911
Lukie has been having coughing fits for the last month or so. Often they begin when he is eating. Sometimes they last just a few minutes, and sometimes 30 minutes or more. We had planned to discuss this coughing with the doctor at Luke’s 12 month checkup next month.
Today right before his nap (actually not right after eating this time), he started on a coughing fit. I went ahead and nursed him, which didn’t help. I held him for a while, and he kept coughing. I put him in his crib, and he stopped coughing and settled down for his nap.
Meanwhile, Keith called me saying he was on his way home to get the camera. He got word that the blower test (to obtain Energy Star status) was happening at the new house, and he was taking off work to go watch and take pictures. He came in, got the camera, and left. Just a moment later, I heard an awful barking cough coming from Luke’s room. I ran to get him. When he breathed in, he made an awful gasping sound. I ran to the garage, but Keith had already left. I called his cell phone and told him to come home. Then I called 911.
Keith came in while I was on the phone and took Luke from me. Luke’s cough slowly calmed, although it was still concerning. Soon we heard the sirens. The sheriff deputy came. The fire truck came. Then the ambulance came.
The EMTs decided Luke could benefit from a breathing treatment at the hospital. Keith got in the ambulance with Luke while he was started on his first breathing treatment. One of the EMTs fitted Luke’s infant carseat in the back of the ambulance. I packed his diaper bag and a small snack.
Some of the rescue personnel were still in the house while Keith and I were both out at the ambulance, and I was worried Lydia would wake up from her nap and panic, but she didn’t. The ambulance left and I called my parents and Keith’s parents.
Very soon Poppy came over to get Lydia so I could go to the hospital. When I got there, he had received another breathing treatment, and he was doing much better. The doctor came in and immediately recognized his cough as croup. The gasping inhale he had earlier was called stridor. He said it is a viral infection that should be better in a few days. Luke received a steroid shot to reduce inflmation and a nebulizer that we can use to give him more breathing treatments at home if the croupy cough flares up again.
We told the doctor about the cough that has been going on for a month or two. He thought it sounded like acid reflux, and after talking to Luke’s pediatrician on the phone, prescribed Baby Zantac.
He really seems to think the cough he’s been having for a while and the croup are two different things, but I’m not so sure. He does have 35 years experience in medicine, but I am the mommy. I guess time will tell.
Right now my sweet boy is sleeping peacefully. We’ll see what the night holds.
Keith says:
Riding in the back of an ambulance isn’t nearly as exciting as they make it look it look on TV. Lukie was a real trouper considering all of the exitement, and I’m very relieved that he is doing better now.
Anthony Young says:
So thankful that he’s ok!
Jane Carden says:
Bless Luke’s heart! I’m so glad he is doing much better.
jamie kaufmann says:
aw, i hope you get it all figured out. bless his little heart.
i just caught up on your blog. congrats on the new house!
jamie kaufmann says:
hi again, i went to bed last night thinking about this…have you explored food allergies? i thought you had but not sure. if this happens when he’s eating and allergens are transferred via milk…swelling airways is one of the more serious allergic reactions in food allergies. during miles’s first allergic reaction at 8 months, it was the coughing and wheezing but also hives and red face. but people can have any of the different responses, maybe luke could just have the swollen airways? i just wanted to mention that…if it were food allergy and swollen airway reactions, that would be super serious. swollen airways constitute anaphylactic reactions which are considered life threatening and an epi pen would be prescribed…and they would test, test, test to find out what the culprit is so you can cut it out entirely. i dont mean to be so alarming to a worried mama. it could be something totally different. but you said you think it may be something and i thought i would throw that out, since it’s our area of expertise around here. i look forward to more updates on this.
madalyn says:
How scary! I’m glad Luke is ok, though, and hope he’s continuing to feel better…
Mary B. says:
Amy,
I has been too long since I have written or read anything. I am so sorry about Luke. As you will remember, Emily spent those 4 days in the hospital with the asthma attack of last year. I am happy to give any advice I can, if you need it. As your friend Jamie is pointing out, food allergies are a big player in other allergies as well. Emily is allergic to milk, eggs and has asthma. She also has eczema which is apparently common in those who are asthmatic. I remember that Lydia has some food allergies. That can often run in families. My husband has food allergies and so does Emily. Things that trigger Emily’s asthma are viruses and really cold air. I hope it isn’t asthma but if it is, please let me know if I can help at all.
Blessings,
Mary
Amy’s Garden » Blog Archive says:
[...] went to the doctor Monday for the chronic cough he’s had since his ER visit, and really before that. We were having to give him albuterol, an asthma rescue drug, every day by [...]