that we will try to treat it for about 3 days or
    until he needs his breathing treatments more frequently than every 4
    hours, then I am to consult first with the pedi then the specialist. 
    Kind of interesting how tonsils were mentioned, almost every time it's
    either strep throat or ear infection (despite his tubes) or both at
    once.  Maybe next time I'll push back a little harder to see if
    removing his tonsils might be an option.  He has probably had 4 or 5 in
    this year alone.
    
    This time it was strange though, I cranked up his humidifier on day 3
    of the "miseries", which was also day three of his pediapred (steroids)
    and this time the U/S humidifier seemed to make the rattling and
    wheezing worse.  I actually took him out of his room while the room
    mist settled down.  Last night I didn't put it on at all and kind of
    odd, no rattles at all.  I've also made it a point to try not to put
    the heat on in his room.  Just kept him well covered and in flannel
    sleepers, I feel the heat may trigger some wheezing too.  Who knows?
    
    Lyn
    

    Clay,
    If I remember correctly, I had bronchitis the first time (around 5
    years of ago) long before they found it necessary to take my tonsils
    out (problems between ages 10 and 11, finally removed at 11). 
    
    The bronchitis, as I might have implied, does NOT occur as a side
    effect of every cold. Heavens, I get 2-3 colds a year without its
    effects at all. As for wheezing, I only noticed small bronchial 
    problems one year as a result of allergies. Very very slight asthma
    that doesn't affect me at all now.
    
    Lyn,
    I had not realized they are so thorough now. As a child the doctor
    said "oh, bronchitis. Here Mrs. Fett, give her this medication" and
    that was the end of it. When I started having tonsilitis, they waited
    for a YEAR during which the swelling was pretty bad, before they
    decided to take them out. During that time I did not have any chest
    colds, just one endless sore throat.
    As an adult when I complained of wheezing about 2 years after the
    pneumonia, they said "oh, take an allergy test" I don't even recall
    being asked about a history of bronchitis....So many needles later
    they said "yes, mild allergies to things that fly in the air and 
    grow on plants...." 8-).
    After that first year of wheezing, the chest symptoms disappeared
    and I was left with the snifflies every summer since.
    
    Monica
                                                         

    My dauther Erin had a real stuffy nose and wheeszing Monday night. She
    came into our room and couldn't breath.  I picked her up and ran to 
    the bathroom and turned the hot shower on.  I felt so bad for her she
    was shaking.  I then grabbed her sleeping bag and brought her outside,
    she then started breathing ok and didn't want to go back in the house.
    Erin has been prone to bronchitis, she had ear infections all the time
    her first year.  I notice that she was at my girl friends house on
    Friday, and she has cats. Saturday night babysitter put the heat on
    in her bedroom. ( I never put the heat on in the bedrooms). I gave
    her Benadryl it seems to work best for her.  I have tried amoxiclline,
    ceclore,ventiline.  I am not looking forward to this winter.  One
    winter she had to take medicine every day. 
    
    Amy

    To the basenoter and other who want to know more about Pediazole.
    
    Well my son is usually put on it when he gets sick because it is the
    only thing that really seems to help him.  We found this out right
    after his 1st birthday when he got a bactrial infection and his white
    blood count went down.  The pedi first put him on Ceclor and when that
    didn't touch his 103 temp with in 3 days he put him on the Pediazole
    which took the fever down in 24 hours.
    
    Know Pediazole is a sulferbased antibiotic, that is why you must keep
    it refrigerated at all times.  I think my pedi told me that it is also
    mixed with penicillan.  So between the sulfer and the penicillan you
    can see why it works so well (at least it does on my kid).  I also know
    that you have to be careful about giving the kids other medications
    because of the sulfer, you can't mix it with other meds because it will
    cause reactions.
    
    Liz

    Liz, not to be picky but it's more likely the penicillin is the reason
    the Pediazole needs refridgeration, I've used Bactrim, which is sulfa
    based for several years, it does not require refridgeration.
    
    Sorry for announcing my ignorance in my first note.  As a general rule
    anything with an ending like "ole" is a steroid type base.  I wrongly
    assumend (and you know how to interpret assume) it was a steroid, which
    is also a common drug with lung inflamation.
    
