To Pedi or Not?

[sstwinklinglites]

DS has never truly been sick. Just a sniffle or two here and there, nothing that has ever required any scripts.

He's been incredibly congested since yesterday. I'm talking, I can hear that ish a mile away. I used the Frida on him twice, and I've never before gotten so much snot out of his little nose. He has the slightest cough as well, and yesterday he had two monster poopsplosions (this can be illness, or the prunes he had with his oatmeal, however, he's had prunes several times before, and this has never happened). He seems ok otherwise, and I haven't noticed a fever. I'm just kinda keeping an eye on him, but all you ladies with experience with sick LO's, at what point would you call the pedi? What can I do at home in the meantime?

[becole]

Not eating, not sleeping, can't breathe, or tugging on ears- those are reasons I take lo to the pedi. I don't even take him for fevers or poop or congestion, since if its a virus- and not an ear infection or bronchiotis type thing- they won't prescribe meds and it will be a waste of money and a visit.

[mom2boxers]

If he's in a decent mood and he's breathing okay (not fighting for breath), I would just watch him and make sure he's getting plenty of fluids (formula, purees, water). My doc told me not to suck out LO's nose too often because that can also cause irritation. If the cough lasts for a week and doesn't seem to be getting better, they've also had me bring LO in. Normally it ends up being an ear infection or for a cough that really persisted it was a combo of the ear infection and bronchiolitis (sp?). He finally got over the cough after 2-3 weeks but you couldn't treat it with medicine.

[JoBub]

I agree with everything becole said. My DS has had a stuffy nose and cough off an on for weeks. There's nothing much the doctor could do about it. Same with tummy troubles. It will probably pass on its own. In your case, I'd just keep an eye on him. We've been dabbing a little Aquaphor on his nose because it gets all red and chapped from wiping so much. Reasons I would go to the doctor:

Fever that doesn't get better with Tylenol
Suspected ear infection
Cough that sounds like something more serious
If any symptoms affect eating, sleeping, or breathing

However, a call to the office nurse's line never hurts and can ease your mind. They'll tell you if they think you need to come in or not.

[JoBub]

Also, I thought this thread was going to be about pedicures. And my answer was going to be yes. Always yes.

[sstwinklinglites]

Thanks girls.

I'm keeping an eye on him in case I sense an ear infection, but otherwise, he seems un - bothered.

Also, what do you all now about virus' in general? We have his appt. with the derm. for his skin issue on the 14th, but I have a very strong suspicion it's viral, which is exactly what the ER told us the first time these hive like things showed up on his skin back in Oct. and we suspected food allergies. He's now been eating anything and everything, and it's not changed anything, and the Zyrtec doesn't seem to be making a difference. But what virus lasts this long and has no other symptoms? I held off on signing him up for swimming because I think they would give me shit about letting him interact with other kids when they see his poor little legs. Maybe I make it sound worse than it is, but as his mom, I feel like it just looks so bad.

[sstwinklinglites]

Mar 31, 2015 9:17:46 GMT -5 JoBub said:

Also, I thought this thread was going to be about pedicures. And my answer was going to be yes. Always yes.

Haha. Always, always yes.

[becole]

Mar 31, 2015 9:22:48 GMT -5 sstwinklinglites said:

Thanks girls.

I'm keeping an eye on him in case I sense an ear infection, but otherwise, he seems un - bothered.

Also, what do you all now about virus' in general? We have his appt. with the derm. for his skin issue on the 14th, but I have a very strong suspicion it's viral, which is exactly what the ER told us the first time these hive like things showed up on his skin back in Oct. and we suspected food allergies. He's now been eating anything and everything, and it's not changed anything, and the Zyrtec doesn't seem to be making a difference. But what virus lasts this long and has no other symptoms? I held off on signing him up for swimming because I think they would give me shit about letting him interact with other kids when they see his poor little legs. Maybe I make it sound worse than it is, but as his mom, I feel like it just looks so bad.

Have you taken him to a dermatologist? Im wondering if it's not allergies or a virus, but he actually just has a skin issue. Either way- a derm probably knows more than an allergist or pedi about a skin rash.

[sstwinklinglites]

Mar 31, 2015 10:01:48 GMT -5 becole said:

Mar 31, 2015 9:22:48 GMT -5 sstwinklinglites said:

Thanks girls.

I'm keeping an eye on him in case I sense an ear infection, but otherwise, he seems un - bothered.

Also, what do you all now about virus' in general? We have his appt. with the derm. for his skin issue on the 14th, but I have a very strong suspicion it's viral, which is exactly what the ER told us the first time these hive like things showed up on his skin back in Oct. and we suspected food allergies. He's now been eating anything and everything, and it's not changed anything, and the Zyrtec doesn't seem to be making a difference. But what virus lasts this long and has no other symptoms? I held off on signing him up for swimming because I think they would give me shit about letting him interact with other kids when they see his poor little legs. Maybe I make it sound worse than it is, but as his mom, I feel like it just looks so bad.

Have you taken him to a dermatologist? Im wondering if it's not allergies or a virus, but he actually just has a skin issue. Either way- a derm probably knows more than an allergist or pedi about a skin rash.

Appt. is on the 14th.

[sstwinklinglites]

We're heading to the pedi.

DS took less than a 30 min. nap. And within a few min. of waking started gagging on mucus. This went on for at least three min. He was turning red and mucus kept coming up like vomit. Of course I freaked and called the pedi and they told us to go in.

[mom2boxers]

Poor little guy. Hope he feels better soon.

[JoBub]

Mar 31, 2015 11:49:29 GMT -5 sstwinklinglites said:

We're heading to the pedi.

DS took less than a 30 min. nap. And within a few min. of waking started gagging on mucus. This went on for at least three min. He was turning red and mucus kept coming up like vomit. Of course I freaked and called the pedi and they told us to go in.

Yikes. That would freak me out too. I hope there's something they can do for him.

Regarding viruses: We have had 2 fever+rash type viruses, and one that was a rash with no other symptoms. Every time, the doc has said it should clear up within a week and it has. In my not-at-all-professional opinion, I think if it's been going on for a long time it's probably not a virus. I think the dermatologist is the best course of action. It sucks that it takes so long to get him in. 

Hope he feels better soon!

[becole]

Mar 31, 2015 10:07:37 GMT -5 sstwinklinglites said:

Mar 31, 2015 10:01:48 GMT -5 becole said:

Have you taken him to a dermatologist? Im wondering if it's not allergies or a virus, but he actually just has a skin issue. Either way- a derm probably knows more than an allergist or pedi about a skin rash.

Appt. is on the 14th.

My reading comprehension is spotty.

[sstwinklinglites]

Pedi says lungs and ears are clear, so just nasal congestion. It probably went to his throat while he slept and that was all the gagging.

Took a look at his legs and has no idea what that could be, so we're still just waiting to be seen by the dermatologist.