Well, just great.:hissyfit: Brenna has had this cough and congestion going on for the last couple of days. I had the same thing for the past two weeks, so I just figured I gave it to her, and she'd be over it in a couple of days. Well...Wednesday night she started coughing so hard, she vomited, not like reflux, but like empty her stomach (sorry TMI) vomiting. She was turning beet red, etc. Not to mention, the congestion just didn't get any better, and in fact, kept getting worse. So, I called in to work yesterday and took her to the Ped thinking it might be an atypical RSV (her nose and head were clear, no congestion at all). We get to the Ped's office and can hear her wheezing to beat the band, and coughing like crazy. His feeling was RSV. That really kind of irked me since we've been getting Synagis (at $3000 a dose) since October to avoid RSV. We gave her albuterol in the office, and she started wheezing more. At that point, our ped decided it may be the asthma (reactive airways disease) that we've been waiting for (since I have asthma, and Brenna has the allergies and feeding intolerances). He still wanted to rule out RSV (thinking that the Synagis could have changed the course of the disease), so off to the hospital (where I was supposed to be working, but had called in:sad3: ) for a chest x-ray and RSV swab. Well, good news, the RSV was negative and the chest x-ray (I saw it) was pretty typical for asthma exacerbation. Great,:hissyfit: , home with albuterol, Pulmicort, Pediapred, and a home nebulizer. Funny, though, our home health rep offered to come up to the RT office to give me a home instruct on the nebulizer I was picking up - smart aleck!!! So, now you can count me in the list of moms holding down screaming kids to give 30 minute albuterol/Pulmicort treatments to. Poor Brenna, she just can't catch a break. Everyone says she looks just like dh, great, so she had to inherit all of my bad stuff??? She gets the GERD from me, I was hoping we could avoid the asthma. Guess not!

Oh No Lori. ((hug)) at least you know what you are looking for, talking about and how to do it.
That's a plus, right? :hug:

Well, it is a big time positive that she does not have RSV! Iain had that at 11 days of age and was in the hospital for 8 days, suffering a vasal vagal response due to deep suctioning along the way. Really, I know asthma is not pretty but if she has it and gets RSV on top it is much worse.:hug:

It seems she is getting all the fun stuff from you. I was sort of in the same boat until I did a bit of investigation into Dhs family and found that I am not the only one bringing less than Olympic genes into this family.;-) Regardless of what she does inherit from you, know that there is plenty of great stuff she will inherit as well.:-)

It must be so hard to be basically tied into your job at home, too. :sad5: Seems like quite a load of meds for her and for you to dole out. I am a big fan of everything being a suppository when at all possible. lol Given half a chance I would revolutionize the childrens medication industry.:smt036

I really had to laugh at the thought of you having an RT giving you lessons. You should have said yes and then had some fun.:haha:

I hope you find it gets easier soon. It really does stink when you have to medicate so much and when you have so many complications, but somehow you will get through it.:hug:

No, I'm really not upset that it's RAD instead of RSV. I was so afraid that it would be RSV, and that I would have brought it home to her. I'm always really careful about taking showers when I come home from work and before I touch her, but you just never know - that virus lives on surfaces forever!

Leigh, you hit the nail right on the head. I was joking at the Peds office that Brenna owes me lots of kisses for all the freebie neb treatments she's gonna be getting - I get paid lots of money for doing those!:rolling: It is frustrating to be an RT all day at work, then come home and do the same thing here. My dh is really good about giving her the evening and bedtime treatments - he knows how much I hate doing neb txs. I am definitely a critical care therapist!;-)

Thanks to everyone for the :hug: ! I needed it!

It is tough to keep the kiddos clear of viruses, etc. when you are NOT working in an environment such as a hosptial that is ripe with them. I have people who are at home with their kids and they get everything going, too so I think it just happens no matter what we do. A biohazard suit is coming to you via the vbplaza though and I hope it works for you!;-)

It is great that your Dh helps with the treatments as it can wear on you to be the only one medicating a child, particularly when there are so many meds to give and therapy on top. I love that Bill will help with it and does them along with me as it is so important to have a break from it. It hurts to look into your kiddos eyes and see that they are upset with you each time you do it and it is so often. :sad2: Kind of spreads the joy when you have someone to help you.

:hug: Another one for you.

Thanks, Leigh, I may just need to pick up a REAL biohazard suit from the fire dept, too. Do you think my patient's would be concerned if I wore it to work???:sad5:

Thanks, Leigh, I may just need to pick up a REAL biohazard suit from the fire dept, too. Do you think my patient's would be concerned if I wore it to work???:sad5:

Naw, it would be uh, "interesting". Yeah, that is what I will go with.:haha:

Thanks, Leigh, I may just need to pick up a REAL biohazard suit from the fire dept, too. Do you think my patient's would be concerned if I wore it to work???:sad5:

Now THERE'S a visual!

Hang in there, Lori...and try not to beat yourself up over heredity. :box2:

:hug:

im sor sorry to here that you are having tio tdo treatments on your own baby im sure as a dr that would be something always on your mind saying to your self I hope i never have to treat my own kids on the bright side you are verrry good at it

Aw thanks, Amy! Just when I needed a vote of confidence!:hug:

Lori,

I am so sorry that you are having to go through this:hug: . I can truly relate to what you are going through.......both Rylie and Dylan have reactive airway....of course, inherited from me. On Monday, Rylie is going to have her adenoids taken out and I am hoping this is going to help the reactive airway. I know that it will not cure it, but at least help a little. She has had numerous sinus infections which then activate her reactive airway.

I am thinking about you. Let us know how things are going.