This morning Bertrand went in to see his pediatrician. This was the 3 month follow-up for his RSV/pneumonia/edema episode back in June. It was convenient timing since he'd already managed to pick-up a bug after only 2 days at preschool.
Honestly, we didn't go into the appointment thinking that much of Bertrand's condition--he just had a cold, right? Well, our pediatrician was a lot more concerned. From her examination, Bertrand sounded like he could have a little fluid in his lungs. Also, his breathing was labored and heart rate was elevated. She sent him in for chest x-rays.
What the radiologist found was some "stickiness" in his lungs. Bertrand's doctor is not sure if it is new (he is developing pneumonia) or if it is leftover from his RSV/pneumonia last June. He has to go back in to see her early next week. If he's not better by Monday, he gets another x-ray and he'll start oral antibiotics if it is pneumonia.
In the interim, if he starts to have labored breathing and needs oxygen again (we have to use the pulse-oximeter) we have to page her and take him in. She believes what he has right now is viral but could turn into a sinusitis or pneumonia very easily.
He was put on a stress dose of prednisone (15mg) and motrin. We have to roll Bertrand around and such while he is awake (since he is pretty sedentary) to keep stuff from settling in his lungs. Sadly, he can't go to school until he gets better.
I'm hoping the "stickiness" was leftover junk from his June hospital stay and Bertrand will be back and in learning form by Monday.
Hopefully it is leftover from before. It is definitely not unheard of for it to last that long. When Abby had complex pneumonia (hospitalized when she was 2), it "stuck around" for almost 4 months before she was clear again.
ReplyDeleteHola
ReplyDeleteI have heard that for pneumonia they should be sitting up as much as possible and sleep in an angle. I used to put a pillow under Jancito's body and two under his head. That made like a position bed for him and helped his breathing. The idea was that he was not flat.
Also, it was helpful to pat the his back on the lungs area ( as if you were burping him) with your hand cupped. It makes a peculiar noise but it helps release the stuff in his lungs. Don't know if it's help, but it sure gave me some more excuses to pamper my little one when he was with his respiratory episodes. I hope it helps, we are sending all good thoughts. Keep it up.
Tere
Praying for Bertrand.
ReplyDeletePoor guy, whenever Ava gets a cold Craig (who is a RN) always does low thumping on her back throughout the day and before bed to help her break up stuff she can't because she is not as mobile. He works with a lot of patients that aren't mobile as well and he said that it helps to prevent it from settling in her lungs. I hope B gets a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm glad you happened to have an appointment so that this got diagnosed..but it's still no fun to deal with. I hope he gets better soon!
ReplyDeleteSomeone linked me to your Illustrated Guide to the PhD. After having a good chuckle about it, I scrolled down further to discover Bertrand's story. I' a graduate student in the medical sciences at UNC--not far from Duke--and have been struggling with completing my PhD. Bertrand's story is a moving one, if only to help remind me of the reasons I do the work that I do. My thoughts are with you as you go through this journey.
ReplyDeleteHope Bertrand is doing well!
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ReplyDeleteomg your son and my daughter has the same facial features, tented mouth, huge round cheeks.
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