    Lyn

    Hi.  My daugher is now almost 17 months and last winter was pure hell. 
    We started around this time of year with a cold, into an ear infection,
    bronchitis, double ear infection - all with the same cold.  Every time
    she got a cold, she got bronchitis and only once did she really have
    "wheezing" problems.  At that point, the doctor prescribed Ventalin, an
    Asthma medicine only to be used if she was wheezy.  Once the summer
    arrived, she did pretty well.  Now that the cold weather is setting in,
    she is once again congested.  My husband is asthmatic and as a child I
    tended to get upper respitory colds that lead to pheumonia (2x before 1
    year old).  Because of this, we watch Jackie carefully but so far she
    seems ok.  She has not been diagnosed as being asthmatic (yet).  From
    my personal experience (and it's easy to say now that our first winter
    is long behind us) is not to be too worried.  If you suspect anything,
    take her to the doctor and don't worry about being a pain - that's what
    they are there for.  At this time last year I was at the pedi's office
    once a week for over a month, so I know what a hassle it can be, but I
    now don't care.  Anyway, the Ventolin works ok for Jackie and I give it
    to her once a day if she is slightly congested, and twice a day if she
    is worse.  (Because it can make her hyper, I don't give it to her at
    bedtime).  The conjestion drives me nuts, but daughter is active and
    happy and the doctor says she's ok too.
    
    Good luck with your daughter. 
    Mary

    Since we went through almost a week of asthma symptoms thought I'd
    relate he lastest piece of advise from our pedi pulmonary specialist, they
    advise using the nebulizer machine with the ventolin IN it(we mix ours
    with Cromolin a sodium based liquid), as opposed to taking the ventolin or
    theodore type things by mouth.  Their reasoning is that because it's
    inhaled directly into the lungs it will be more effective, faster than
    by mouth, with much fewer side effects, such as the much dreaded
    hyper-activity. (I do have the liquid forms of these meds, but they are
    truly a "last resort", they literally turn my mild mannered son into
    some kind of screaming monster, who is completely out of control)
    
    Further, the recent publicity about inhaled steroids has not been
    approved as of yet in the U.S. for pediatrics.  And when it is, it will
    have to be used as a separate thing, it can not be put into the
    nebulizer machine for inhalation, it will be sold in one of the
    "puffer" type inhalers. (the plastic frame around the tiny, upside down
    mini aerosol can).  These have, however been approved for use in many
    other countries like Canada and U.K. already, the FDA is still deciding
    on it here in the state.  I thought I had finally found a solution, but my
    hopes were quickly dashed unfortunately.
    
    Lyn

Wow, I hadn't realized a diagnosis of "bronchitis" could have so many
repercussions.

My daughter has been diagnosed as having bronchitis 3 times now in the last 6 
months (she is 16.5 months old).  She has never had trouble breathing that I 
could see, just a cough that drives me crazy because it lasts so long.
Rarely I can feel her lungs wheeze when she breathes.  She's never had any ear 
infections with these episodes (or at any other time).  What I'm trying to say 
is that it never seemed really bad, just that it seemed to last a long time (2 
to 3 weeks each time).  She's on Ceclor right now, and was on Ventolin for a 
couple of days until the cough subsided.

My concern is that this episode has lasted almost a week now and the cough
is returning.  I'm going to take her to the pedi again on Friday.  She has
been sick now since, oh I think the beginning of October.  She had the
bronchitis then and was on amoxicillin and it was gone by the end of October.
She just happened to have her 16-month checkup at that time and she checked
out fine.  But then it was back again within a week.  Luckily it doesn't get 
her down, but it's driving me crazy and making my husband worry.

I have a very mild asthma and also allergies.  Gosh I hope she hasn't inherited
this from me.  My mom said as a baby though I never was diagnosed as having
bronchitis or anything like it.  My allergies showed up in childhood, not
babyhood.

I thought I read somewhere that allergies/asthma don't exhibit themselves
until after babyhood (whenever that is).

Also, when do you take her to a specialist instead of the pedi?  Should I ask
the pedi about this on Friday?

Kyra

    Let's see if I can quote my son's pedi pulmonary specialist at Umass
    Medical in Worcester.  He "pronounces" the children, no matter how
    young they are, asthmatic if they have had three or more episodes of
    Brochitis in a 6 month period. For us AJ was under 6 months old.  He also 
    tries to wait, unless symptoms are very severe, 5 days before prescribing 
    steroids such a prelone or pediapred, and prefers ventolin inhaled through 
    a nebulizer machine, as opposed to giving the liquid by mouth.  The inhaled
    ventolin acts quicker, is more direct, and tends to produce much less 
    behavior (hyperactivity) than that which is taken by mouth.
    
