Tuesday, September 18

Long


Today, actually no, from last night has been a long long day. By Sod's Law, we got back from the doctors surgery yesterday after being given the all clear and then Wriggles' started coughing and coughing and bringing anything than so much as touched her stomach back up. Although I did lie down for some periods, it certainly felt like I was up all night, either rocking her, being sicked up on or administering inhalers or clock-watching between Calpol doses. At 8am I cracked and demanded another appointment, fully expecting to wind up in hospital but hoping we would get some antibiotics and be ticked off for being overly paranoid.

We ended up in hospital. OF COURSE. Where else would we go on a Tuesday morning at 10am? It's not like we would have a life to lead, is it?!

Wriggles duly showed them just how well she can suck in her chest and how hard she can cough and how pale she can go, all the time whilst giggling and fluttering her eyelashes. A bit of oxygen was turned on, they debated long and hard about admitting us proper or sending us home on the understanding we come straight back if needs be and they prescribed antibiotics to be followed on with prophylactic antibiotics all winter, snazzily accessorised by the flu jab. In the end, with borderline sats we still got to go home as luckily I don't live too far from hospital and as the paediatrician said "it's not like you haven't seen the warning signs before."

The thing that really came out of today is something that has crossed my mind, but something that now other people have noticed. When hooked up to a sats monitor, her sats drop when the feeds starts and when she refluxes. She coughs when she shouldn't cough and still regularly makes a "purring" sound in her airways and chest after some feeding. Despite the gastronomy, despite stopping liquid feeds, despite prescribing correct reflux medication....it looks likely that she is still aspirating, this time on the reflux which is still hanging around like an unwanted guest.

A bit of a blow.

The next step is to wait and see how much this affects her chest to see if it warrants further surgery in the form of a fundoplication, which is not without it's drawbacks. I knew the gastronomy was not a magic answer, I am just so fed up of things cropping up and seeing my little girl be struck by illness again and again. All toddlers get colds, but frankly I am fed up with the love-hate relationship I have with the dear old hospital. RVI, it's over, you hear me? 




I found this marvellous link from Life After NICU if you are worried about wintery illness in young children:


Cold Symptoms Flu Symptoms RSV Symptoms
Low or no fever High fever Low-grade fever
Sometimes a headache Always a headache Sometimes a mild headache
Stuffy, runny nose Clear nose Runny nose
Sneezing Sometimes sneezing Sneezing
Mild, hacking cough Cough, often becomes severe Coughing, wheezing, breathing difficulties
Slight aches and pains Often severe aches and pains Mild joint pains
Mild fatigue Several weeks of fatigue Exhaustion
Sore throat Sometimes a sore throat Mild sore throat, may be from coughing
Normal energy level Extreme exhaustion Decreased activity and irritability

2 comments:

  1. Oh gosh, am gutted for you. I'm so sorry you're going through all this xxx

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  2. :( It gets tiring doesn't it? And I know what you're thinking... Here's to another winter of trolly warmed food and ye old faithful overnight bag..but you never know, this winter it might be less. Obviously you've had a massive and horrendous setback last month But with the weight gain and wriggles's mobility on side you may be in for a much easier time. It has got colder of late and there's a lot about at the moment, but don't be disheartened, there is hope!!. Wish I lived nearer so we could do coffee and let the girls play xx

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