Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The Sickies

As in most households across America, we have been facing a case of the sickies this past week.

Last Wednesday when I brought Devin to the Pediatrician for an asthma check, we found out that not only was his oxygen level a little low (95%) but that he also had a double ear infection to the point that his ear drums were nearly bursting. The child never complained or had a fever!!! Of all the ear infections we have gone through (and trust me there have been A LOT) this has never occurred! I had noticed (off and on) that Devin would tug at an ear, but never the same one~ now I see why, or say "huh? What did you say mommy?" but I really didn't see a need to take him to the doctors. Now I know better! I felt like such a bad mommy! Anyway, he seems to be doing better now that he is on antibiotics and doubled up on his asthma meds for the remainder of winter.

Sunday night I started coughing and when I went to bed I noticed that my chest hurt A LOT and I was having a hard time breathing. This was still bothering me Monday so I went to the doctor's. I have costrochondritis. That's basically a big fancy name for an upper respiratory infection of the breastbone and/or ribs area. Laying down makes the chest hurt more and breathing harder. I started a steroid dose pack yesterday and am already feeling a lot better this afternoon. Plus I have been resting a lot by sitting up in the recliner~ that definitely helps!

Erick has had an off and on cold over a week now. We had thought it was gone but on Sunday he started coughing again too. He is still coughing and all that other "fun" stuff (pleghm, dizziness, and tiredness).

Erick and I have been home resting yesterday and today. Tomorrow is Erick's day off and it looks like Devin and I will have a snow day so that will be a bonus day of rest!

*Here's to hoping the sickies leave us soon!*

9 comments:

Shauna said...

Eeck, I'm sorry! I hope your family starts to get well soon, the sickies are no fun. And wow that is a low 02 sat for Devin! Does he use an inhaler, or oxygen? Just curious what they do for the little ones :) And do NOT feel bad...you did the best you could by getting him to the doctor asap!

Karla said...

Shauna, Devin uses a nebulizer. He was on Pulmicort once a day. His doc upped it to twice a day thru March. She also put him on Xaopanex (I know I butchered the spelling on that, lol) until he was feeling better. He is new to asthma as of Oct. So it is all new to us! Are you a nurse?

Stacey said...

Justin never had any signs of ear infection either. One time I took him to doctor because he had the flu and he had a douple ear infection on top of that. One ear drum had already burst and the other one was about to. I felt so bad. It is just so hard to tell. I hope you all feel better soon.

Mel said...

I just hate those winter sickies! I hope you and your entire household get better. Poor Devin!

Unknown said...

Hope you all get to feeling better soon!! My son has croup and I am still getting over the upper respiratory junk....

Have a feeling this is going to be a LLLOOONNGGG winter.

Anonymous said...

Awww I hope you all feel better real soon! I can't wait to see you on Saturday!
Kim

Shauna said...

Thanks for the sweet comment :) That certainly means alot!
I am a nurse, I guess that's why I asked...I haven't seen alot of children with asthma. Alot of my rehab patients are on nebulizers, and use xopenex. They also have spiriva inhalers, but I was thinking our May babes would be to little for an inhaler, maybe not though. Is he feeling better today?

Karla said...

Shauna, I thought I remembered that you were a nurse! We tried taking Devin off of the Xopanex last night (the dr said to use until he seemed to be doing better) but by mid-morning today he seemed to be needing it again complaining of belly pain. Back on the Xopanex for now! He is also complaining of his ears hurting! His antibiotics are not done yet. :( Poor kiddo! Rough week for us!

Steph said...

Hope everyone is feeling better now! Cooper has used Xopanex in the past when he has had respiratory issues and it has worked well for him.