    By the way, when using the steroids most kids, including ours, have a
    ravenous (like he will eat us out of house and home) appetite!
    
    My thoughts would be to first, as a courtesy, run it past your general
    pedi, but since you have a history of brochial problems you ought to
    seek out a specialist, just to keep things under control with the
    advantage of the latest treatment methods.  I have literally seen
    treatments of asthma and brochitis change on a month to month basis.
    
    Lyn 
             

    
    Has anyone out there had any problem with their children having a
    Bronchial type cold called, as my doctor put it: Bronchialitis  ?
    
    Michael got a head cold a month ago (his first, he's 5 mos), and it
    hung around for 2 weeks but then it was over, and never did get into 
    coughing or into the chest, just gave him a stuffy/runny nose and
    cranky.  He had one week of relief, and now he is back down with
    another one, that started int he head, but has moved down to the lungs
    and now he is coughing, stuffy, wheezy, trouble sleeping and MAJORLY 
    unhappy. 
    
    I took him to the dr's last Thurs (after one week and it was just
    getting worse) and the dr said he's got Bronchialitis.  He said its 
    going around very fasst in young children and has asthmatic symtoms.
    
    I guess what I am getting at, does anyone have any suggestions for
    treating this type of cold in one so young, besides:
    
    Humidifier / salt water drops in nose / bed lifted / bulb syringe / TLC
    
    He is also taking Pedi-care, and a form of Ventolin for the
    breathing...  
    
    I have asthma myself, and I am hoping he won't get it so soon if he's
    going to inherit it from me....
    
    Also....I was talking to someone the other day and we didn't agree,
    Which way do you tip the head of his bed? Raise his head, or lower it??
    
    Thanks in advance...
    I hope this ends soon...
    
    Chris
    
    

    Chris,
    
    My son, Nathan, at the age of 5 months also came down with
    Bronchialitis.  Basically, we did everything you are already doing.  We
    did raise his crib for a short while so that his head was elevated. 
    This is to keep his nose draining.  If you tipped him the other way,
    all the mucous would end up pooling in his head and ears. (Yuck!)  The
    reason we only raised the crib a short while was because Nathan is an
    active sleeper and more times than not, we would find him upside down
    in which case the elevated crib was not doing any good.  We are quite
    experienced with all the procedures for colds, etc. because since
    Thanksgiving (which was when Nathan first came down with Bronchialitis)
    Nathan has had about 8 ear infections from all the colds he catches. 
    Also, my nephew was diagnosed with bronchialitis (10 months old) and
    received the same advice (elevated crib, vaporizer, Ventolin cough
    syrup, etc).  Neither children have had another case of Bronchialitis
    so I would try not to worry about it.
    
    Just my experience
    Julie

    
    Thanks for the imput Julie...
    
    Thats what I thought the dr told me to RAISE the head of the bed to
    let it drain...  it was my husbands aunt (a nurse) who told us to LOWER
    his head...I guess meaning it would all drain to his head, and then
    just suction it out???  :-(  But to me, that would deinfatly make for
    miserable sleeping, for he would be getting clogged up every hour
    (and I'm not getting much sleep as it is!).
    
    Also..Julie...did your doctor still have you give him something for his
    nose (pedicare/dimetapp) along with the Ventolin?   Mine said I could
    stop the Pedi care and just go with Ventolin, and 8 hours later at 2am
    I was faced with a MAJORLY BLOCKED up child who couldn't breath at ALL
    though his nose, along with the couching. So I went back to giving him 
    some Pedi care (the kind for stufy/runny nose) also. He's still stuffed, 
    but not half as bad as without it.
    
    First time Mom whoas,
    Chris
    
    

    My daughter had bronchialitis and many other breathing problems.  I 
    was always told to raise the head.
    
    Marie

    How old it your child?  OK you didn't really ask for all this advise
    but...
    
    	Raise the head, for our purposes we removed the wheels on the crib
    and put a 2 X 4 board under the head end.  We also used a simpler
    method which was to put a pillow between the matress and the springs of
    the crib.  That seemed to be "just enough" to allow good position
    without him slipping too far down in the bed.  If he is still small
    enough to put the whole car seat (or something like a kangarockaroo)
    right on the mattress, it's the right position and eliminates him
    slipping down in the bed.
    
