Bronchitus - DS has got it...again! Can you advise please?

[albert]

Just about to go into our 4th night with no/little sleep because poor DS is coughing and wheezing. He's on antibiotics and inhalers and isn't too bad during the day but the nights are distressing for all of us. Anyone got any suggestions on how to get him to sleep a bit better? He's propped up on pillows and his room is not too hot but beyond that I'm stuck. Poor little chap is exhausted!

[dolally]

Not sure I can help Albert, but send my sympathies to both you and the little one. It's definately not asthma is it? Is there something in his room which is irritating his airways?

I sometimes wonder whether asthma and bronchitis are interchangeable, don't know a thing about it actually but do have a dd (9) with asthma and I remember a few horrible wheezy nights before we got it sorted.

[albert]

I'm bumping this up for the daytime MNers to see if there is anyone who can help. Forgot to mention, and Dolally is right, DS is asmatic. Please help if you can. TIA

[Tissy]

don't prop him up on pillows- that will just obstruct his tummy, which needs to expand when he breathes- put 1 or 2 telephone directories under the legs of his cot/ bed to raise the head end.Then just lie him flat as usual.

[prettycandles]

When I used to get bronchitis as a child (at least once each winter for about 4 years - ugh) my dad would put a 'thing' which sprayed steam into the room to moisten the air near my bed. It made a world of a difference, especially at night. I can't remember wehter my parents used to give me paracetamol or aspirin (I imagine it would only be paracetamol nowadays), but they helped too. I distinctly remember how I would drift off to sleep as the stuff started to work, and would wake as the dose wore off, then drift off again as the next dose took effect.

HTH - poor all of you!

[albert]

Well, we've just embarked on the 5th night now, he's so tired he asked to go to bed at 6.30! Too late now for me to remove the pillows as you mentioned Tissy but will definately do that for tomorrow. Like the sound of the 'thing' your Dad used PC, wonder what it was and if it's still available. Last night was dreadful again and I feel so useless apart from being there for him, at 5.00 he was crying and saying Mummy make my cough go I don't want it any more! I have to admit to joining in with the tears which didn't really help!

[winnie1]

Albert I sympathise. I suffered every winter as a child and ds suffers. Ds is getting over a bout (sp?) now. Nights are hell aren't they?
My only suggestion is to make sure the air in the room is not too dry. Slightly damp towels on radiators can help.

Hope ds is feeling better soon.

[JJ]

albert, this might not make a huge difference, but helps my boys and me when we've got bad coughs: a steam humidifier with a cough relieving oil in it. I can't remember the name of the one we were using (it was Swiss) but need to find all the stuff again for here (we just moved).

For them, the steam seems to work better than the cold mist humidifiers. It's not a magic cure, but does help somewhat.

[prettycandles]

That's what it was! A steam humidifier. I remember now in a feverish haze sticking the thermometer in the vent to see how hot the steam was. The thermometer exploded!

Have a look at this . HTH.