Does he need tylenol? what would you do?

[Amanda1]

My ds is 8 1/2 months old. He has had a nasty cough for the last 5 days, day 1 we went to the natropath and got some homeopathics for him, they haven't seemed to help very much. We also have a cool mist humidifier in our room.

He is not sleeping well, mostly because the cough wakes him up, he would rather sleep while being held upright (which makes for little sleep for dh and I) 

It is a "wet" cough that I'm sure is productive if he could spit it out!

My problem now is that he seems to be in pain. It sounds like one of those coughs that feels like its ripping your lungs up.

Often when he coughs he just looks at me like hes begging for me to help, its breaking my heart.

I gave him tyleonol last night because he was inconsolable and could not fall asleep.

I dont want to over medicate him and I really hate giving him drugs but I cant stand to see him in pain.

What do you more experienced mommas think? What would you do?

[Kokopelli-mana]

Tylenol if there's a fever. He may need further followup if it becomes bronchitis or RSV or something. Good luck to you

[mom61508]

Did the tylenol help? I don't give meds personally. If LO has a fever I let it run it's course
and give other support depending on what she has. For a cough I would do sodium ascorbate. That really helped DD with her cough. There's a lot of info on here about the benefits of SA try a search. 

[MeepyCat]

Poor baby!  I have to ask - has he seen a doctor?  Most of the time, time takes care of it, but if he can't sleep for coughing, I'd want him checked out.

Tylenol, administered in the doses and frequencies stated on the label, or at the dose and frequency recommended by your pediatrician, is not overmedicating.  And I'm a fan, personally.  When your kid isn't in pain, it's more possible to evaluate whether his symptoms indicate dangerous illness (a kid who stays lethargic despite pain relievers is very ill). 

Other than that - lots of fluids for that babe, and lots of TLC. 

[Eeyore35]

Take him to the dr.

[tessie]

Originally Posted by Eeyore35 

Take him to the dr.

Yep, although they can do very little for a plain old cough in an infant, after five days of a chesty cough which isn't improving I'd be seeing a medical dr to rule out pneumonia etc.

I would also medicate for pain. I know how achey and awful I feel with a virus, I can only presume my kid feels the same way.

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by Amanda1 

My ds is 8 1/2 months old. He has had a nasty cough for the last 5 days, day 1 we went to the natropath and got some homeopathics for him, they haven't seemed to help very much. We also have a cool mist humidifier in our room.

He is not sleeping well, mostly because the cough wakes him up, he would rather sleep while being held upright (which makes for little sleep for dh and I) 

It is a "wet" cough that I'm sure is productive if he could spit it out!

My problem now is that he seems to be in pain. It sounds like one of those coughs that feels like its ripping your lungs up.

Often when he coughs he just looks at me like hes begging for me to help, its breaking my heart.

I gave him tyleonol last night because he was inconsolable and could not fall asleep.

I dont want to over medicate him and I really hate giving him drugs but I cant stand to see him in pain.

What do you more experienced mommas think? What would you do?

is there a reason you haven't followed up with the ND?  Are they licensed?  Can they listen to your dc's chest?  I'm clearly all for homeopathics, but they should work the day they are given.  if they didn't they're not the right remedy and either you need a different one, or to change course altogether.  Either way a doc, ND or MD should be evaluating and offering assistance.  Kids shouldn't be in pain.

[Amanda1]

Thanks for your help everyone.

We go to a natropathic college, they have an instructor come in every appointment to go over their findings, I really enjoy them and they have never failed to help me.

When we went for this problem Saturday they suggested that if it got worse or even didn't improve by Monday we should see a MD.

I don't often go the the doctor (natropath always works) and don't have a family dr, we went to the walk in near our house and the doctor just said he had a virus and it would go away on its own. I left the appointment feeling a bit upset because as soon as the dr heard that I gave DS homeopathics he make a remak like "well I don't know what that would do for him" and then he found out we have not vaccinated yet and I could see his opinion of me and interest in us go way down. Pretty much all I got out of the appointment was a few remarks and a lecture about how I really need to vaccinate my son. He listened to his chest but that was it as far as an exam goes

The last few days I've been waiting for the cold to improve, and kept giving the homeopathics ( i should have went back to the natropath)

This morning I took him to a different walk in and saw a great dr, she was also not happy about the non vaccinating but didn't lecture me on it. She did a full exam , unlike the other dr, and concluded that he has a pretty bad ear infection in both ears and his chest is way to rattly to be a simple virus. So he is now on antibiotics, she also said that if he wont settle I can give him tyelonol for the pain. 

I am frustrated because I feel like my son got less interest from the first dr because of my parenting decisions!!!!!

Anyways, hes on the mend now, lots of nursing and probiotics and cuddles for him in the next few days!!!!

Thanks Again

[SGVaughn]

mama..Im a medic so listening to lungs is my business... so for future reference

I'll give you a tip in the future that I use on my oldest (and patients!)who has to be watched for bronchitis...for my daughter I use my ear, for patients my cardiology III

listen to the baby's back with your ear..pay attn to the noises...bubbles like a fish tank is very bad and needs immediate attention

sticky catchy scratchy noises need attention pretty soon (but not an emergency room)...dry paper leaves can be ignored ..well not totally but its not lungs...youre hearing up high noises that homeopathics will likely knock down right away if caught at that stage

I wont get into whether you hear it on inspiration or expiration because its too much info when just differentiating the "wetness" level is enough for this purpose

but listen to the back down low on the lungs..up high or on the chest can give misleading noises unless you know what you're looking for

I'd be really angry with the first Dr..his own biases could've caused your baby much more serious problems if you had taken what he said at face value

I think i'd file a complaint, ear infections are extremely cut and dry diagnoses and he shouldn't of missed that...ditto for sticky lungs..I can hear it across the room with most children

p.s. motrin is sometimes better than tylenol for some kids (works better lower dose)

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by Amanda1 

Thanks for your help everyone.

We go to a natropathic college, they have an instructor come in every appointment to go over their findings, I really enjoy them and they have never failed to help me.

When we went for this problem Saturday they suggested that if it got worse or even didn't improve by Monday we should see a MD.

The last few days I've been waiting for the cold to improve, and kept giving the homeopathics ( i should have went back to the natropath)

This morning I took him to a different walk in and saw a great dr, she was also not happy about the non vaccinating but didn't lecture me on it. She did a full exam , unlike the other dr, and concluded that he has a pretty bad ear infection in both ears and his chest is way to rattly to be a simple virus. So he is now on antibiotics, she also said that if he wont settle I can give him tyelonol for the pain. 

I am frustrated because I feel like my son got less interest from the first dr because of my parenting decisions!!!!!

Anyways, hes on the mend now, lots of nursing and probiotics and cuddles for him in the next few days!!!!

Thanks Again

I'd be frustrated too.  That's absolutely negligent.

And, like a pp said, for future reference: if the homeopathic hasn't worked within a few doses, it's fine to call or go back to the ND.  A good remedy changes things within a few hours (sometimes within an hour, but there are remedies that are slower acting than others.)  regardless, if a day or two later things are not very different it's time to talk to someone again.  I know that things can get confusing because the picture can and often does change with time, but what I like to tell people is that in 3-4 doses you should be definitively saying the remedy is working.  Not "maybe things are better", or "I think he might be coughing less."  There should be a shift.  If not, call back.

No one is perfect, and you don't always nail the remedy on the first try, but for homeopathic treatment to work you need to give feedback.

Hope your little one feels better.