    Our pedi-pulmonary doctor is very adament about using decongestants
    with asthma or bronchial type things.  They tend to dry up all
    secretions and make the chest even "tighter" than it ought to be.  I
    called my pedi when AJ was an infant with a similar complaint:  The
    Dimetap was only holding him 3 to 4 hours at a time, and we were both
    getting too tired to cope.  The pedi called in a prescripton for
    something called "rynatan"(?sp) which lasts 8 to 12 hours, and will
    decongest without making his chest too dry.  He still takes it when he
    gets a cold, even though he is a diagnosed asthmatic.
    
    A second real important thing is to keep the humidifier running as high
    as the room can stand(let's not steam off the paper here!), and what we
    have found that helps more than the ventolin by mouth (the liquid) is
    to have your insurance company either buy (J Hancock plan bought ours)
    or rent a nebulizer machine and have the kiddo *inhale* the ventolin
    with a saline solution added.  This machine has literally kept him from
    being admitted to the hospital several times, since it works within 20
    minutes.  We give it to him via an oxygen mask, the machine comes with
    a puffer type thing that adults put in their mouths.  This just doesn't
    work with kids, since most kids can't grasp the concept.
    
    You seem to be doing everything the way it ought to be done, just don't
    give up.  I do know personally how trying of patience these things can
    be!
    
    Lyn

    Chris,
    
    I am a first time mom also - 
    
    Our doctor suggested Naldicon or Dimetapp at night time to help him
    breathe.  He also warned us not to overuse the decongestant because
    eventually it would be ineffective for him because his system would
    (hmmm! I can't think of the word) become immune to it?  We started with
    Naldicon and then switched to Dimetapp at the doctor's suggestion that
    it tastes better.  Nathan certainly agreed with that one - no more
    wrestling with an infant to get the medicine down. :-)
    
    Julie

    Yahli,my almost 4 months old baby,had Bronchialitis when she was 10
    weeks old. Stuffy nose,coughing,but the worst was she could not eat,and   
    she had started dehydrating. We ended up at the hospital with oxygen     
    tent and infusions and all those yucky things. She got over it pretty    
    fast though. Our doctor had said that the best medicine for such a young
    baby was TLC. The only thing he gave her was nose drops which are just     
    salt and water. That was great since it helped her breath and so she
    could eat again. We did however HIGHER up the side of the head in her
    bed.
    I can't really tell about the doctors in the states,but here in Israel
    most doctors do not recommend medicines for babies under 9-12
    months,and will try to find natural ways to make them feel better.
    Spring's in the air...
    rivka

                                                                            

    
    Thanks for all the replies....I think I am going to call the dr's
    office again today... his nose is just getting uncontrollable, and his
    cough is getting even nastier. Comes right from his toes. He woke up 
    stuffed up and coughing to where he didn't seem to be able to stop at
    2 am this morning. We went out to the living room and had a couple sips
    of juice, and he did go back down to sleep..but was back up at 4:30
    (his usual, unfortunatly) ALL stuffed up.Between suctioning, wiping etc
    his nose should be falling off soon.  He's still 1/2 way eating. He
    doesn't down a bottle ike he used to, takes alot longer...but he's
    still eating his cereal and fruit, and juice..
    
    I'm keeping UP with everything...Ventolin every 8 hrs, Pedi care (for
    the cough and nose) every 4...just doesn't seem to be helping....Just
    when I think it is, he has another bad time.  ?????  Its driving my
    husband batty...he stayed home with him yesterday. Today he is with my
    friend (his usual) and I'll be calling her shortly.
    
    As I said before, I have asthma, so I know what we could be in for if
    he gets it, and I think thats what I am the most scared of.  Him being 
    so young and frail...(5 mos today).
    
    Fingers crossed...
    
    Chris
    

    Chris,
    
    I think it is best you call the doctor again just for piece of mind. 
    We do that quite often with Nathan and usually we are correct in doing
    so because of his nasty ear infections.  One thing that I forgot to
    mention with Nathan and his bronchialitis was that after we would give
    him his bottle (what little he would take) he would end up coughing so
    hard that the bottle would come right back up.  I believe that the
    plugged nose, congestion lasted about 2 weeks, but his cough lasted
    even longer although considerably better as time went by.  I am not
    sure what doseage Michael is getting of Ventolin, but we were allowed
    to give the Ventolin to Nathan 4 times a day.  
    
    Please let us know how everything turns out.
    
