How can I help her?

M

Mommafirst

Guest
My dd is 9 months old and the docs aren't really sure if or when
she'll develop CF symptoms, but this week the two of us developed
this cough.  Mine is almost gone, hers is just getting worse.
 She is on Amox., but the CF center didnt' give me any
suggestions on how to help her.  She is coughing lots of gunk
up, but then choking on it -- she's 9 months I can barely teach her
to clap her hands much less teach her to spit out the sputum, LOL!
 Any suggestions on what I can do to make this easier on her.
 I know "no OTC cough meds" but what about
 Vicks Rub?  Or steamy bathroom?  Anything else?<br>
<br>
Also, any suggestions on how to get a baby who hates amoxicillin
take it without spitting it all over the place????
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
My dd is 9 months old and the docs aren't really sure if or when
she'll develop CF symptoms, but this week the two of us developed
this cough.  Mine is almost gone, hers is just getting worse.
 She is on Amox., but the CF center didnt' give me any
suggestions on how to help her.  She is coughing lots of gunk
up, but then choking on it -- she's 9 months I can barely teach her
to clap her hands much less teach her to spit out the sputum, LOL!
 Any suggestions on what I can do to make this easier on her.
 I know "no OTC cough meds" but what about
 Vicks Rub?  Or steamy bathroom?  Anything else?<br>
<br>
Also, any suggestions on how to get a baby who hates amoxicillin
take it without spitting it all over the place????
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
My dd is 9 months old and the docs aren't really sure if or when
she'll develop CF symptoms, but this week the two of us developed
this cough.  Mine is almost gone, hers is just getting worse.
 She is on Amox., but the CF center didnt' give me any
suggestions on how to help her.  She is coughing lots of gunk
up, but then choking on it -- she's 9 months I can barely teach her
to clap her hands much less teach her to spit out the sputum, LOL!
 Any suggestions on what I can do to make this easier on her.
 I know "no OTC cough meds" but what about
 Vicks Rub?  Or steamy bathroom?  Anything else?<br>
<br>
Also, any suggestions on how to get a baby who hates amoxicillin
take it without spitting it all over the place????
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
When Max has gotten a head cold or upper respiratory infection (cough), we usually increase his cpt from 3 treatments a day, to 4. I also get the bathroom all steamy and then give him a bath in the morning and in the evening -- let him play in the tub. If he has a boogery nose, too. We spray saline mist up his nose a couple times a day and suck the gunk out with the dreaded bulb syringe.

As for meds, we always use oral syringes -- squirt it into the side of ds's mouth, pouch of his cheek. With the exception of septra, he's usually pretty good about taking his meds. Suppose with all the stuff he's been on, doesn't mind.

If she doesn't get better in a couple of days, I'd call the clinic again. Maybe she needs something stronger. DS usually doesn't cough. If he does, then we know he's coming down with something.
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
When Max has gotten a head cold or upper respiratory infection (cough), we usually increase his cpt from 3 treatments a day, to 4. I also get the bathroom all steamy and then give him a bath in the morning and in the evening -- let him play in the tub. If he has a boogery nose, too. We spray saline mist up his nose a couple times a day and suck the gunk out with the dreaded bulb syringe.

As for meds, we always use oral syringes -- squirt it into the side of ds's mouth, pouch of his cheek. With the exception of septra, he's usually pretty good about taking his meds. Suppose with all the stuff he's been on, doesn't mind.

If she doesn't get better in a couple of days, I'd call the clinic again. Maybe she needs something stronger. DS usually doesn't cough. If he does, then we know he's coming down with something.
 
R

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
When Max has gotten a head cold or upper respiratory infection (cough), we usually increase his cpt from 3 treatments a day, to 4. I also get the bathroom all steamy and then give him a bath in the morning and in the evening -- let him play in the tub. If he has a boogery nose, too. We spray saline mist up his nose a couple times a day and suck the gunk out with the dreaded bulb syringe.

As for meds, we always use oral syringes -- squirt it into the side of ds's mouth, pouch of his cheek. With the exception of septra, he's usually pretty good about taking his meds. Suppose with all the stuff he's been on, doesn't mind.

If she doesn't get better in a couple of days, I'd call the clinic again. Maybe she needs something stronger. DS usually doesn't cough. If he does, then we know he's coming down with something.
 
F

folione

New member
When my son w/CF had a bad cough around that age, it helped to stand in the back of a steamy shower with him. Oddly, it also helped to stand on the backporch in the cold night air (his bad cold was in wintertime).

To get the junk out, have you tried holding her across your lap with her head slightly down & doing CPT in that posture? Also, is albuterol being prescribed/used? That definitely helps my son (& I steal it myself when I've got a bad cold and it's really noticeable how it helps clear the lungs).

Does your pharmacy have different flavorings available for the amoxicillin? My son likes the generic banana version our pharmacy provides but they had a list of alternate flavors.
 
F

folione

New member
When my son w/CF had a bad cough around that age, it helped to stand in the back of a steamy shower with him. Oddly, it also helped to stand on the backporch in the cold night air (his bad cold was in wintertime).

To get the junk out, have you tried holding her across your lap with her head slightly down & doing CPT in that posture? Also, is albuterol being prescribed/used? That definitely helps my son (& I steal it myself when I've got a bad cold and it's really noticeable how it helps clear the lungs).

Does your pharmacy have different flavorings available for the amoxicillin? My son likes the generic banana version our pharmacy provides but they had a list of alternate flavors.
 
F

folione

New member
When my son w/CF had a bad cough around that age, it helped to stand in the back of a steamy shower with him. Oddly, it also helped to stand on the backporch in the cold night air (his bad cold was in wintertime).

