Yesterday morning, he had not gotten any better – not to mention we had not SLEPT any better (make that TWO NIGHTS of non-sleeping).
So we called the Urgent Care like we were told to do and we expected them to tell us to bring him in for another round of steroids.
But they told us to take him to the Emergency Room, where they would likely admit him.
Now, having done a little bit of research on this virus, I know that it just has to run its course – 2 to 3 days. Also, having asked when to expect him to be eating normally again, I knew that would take a couple days as well. Since he had not gotten worse and his lips were still a rosy pink (even if he was taking 56 breaths per minute), we decided to keep him at home.
Our rationale being: If it just has to run its course, we’d rather it be at home then in a hospital hooked up to unnecessary IVs with aluminum building up in his bones and brain (more on that in my Vaccine Lessons). And what were the odds that they’d let me nurse him on demand in a hospital where they prefer feeding tubes to the breast?
So we determined that as long as he was pink and not terribly lethargic, we would keep him at home. (The hospital is minutes away.)
He started to nurse yesterday afternoon, he nursed all through the night, and he is acting completely normal today – despite still breathing somewhat rapidly (I’ve read that can take up to two weeks to completely clear up.)
As for the drugs he was on yesterday, I wonder if I’d do them again if given another choice.
The steroids: Probably. But that’s just because I don’t know what the side effects are (was not given information) and thus didn’t notice anything adversely connected to them.
The pnuemonia shot: I don’t know. I wonder if this shot made his breathing worse – not the medication in the shot necessarily, but his leg was so sore, he couldn’t walk even though he wanted to. He also could only lay on one side. He would wake up screaming as if in pain and we both think the shot is responsible for that. All that pain, crying, and screaming made his breathing even more shallow.
The antibiotics: Nope. We wouldn’t. And we’re not continuing them, either. Because they are not even for the infection he has right now, but to prevent a secondary infection from forming (I was a bit confused on that when I wrote my original post). And there most definitely have been some side effects from that. The poor boy can’t keep his diapers clean for than a couple hours before what little nutrition I’ve been able to put in him comes rushing back out again. Which also has caused a very nasty rash.
So on top of a virus that can’t be cured, he also had an extremely sore leg, and horrible diarrhea, most likely paired with painful stomach cramps that he can’t verbalize to us.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know, he’s better now. I can tell because he’s busy stealing his sister’s Legos.
Hi Beth:
Just a note about antibiotics. It angers and frustrates to me to no end when doctor’s unthinkingly prescribe antibiotics for no apparent reason. I agree, poor Benjamin really doesn’t need the drugs. Unfortunately, I think so many parents expect that childhood illness and infection = drugs. Kudos to you for reading up and knowing that not all bugs need drugs, and that prophylactic antibiotics aren’t all that useful.
A note on stopping. When we stop taking antibiotics in the middle of a course (often because we forget or we “feel better) we allow the bacterium in us the opportunity to mutate and become resistant to the antibiotic. Repeated consistently, we see large populations of people who develop allergies to drugs, who are immune to their effects, and we see the creation of so called super bugs like MRSA, that are resistant to any antibiotics.
I would really urge you to continue the antibiotics if you can. Hopefully it’s a really mild dose (this should be the protocol, that we treat with a very mild, targeted antibiotic). In the long run, to be honest with you, it won’t make a difference in Benjamin’s life if you stop or continue antibiotics, but it does make a difference in the population as a whole. I sound like a really cheesy “for the sake of the children” ad here. Sorry about that. Totally up to you, but I think the danger to him in taking the antibiotics is probably about the same as the danger in stopping mid-course.
You might also, if you haven’t already, look into probiotics for Benjamin – antibiotics, and even just illness can change the bacterial composition of our guts, and take out some of the bacteria that should be there.
I’m so glad he is doing better! That RSV is scary stuff with a little person. We’ve had a couple too-many ER visits with our baby last year so I know how scary it is.
Go get the probiotics! They really do help! His poor little hiney. Oi! 🙂
Oh yes, please do take Cheryl’s advice! Taking only part of an antibiotics prescription is what leads to the “super bug.” His body could become less-receptive to antibiotics in the future, when antibiotics may be necessary instead of merely supplementary (which it seems like is this particular case). I second the “probiotics” route. They make all of the difference with my kids. I sure hope he feels better soon!