    Julie

    
    Well, I took Michael back to the dr's again yesterday afternoon, and
    they put him on an antibiotic, and a low grade steriod for the
    congestion, and she said we should see a big improvment by today. And
    (so far) she's right!!!  It was the first morning in over a week that
    he didn't wake himself up coughing or choking, and he drank his whole
    bottle down at one sitting! (he couldn't finish them before because he
    was so congested). His nose is still running and he's still somewhat
    stuffy...but only 1/2 as bad since yesterday.  he even "looks" a little 
    better.  I was so glad to see him this morning like this (even though
    it was at 3:30 am!!). 
    
    He's with grandma and grandpa today....I'm crossing my fingers that he
    keeps getting better!!
    
    The dr's said to keep up with the other meds too (4 now), and they will
    see him again on Fri.  I hate giving him so much medication at once,
    but I guess its just for a couple days to try and conquer this thing.
    
    Thanks for all the tips everyone... I hope the storm is almost over.
    
    Chris
    

    Chris,
    
    I don't know where you are located, but there is a respitory virus
    hitting our community (southern NH) real bad.  Shannon spent the
    weekend in the hospital with RSV and pneumonia and double ear
    infections! My advise is to watch for dehydration -- poor kid was
    dehydrated pretty bad.  Now I am feeding her all the things I was going
    to keep away from her for the first years (jello, ice cream, gingerale
    etc.)
    
    She came home Monday and is receiving ventolin (via nebulizer) every 4
    hours, antibiotics every 8, and a steriod every 8.  Doctors told us to
    "bite the bullet" she will get through it (yeah but will mom and dad?)
    
    RE: use of nebulizer.  Do you use it at the onset of cold syptoms? 
    Does the doctor recommend it, or do you use it at your own discretion?
    I purchased one for Shannon and I'm curious as to how it will help to
    keep her out of the hospital next time.  Can you offer your experience?
    
    Thanks for any help
    beth

    
    Beth..
    
    I am not using a nebulizer for Michaels Ventolin...He is getting it
    orally in a syrup...  (didn't someone else mention one of those things
    in here though???)  I don't even know what one is, but I am assuming it
    is a sort of breathlizer that she inhales the Ventolin with????
    
    Luckily he seem to still be drinking plenty...alot of times though he 
    doesn't want his bottle, but will suck down 4 oz of juice in a snap.
    Which the dr said was just fine...as long as he has the fluids...
    And so far his ears look fine...
    
    Chris
    

    Chris,
    
    I'm glad to hear Michael is better.  You mentioned he is on an
    antibiotic - that is one thing I forgot to mention - Nathan was put on
    Pediazole, although I'm not sure if it was just for the ear infections
    or also for the bronchialitis.  Nonetheless, isn't it just wonderful to
    have an almost happy baby again!
    
    Julie

    
    Thanks Julie...  Yes...he was put on Erythomycine (sp?)....
    But unfortunatly my "happy baby" isn't back yet...after I wrote
    yesterdays note he took a turn for the worse "attitude" wise and was
    pretty cranky for Grammie and Grampa most of the day...and in calling
    my girlfriend this morning, he's all cranked up again today.. But the
    most important thing he is doing better physically I'd say...his
    congestion is better and cough is better..so I guess thats what counts. 
    Just have to hold onto our patience a little longer and ride it out. 
    
    I have tomorrow off, and plan on "babying" him most all weekend...so...
    hopefully it will improve. He seems to do pretty well when its just he
    and I at home, warm and relaxed. My husband says he definatly knows who 
    "mom" is now.  (kinda a nice feeling, huh?)
    
    Fingers crossed that by Monday he'll be getting close to 100%!
    
    Chris
    

    
    Julie..(or anyone)..
    
    I forgot...did you notice a difference in your childs appetite after
    being put on meds...???  He didn't eat much "at all" yesterday. Only
    drank about 15 oz of formula ALL DAY, but is drinking plenty of juice
    and still eating his cereal and fruit. (I gave him cereal twice
    yesterday since he doesn't seem to want to drink his formula). You can
    be feeding him his formula and he'll drink an ounce or 2 then want
    nothing to do with it, but put a bottle of juice in his mouth right after 
    it, and he'll down it!  ??  
    
    The dr told me as long as he's drinking (dehydration?) not to worry...
    But its just makes me worry he's not getting enough nutrients...
    
    Chris
    
    PS. Back to the pedi tomorrow for a check up...
    