To get the junk out, have you tried holding her across your lap with her head slightly down & doing CPT in that posture? Also, is albuterol being prescribed/used? That definitely helps my son (& I steal it myself when I've got a bad cold and it's really noticeable how it helps clear the lungs).

Does your pharmacy have different flavorings available for the amoxicillin? My son likes the generic banana version our pharmacy provides but they had a list of alternate flavors.
 
J

JRPandTJP

New member
We use UMCKA which is a natural upper respiratory/cold support. It helps Ben alot and makes things shorter. We also use lavender essential oil in the bath and put a little epsom salts in as well. Sprinkle a little extra vitamin C in her applesauce (powdered is available most everywhere).

It sounds like a virus so I'm not sure why they would give her Amox. Antibiotics don't do anything for the cough and viral symtoms. It actually can weaken the bodies response during viral infections.

It can take anywhere from 10-14 days to clear a viral infection and it is normal for her to cough and struggle through it a bit more than you since she can't affectively get rid of mucus (true of any baby more so with CFers). We increase CPT as well, but really it is just waiting it out. If a cough lingers for past the 2 week mark and seems to worsen or is with fevor...have her cultured and treat for a secondary bacterial infection with appropriate antibiotic.

Best of luck and we are always nervous for our little guys, so know your not alone. Ben has a little sniffles now so I'm watching him like a hawk. When they are babies it is so much harder, but they need to build their immune system by getting colds and viruses just like us (though I wish it weren't true).

Warmly,
Jody
 
J

JRPandTJP

New member
We use UMCKA which is a natural upper respiratory/cold support. It helps Ben alot and makes things shorter. We also use lavender essential oil in the bath and put a little epsom salts in as well. Sprinkle a little extra vitamin C in her applesauce (powdered is available most everywhere).

It sounds like a virus so I'm not sure why they would give her Amox. Antibiotics don't do anything for the cough and viral symtoms. It actually can weaken the bodies response during viral infections.

It can take anywhere from 10-14 days to clear a viral infection and it is normal for her to cough and struggle through it a bit more than you since she can't affectively get rid of mucus (true of any baby more so with CFers). We increase CPT as well, but really it is just waiting it out. If a cough lingers for past the 2 week mark and seems to worsen or is with fevor...have her cultured and treat for a secondary bacterial infection with appropriate antibiotic.

Best of luck and we are always nervous for our little guys, so know your not alone. Ben has a little sniffles now so I'm watching him like a hawk. When they are babies it is so much harder, but they need to build their immune system by getting colds and viruses just like us (though I wish it weren't true).

Warmly,
Jody
 
J

JRPandTJP

New member
We use UMCKA which is a natural upper respiratory/cold support. It helps Ben alot and makes things shorter. We also use lavender essential oil in the bath and put a little epsom salts in as well. Sprinkle a little extra vitamin C in her applesauce (powdered is available most everywhere).

It sounds like a virus so I'm not sure why they would give her Amox. Antibiotics don't do anything for the cough and viral symtoms. It actually can weaken the bodies response during viral infections.

It can take anywhere from 10-14 days to clear a viral infection and it is normal for her to cough and struggle through it a bit more than you since she can't affectively get rid of mucus (true of any baby more so with CFers). We increase CPT as well, but really it is just waiting it out. If a cough lingers for past the 2 week mark and seems to worsen or is with fevor...have her cultured and treat for a secondary bacterial infection with appropriate antibiotic.

Best of luck and we are always nervous for our little guys, so know your not alone. Ben has a little sniffles now so I'm watching him like a hawk. When they are babies it is so much harder, but they need to build their immune system by getting colds and viruses just like us (though I wish it weren't true).

Warmly,
Jody
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
I am so happy I found this site.  You are all so very helpful,
and really seem to understand where I am coming from.  My
family and friends are trying to be helpful, but they are looking
at me like, "she has a cold, dummy, everyone does, she'll be
fine".  Being given an "asymptomatic" diagnosis
is great, except we don't know when it will change.  As long
as she stays pancreatic sufficient and doesn't culture anything
major (apparently staph doesn't count???) then we stay with this
diagnosis, I guess.  So maybe I'm overreacting, maybe not.
 But I feel so out of my element, and I know none of us can
stand to see the ones we love struggling to breathe.<br>
<br>
If only any of this was easy!!!!
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
I am so happy I found this site.  You are all so very helpful,
and really seem to understand where I am coming from.  My
family and friends are trying to be helpful, but they are looking
at me like, "she has a cold, dummy, everyone does, she'll be
fine".  Being given an "asymptomatic" diagnosis
is great, except we don't know when it will change.  As long
as she stays pancreatic sufficient and doesn't culture anything
major (apparently staph doesn't count???) then we stay with this
diagnosis, I guess.  So maybe I'm overreacting, maybe not.
 But I feel so out of my element, and I know none of us can
stand to see the ones we love struggling to breathe.<br>
<br>
If only any of this was easy!!!!
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
I am so happy I found this site.  You are all so very helpful,
and really seem to understand where I am coming from.  My
family and friends are trying to be helpful, but they are looking
at me like, "she has a cold, dummy, everyone does, she'll be
fine".  Being given an "asymptomatic" diagnosis
is great, except we don't know when it will change.  As long
as she stays pancreatic sufficient and doesn't culture anything
major (apparently staph doesn't count???) then we stay with this
diagnosis, I guess.  So maybe I'm overreacting, maybe not.
 But I feel so out of my element, and I know none of us can
stand to see the ones we love struggling to breathe.<br>
<br>
If only any of this was easy!!!!
 
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