Last Sunday, both Jackson and Macy slept poorly due to a stuffy nose. Then Tuesday night, she developed a cough that worried us, so we took her to the pediatrician the next morning. He was quite concerned and sent us to the emergency room.They performed a chest x-ray in the same medieval torture device that Jackson once experienced, and fortunately, it was clear. They also swabbed her nose to test for RSV (short for respiratory syncitial virus), and that came up positive. Although it is very common, RSV can be quite serious for young babies, even requiring hospitalization. But since she wasn't having difficulty breathing, was still eating and filling her diapers and wasn't a preemie, they let us take her home that night.
The next day, things took a turn for the worse. We had a follow-up appointment with the pediatrician, and he also observed that she was having a hard time breathing. Her oxygen levels were in the mid to high 80s, instead of close to 100 where they should've been. He recommended hospitalization. He also did a breathing treatment with a nebulizer, which upset her big brother. Between a screaming Macy and crying and yelling Jackson, we created quite a scene!Macy and I rode in the ambulance to the hospital, so she could have continuous oxygen. She was admitted with bronchiolitis, caused by the RSV. She was hooked up to oxygen, but was spared an IV because she didn't have a fever and wasn't dehydrated.
The treatment involved suctioning and monitoring in addition to the oxygen. We had to stay as long as she needed the oxygen. They tried several times to take her off of it, but the first few attempts were unsuccessful as her levels would drop soon after the oxygen was turned off. Saturday afternoon, she was finally able to maintain her oxygen on her own. She also started smiling and gurgling again, evidence that she was beginning to feel better.
Sunday, we were discharged after three long and stressful nights in the hospital. She still has a cough, and the virus will probably linger a while longer, but hopefully the hard part is behind us.
3 comments:
I am so glad she's doing better. How scary though! Hope she fully recovers soon!
Awww, poor baby! And poor mama! There isn't much scarier than having a sick little one. Glad she is on the road to recovery. xoxo
Poor Macy! I'm so glad she is doing better. I can't imagine the stress! My friend's son had RSV when he was a month old and it was terrible-an IV in his head, the works. So sad. Stay strong! Keep us updated :)
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