    Chris,
    
    Nathan drank his bottles fine - the problem was that he would cough so
    hard that most of it would come back up.  But we didn't worry about it
    because I know how I feel when I'm all congested (not hungry at all). 
    The doctor also said not to worry about it as long as he had two wet
    diapers a day (less than this would indicate dehydration).  I know it's
    hard not to worry, but try to put yourself in his place and think of
    how your appetite is when you're not feeling well.  Hope to hear news
    of a happy baby soon - we've been fighting the happy baby on and off
    again syndrome that last 4 months with all these ear infections.  It
    came really be a struggle some days with all his crankiness, but just
    one smile or one good hour a day helps to continue on.
    
    Julie

You mentioned that he's been a little cranky and irritable since he's been on the 
E-mycin.  Some anitbiotics, especially the E-mycin will cause extreme amounts of
gas, and even an upset stomach.  My pharmacist says it's best taken with either 
some milk or with a meal.

Do you think you would be able to arrange to give him his meds with one of his
feeds?

I am very glad that things seem to be at least a little better!

Lyn
(enjoy your day as a mommy!)

    Until Lyn mentioned the gas associated with antibiotics, I almost
    forgot about it because it has become so routine with us.  The routine
    is that we give Nathan yogurt once or twice a day.  Nathan has been on
    antibiotics almost every single day since Thanksgiving (actually the
    day after since we suffered through the doctor not being available on
    Thanksgiving day).  In between his actual ear infections, Nathan is on
    preventative antibiotic (which has not been working, but that's another
    story).  When we complained to the doctor about Nathan's gas, he
    explained to us that antibiotics have a way of killing off the bacteria
    that is causing the infection.  However, some antibiotics not only kill
    off the bad bacteria, but also kill off the good bacteria that aids
    digestion.  His suggestion to us was to give Nathan the yogurt because
    yogurt contains the live culture (bacteria) that was being killed by
    the antibiotic.  Maybe you could ask your doctor about this if you
    think his crankiness is being caused by gas or an upset tummy.
    
    Julie 

    
    Boy...you guys are right on the nose!  He has had alot of gas lately
    too, and I dind't realise what was causing it...! Maybe I will ask the
    doctor about that tomorrow when we have his check up.
    
    I am so thankful for this notesfile, and the contributers! Makes me
    feel like I am not toally crazy, and that the things I question are
    valid.
    
    Thanks people..!
    I will reply Monday and let you know how he's doing.
    
    Chris
    
    

    Chris, 
    	If you don't want to wait until tomorrow, try Mylicon (sp?) you can 
    get it over the counter.  It really helps Shayne when he has gas and an
    upset stomach. 
    
    FWIW

    RE: mylicon
    
    Our experience has been that in the case of gas caused by antibiotics,
    it hasn't really helped.  However, I would have killed someone had the
    doctor not suggested it in his first 10 weeks when he would scream an
    entire evening away.  Each child is different though and I would go by
    the suggestion of what your doctor says.
    
    Julie

MYLICON is probalby the best sanity saver since.....(you fill in the blank)
	But.... it's a little on the VERY expensive side, something like $12.
for a one ounce bottle 5 years ago when AJ was an infant.  But when desperate
some parents will do (or pay) desperate things!

By the way, its main ingredient is simethicone, and is now sold in tablets with
the antacids for grownups with gas.  I think the brand name is GASEX.

Lyn

    
    
    Yes, the mylicon is quite expensive.  Our doctor offered an alternative
    brand (same exact ingredients as Mylicon), Phazyme, which costs about
    $5 less.  One thing the doctor did mention to us was that simethicone
    is not actually absorbed into the body, so he told us not to worry
    about giving Nathan too much.  When Nathan was 6 months old, the doctor
    suggested that we give him 2 dropperfuls (sp?) of Mylicon.  I then
    asked the doctor why so much when the instructions for Mylicon suggest
    only 1 dropper 4 or so times a day.  The doctor explained that the
    instructions are on the conservative side and that since simethicone is
    not absorbed into the body and only breaks the gas bubble into smaller
    parts, that we could give Nathan an entire bottle of the medicine
    without having any worry of overdose.  We certainly didn't do that, but
    it was nice to know that we could give him a normal dose, then wait a
    while and if it didn't work, give him a little more.  
    
    Sorry for rambling, but this has been our experience.  Again, check
    with your doctor on what he would suggest.
    
