After being up two long nights coughing and coughing My Prince and I decided to take Miss Abigail into the ER yesterday afternoon just to be safe. With so much stuff going around we didn't want to go into another night not know what was going on with Abigail. She'd had a minor cold for a week or so but her cough had been getting steadily worse peaking Saturday night when I hardly slept for fear she would stop breathing or something. Her cough sounded so painful and she had a hard time breathing back in after coughing. I was also a little concerned about H1N1 since several of Abigail's playmates had it last week and she and I had been exposed.We were heading back from a short day trip and stopped at an ER in a nearby town and got right in no waiting! I was very impressed! After a short consultation with a very kid friendly doctor, she first discovered one ear infection. She also ordered an influenza test and a chest x-ray. Both of these tests resulted in a Abigail screaming bloody murder but as I explained to Abigail they would be very fast and then she'd be "ok". She was so stinking cute as I would explain what they would do she would say "Abbie sad, Abbie cry, Ohh-tay, happy." The flu test included spraying saline up her nose and then suctioning it out, about 30 seconds. The x-ray caused a bit more drama, I think it was a combination of things including, a dark room, daddy wearing a funny apron, mommy standing in the window (since I'm prego), and wearing a heavy apron herself. That girl is strong and put up a good fight. When we finally got to go "out there" (in the hallway) she was fine. We then did have to wait quite a while for the test results but I was impressed they gave us a little goodie bag with fun things to do inside including a coloring book, toy slinky, stickers and a little pinwheel. We of course also had doggie and minnie along to help help keep her entertained.
Abigail's first trip to the ER took about two hours and we left with a prescription and a little peace of mind knowing what the problem was. I am also pleased to report she slept much better last night and I was able to get one 5 hour stretch of sleep and then another 3 hours and it's now 8:10 am and she's still sleeping!!!! We need to follow up with our regular doctor in a week and I'm going to give her a call this morning to talk about the possibility of tubes for Abigail's ears, it's only October and with a new baby coming I really don't want to go through winter fighting ear infections! I'm a bit torn with putting tubes in....what do you guys think? Did your kids have tubes? Did they help? I always love to her advice from other moms!
3 comments:
My son Max is on his 4th set of tubes with a strong possibility of a 5th set in his future (next year). Our pedi. kept telling us he would outgrow all the ear infections by age 2 but he didn't and was having breathing and hearing issues by that time as well. I finally put my foot down and told the dr. I wanted a referral to an ENT.
With his first set of tubes Max had his adenoids taken out and it helped his breathing issues tremendously!
Good luck and I am so glad Abigail did not have the flu!!!!!
I don't have any input on tubes, but... I'm so glad Abigail is feeling better! And what luck that she was so well-dressed for ER pictures!! :)
We are big fans of the tubes...Jack had two or three sets plus adnoids and tonsils out because of ear infections. Sam had one set of tubes and adnoids (and maybe tonsils, have to check with the hubby on that, I forget) out due to ear infection and breathing issues, Kate has had no problems, and the jury is still out on Will. I wouldn't hesitate to get tubes it solved our problems.
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