My 6 Week Old DS has been Diagnosed with Whooping Cough

[onthefly]

That sounds good. I also hope you're getting plenty of rest and care yourself

[Aussiegirl777]

Well today is 'Day 9'.

Yesterday was the first time that Cade coughed. It wasn't a big cough and it didn't distress him at all but it was still a cough. Of course I put in a call to the Paed straight away. This man is so kind, he gave me his e-mail and a contact phone number to get him at his rooms if I can't get him at the hospital. I told him that he should know that by the time this nightmare is finished that I will well and truly have given both of those a work-out. After Cade coughed he did bring up a little bit of mucus so the bacteria is definately doing it's thing in there.

The Area Health Department also called me yesterday as any positive whooping cough diagnosis get reported to them so they can track how many people have the disease, where it potentially started from and if they need to contact others to come in for testing. They were happy with how we handled things and didn't have anything else that concerned them. The girl did also give me her direct number and told me to call her anytime if I wanted to talk so that was nice too. Anyone who will listen I will just talk their heads off about this, it helps me to stay calm (Ha..calm -what's that!).

Yesterday afternoon was the end of Cade's quarantine. He is no longer contagious so he can have visitors now but I won't be taking him out anywhere soon. God knows how far away the dreaded cough is and I don't want to be stranded somewhere and need assistance. Also if/when he does get that cough I don't want people looking at me that way I imagine they will, so we shall just stay here and do our waiting.

Cade had a rough nights sleep last night. He just gets all flemmy towards the early morning. We put in saline drops again and it seems to help somewhat. He vomitted up more than usual of this morning feed this morning too. I just took his bassinett into the bathroom with me while I had a shower and let him breath in the steam. He fell asleep in there and is still asleep now, back in his room and his breathing is normal.

Thanks for listening.

[LizLemon]

You are doing a great job darl. Thanks for keeping us posted.

[Shar]

Oh aussie what a horrd waiting game, poor little cade.

Still checking in to see how your doing, lets hope your on the upside or at least things dont get worse.

Xxx

[sahbear]

Hi,

i have just read this, my DS is a similar age, so i can only imagine the anguish you are going through.

Sounds like you are doing an absolutely wonderful job.

Hopefully his cough doesnt get too bad.

Take care of yourself and your little man.

[Miss E]

Oh hun, what an ordeal for you and your family. But thank goodness you listened to those mummy instincts, I think there is a lesson in it for all of us.

Just wanted to wish you and Cade well for the coming weeks. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[onthefly]

Been thinking about you and your boy

[Epacris]

Thinking of you and Cade. xxoo

We’re all here for you, ‘till this is over, and he’s a happy and healthy little boy.

[Kazbah]

Sorry to hear Cade isn't well Aussie, but you're a great mother who listened to her gut instinct. I hope all continues to improve and you can have some rest soon to you all.

[gemini_girl]

Aussie girl I am sorry to hear you are going through this with your little boy.

It makes me want to ring my GP tomorrow and get my little girl in for a swab. I had her back in hospital last week because she has been vomiting whole feeds and her nose has been very snuffly. They thought about doing a swab before she went home but decided against it. The saline drops help for a short while, but she doesn't seem to improving too much overall... She hasn't vomited so much last night and today, but still chucking smaller amounts. She usually vomits one whole feed once a day at least. I notice she is worse during the night, she is certainly harder to settle at night. The vaporiser doesn't seem to be helping too much... I'll see how she goes tonight, and see about getting her in to the GP tomorrow I think.

Thanks for keeping us posted. I hope your boy recovers quickly!

[Aussiegirl777]

Gemini_girl -

I hope that your little girl is OK. I would definately be asking for a swab. It only takes 2 seconds for them to do it. For some reason doctors seem to fob most Mothers' off (not mine though, thank gosh). I have no idea why, there is an outbreak of whooping cough in the country at the moment and yet you have to twist the doctors' arms off to get them to swab. Just go back and don't take no for an answer. Just INSIST on it. It will most likely be negative and put your mind at rest.

[gemini_girl]

Thanks Aussie girl, yeh I will do that first thing in the morning I will make an appointment.
I have noticed a bit of an occasional cough with Bree, also noticed some sneezing too. Hopefully it's nothing serious, but better to be safe than sorry.
I suspected a little boy had WC when I had my son into emergency a couple of weeks before Bree was born, I refused to hang around waiting any longer for my son to be seen, and he ended up having to go back to the hospital later, as he had pneumonia. Hopefully, I got out quick enough.
Pneumonia spread through our whole family one at a time, throughout my third trimester, and that was bad enough.

[Aussiegirl777]

Please keep me updated as to how you go with your doctor Gemini_Girl.

[Isadora]

So scary!! But huge well done to you for insisting on that test, good on you! That is a lesson to us all. All the best, will be thinking of you and your son.

[gemini_girl]

Slept in this morning after a long night with Bree but was lucky enough to get an appointment this afternoon. They are testing for a few different things, WC included. Doc thinks it will come back negative but was happy to do the test anyhow. We should have the result on Friday.
How is you little one doing Aussie girl?

[Aussiegirl777]

Gemini_Girl - I'm so glad that they are doing the tests that you want. Keep me updated.

As for us.....today is 'my' Day 11. Most importantly Cade was 7 weeks old yesterday so that has put another week of growth under his belt and for some reason that makes me happier. He's a big fella too - last Thursday they weighed him at hospital and at 6 weeks of age he was 5.5kgs.

The last couple of days have been really good. You wouldn't know in any way that he has whooping cough. Early this morning though he got all blocked up again and needed some saline drops, he goes hysterical when we give him those and it breaks my heart but as soon as they get in his breathing is great. He did also cough a couple of times before we gave him the drops. My heart starts to beat a little faster at that sound but he wasn't struggling by any means so I can't dwell on it. After his feed this morning he was happily laying in his bassinet (next to my side of the bed) chatting away and keeping us both awake - that is music to my ears.

He's still on his antibiotics for about another week but because he's no longer contagious I hope that we will get some visitors soon. I'm craving contact with other members of society!

So basically we are just taking one day at a time. Praying and hoping....

[gemini_girl]

After his feed this morning he was happily laying in his bassinet (next to my side of the bed) chatting away and keeping us both awake - that is music to my ears.

Its moments like these that make it all worth while isn't it...!
Thanks for updating us. I know how you feel when you speak of your heart racing when giving your DS the drops, I am the same. I get DH to give Bree the drops, she has finished the medicine for thrush thank god. I have already told DH that he will be taking Bree to the GP for her injections coz I can't handle that sort of thing well at all.

We got her result back today, she's all clear... !

I hope Cade continues to do well and escapes the worst of it... hugs!

[redgum]

Just checking in. Your doing awesome Aussiegirl. Big hugs to you & C!! X