    Julie
    
    P.S.  The other day I noticed at Walgreens some new packaging of
    Mylicon.  It is now called Mylanta Gas and in small print says that it
    was previously known as Mylicon so be on the lookout.  Also, if you check
    your bottle of plain old Mylanta at home, you will see that one of the
    ingredients is simethicone.
                                                                  

    My 4 (almost 5) month old daughter Jessica has been going through the
    same thing. I also have a friend who's baby is the same age and is having 
    the same problems.  Has anyone else noticed the increase in sick children. 
    Could it be the time of year?  
    
    Poor Jessica has had this "cold/bronciatis" off and on since she was two 
    weeks old. My doctor does not seem concerned but I am.  I'm tired of running
    the vaporizer, sucking out her nose, putting drops in her nose, etc.. 
    She's even getting used to the medicine in her bottles.  She gets fussy
    when I give her plain formula.
    
    Hopefully its just the season.
    
    Angie
    
    
    
    

My mother must have gone through the same thing with me that you are going 
through with Jessica.  I spent every winter in bed until I started school with
what my mother says was chronic bronchitis.  All the Christmas photos of me
show me in pyjamas.  I remember being allowed up for special events like 
Christmas and my birthday.  I also remember the vaporisers and medicines and
oxygen tents.

This all went away when I was about five and started school.

Once a dioctor told me as an adult and I was suffering from recurrent Strep
throat that people like me should be happy we live in a modern age when these
miracle drugs can solve many of these problems.  If I had been born a hundred
years earlier, I probably would have died as a baby.

I guess we must just count our blessings and certainly, Jessica must be one :-)

ccb

    
    Thanks for all the replies...
    
    re: mylicon
        I do have some (from before when he was constipated and gassy) but
    	to tell you the truth, forgot about using it.
    
    an update on his progress:
    
    	I HAVE MY HAPPY BABY BACK!!!  (sorry about the caps!) I was home
    	with him from Thursday until yesterday (my car died), and he was
    	smiling up a storm, laughing, happy-go lucky! he no longer demanded
    	every minute of your attention, he's not stuffy, clogged or
    	anything, he's back to his usual sleep habits, etc....  YEAH!!!!!!!
    	I am so excited!!!  You had to see his eyes just "shining" when he
    	smiled all weekend. It was so wonderful. 
    
    	I think some of his "attitude" problems as far as being cranky near
    	the end, had alot to do with the low-grade steriod they put him on
    	for the congestion. Now that I think of it. Because I have asthma,
    	and when I happen to have a bad attack, I always cringe when the
    	make me take a steriod, because it makes me all jittery, etc..  Now	
    	I realise that thats probably why he was as "cranky" as he was,
    	besides just the fact of being sick.  
    
    	I took him to the dr's Friday, and she said she never would of
    	known it was the same baby. She made a comment about being happy 
    	she could cure "someone" this week...Must of been a tough week for
    	her.
    
    	So...I spent all of my time this weekend, devoted to Michael, and I
    	couldn't be happier. 
    
    	Thanks for everyones replies....I'm sure this won't be his last
    	cold/bronchitis, etc...but it was a bit tough on a first time mom!
    	I guess I'll be better prepared next time, huh?
    
    	Chris
    

    
    Just when you thought it was over...WHAM!
    
    He is sick again. (Michael)
    One whole week to the day of "happy baby"...and now he's all stuffed up
    again and miserable. I don't see HOW this could happen being he was
    still on his antibiotic...??
    
    Maybe I'm just new to this, and I knew he'd get sick again sometime,
    but I guess I expected more of a time-lapse between bouts....
    (they should have warrantees with all the meds you have to give them!)
    :-)
    
    Has anyone elses kids "doubled up" on these bouts...???  
    
    I brought him to the pedi (again) yesterday and she put him on
    Pediazone (sp?), another antibiotic...  said it could be a sinus
    infection, and that if it was, 10 days of antibi's wouldn't do it, it
    would take longer....   his breathin sounds clear...
    
    but we're back to no sleep (can't breath though his nose), refusing
    bottles, and just all in all "miserable"...   (pout pout)
    
    I'm a first time mom (as you can tell), and I just don't know "how" all
    you seasoned moms do it....I imagine I'll learn...(no choice), and I AM
    greatful he's healthy in other ways, things could be worse...
    But BOY it takes alot out of you...!  I don't think it would be too bad
    if I could stay home with him, but trying to catch enough sleep to make
    it in here every day is starting to wear on me...
    
