5mo crying and crying, HELP!

[ChelseaWantsOut]

He's been sleeping really poorly the last few nights, coughing in his sleep (sounds like he's choking on spit or something), waking up crying, needing to be bounced back to sleep as opposed to just nursed.

This morning he was cheerful when he woke up, but about half an hour later he started whimpering and since then he's just seemed like he's in pain.  Usually either whimpering, crying, or screaming.  It's just heartbreaking.  He doesn't want anything in his mouth.  I thought it might be teething, so I tried a cold washcloth, but he didn't want it, and he doesn't seem to want to nurse (he holds his mouth open around my nipple), although he will if I'm having a letdown and it seems to console him for a few seconds to a minute at a time before he pops off wailing.  He also has a goopy eye, which we have prescription eyedrops for, but I haven't given them to him because I want to give warm wet washcloths and breastmilk a chance to clear it up before I break out the big guns.  The doc didn't see any sign of anything else wrong with him when we took him in for that, which was Tuesday.  I wonder if he picked up something nasty from the Dr's office.  His temp in his armpit is 99 degrees f.

I don't know whether to just keep holding/rocking/nursing/loving him or if I should be giving him some kind of medicine or taking him to the ER or what?

[gradstudentmommy]

Sorry your little guy is sick. :( It sounds like he has caught a cold. Have you tried using a humidifier at night?

99 under the arm isn't that high of a temperature, especially since he has a cold. But if it were me, I'd probably call my ped's 24 hour nurse line to consult. If he's screaming, he's definitely in pain. He may have developed an ear infection from the cold.

I hope your little guy feels better soon. It's awful when they're sick.

[Chicky2]

Sounds like it could be an ear infection.  Esp. if he's been coughing and snotty at all.  Ear infections hurt more when they lie flat, so if it is one, elevate his sleeping area so he is a bit propped up.  For us, we used a crib as a sidecar, and would put an old flat pillow, or a towel folded up under the head of their mattress.

Do you have an otoscope?  One of the best investments a mama can make, imo.  At least you can see if it's red or if the eardrum is bulging.  Your ped. can show you how to use it.

I would start using garlic oil or mullien if you have it.  It certainly won't hurt *be sure to warm it on a warm but not hot spoon before putting it in the ears.  Cold oil will be very uncomfortable.  Too hot will hurt, so be careful and test on your wrist.*  Also, a warm rice sock can help w/the pain of an earache if he will tolerate it.

Garlic oil is very easy to make.  Just take a T of olive oil and add one clove of fresh garlic, slightly smashed to release oils.  Warm it up for about 30 seconds in a pan.  Then I use it and leave the garlic in the rest of the oil until I use all the oil.

You can give him a dose of infant Tylenol or Advil if you have it.  Ear aches HURT!

[Knitting Mama]

I don't give ibuprofen a lot, but the times that I do give it are when Cecilia is clearly miserable and the usual remedies of teething gel, cold teethers, a bath, and extra snuggles don't do the trick. Good luck, mama!

[ChelseaWantsOut]

Thanks for the replies!  Shortly after I posted this, he fell asleep and whimpered and nursed while sleeping for over 3 hours.  Now he's awake and cheerful as all get out!    Here's hoping it's over now.