    Any tips on surviving these "rough spots"???
    
    zzz-zzz-zzz
    Chris
    

    Hi Chris,
    
    I don't have any tips to offer at this time.  However, I know exactly
    what your going through because Jessica woke up yesterday with a severly 
    stuffed up nose.  We had three days of happiness and here we go again.  
    I am going to call my pedi and schedule yet another appointment.   When 
    will it end???  I used to think that having your Pedi know you and your
    children without looking at your chart was a positive thing.
    
    Angie
    
    

    
    Thanks Angie, its nice to know I'm not alone...    I had to stay home
    with him again yesterday...we had been up all night with him, and I
    knew he felt warm but didn't think it was bad. Well, on my way out the 
    door I decided to take his temp to make ME feel better, and it turned
    out to be 102. Wonderful. In the whole month or so he's been sick he
    had never run a temp, so I was worried.   I stayed home, called the dr, 
    but just said to keep an eye on it, Tylenol etc...  It seems never
    ending.  We had a pretty quiet day...and amazingly enough he slept
    through the night last night for the first time in weeks! And wasn't
    even stuffed up when he woke!  (maybe the TLC helped, huh?)
    
    So...he is at Grampas today...and we'll see how it goes. 
    Yes..it is scary when they start knowing you by name when you call.
    I'm getting ready to rent out a room at the Pedi's office.:-)
    
    My fingers are crossed for this one to be the last for
    awhile...(please?)
    
    Chris
    

    I know how you feel!  My daughter Samantha and I have been passing a
    cold back and forth since the end of her first week at daycare.  She
    started at 6 wks so it's been 3 months.  (She's 4 1/2 months old
    now).....We have been to the dr's at least once a week since then for
    one thing or another.  They just keep telling me "Wait until summer -
    you both will get better then...."
    
    Hoping that summer comes sooner this year......
    
    Andrea 
    

This is my story which has a happy ending.  It is for those of
you with children who have constant ear infections, bronchitis,
and the works.

My daughter, Julie, is almost 5.  She made it through this 
winter with barely any illness at all!  This is amazing.

The first winter she had an ear infection from September til June, non
stop.  She would finish the 10 days of medication and be sick again 2
days later.  I started scheduling the ear recheck exams exactly 2 days
after the medicine ran out.  She would start with a cold which went
into a major cough and bronchitis and ear infections.  We went from one
antibiotic to the next more potent as she slowly became immune to one
after the next.  After a while, the doctor started talking about ear
tubes.  He also said that once summer started, the ear infections
would be much fewer because there isn't as much cold bugs around.  We
didn't want to rush into anything so we waited.  In June, when Julie
was immune to most of the common antibiotics, we decided to put in the
tubes.  The operation is out patient and we were home by noon.  It
really wasn't bad at all.  The amazing thing is that the next day she
was well!  You have to realize how wonderful this is after her being
constantly sick for 10 months!  Not only did the ear infections become
very few, but the colds did as well!  She just didn't get sick as
often.  The next winter, she was only sick a few times!  It was
wonderful.  The following winter, the tubes had fallen out.  After 3
constant ear infections, we put the tubes back.  Again, immediately
she was better!  This last October, after the second set of tubes fell
out, she started getting constantly sick again.  This time, the
doctors said that it might be her adenoids.  We did an x-ray and sure
enough, the adenoids were so swollen that they were totally blocking
her nasal passage.  She couldn't breath out of her nose at all.  We
removed her adenoids and put in the third set of tubes.  She was even
better this winter.  We only had 2 sets of bronchitis and no ear
infections!  She wasn't even that sick, she missed no school.

Even though she was always so sick, it didn't affect her growth or
learning.  She is a very happy, tough kid.  She is doing great in
nursery school.  

I have a new baby, well not so new, he is 13 months now.  He is much
less prone to ear infections.  He caught a cold and got better,
on his own, in only 3 days!  I have never seen a kid recover from a
cold on his own before!  I was so excited that I called the doctor
to tell him.  He said that I deserved a healthier kid after all the
problems with Julie.  But, he was happy too.  Doctors get frustrated
too, just like parents.

I guess the moral of the story is to hang in there.  Check into your
options, like ear tubes, and remember that they will out grow the
ear infections eventually.  I keep asking when, and the answer is somewhere
between birth and 7 years.  Oh well, only 2 more to go...

This note is getting too long.  I didn't give the medical reasons why
kids get so many ear infections, or why the tubes work, or why the
adenoids can also play a part, or how I lived through 5 years of it...  
If anyone wants more information say so and I can expand on it.

Jill