RSV

(Hopefully) quick update. Ben had RSV last week and a bit the week before. Friday night he lost his voice and started with a bit of a cough. But, he was still happy, eating regularly, and sleeping good. By Monday it was getting a little worse although all the positive signs were still there. I took him to the doctor anyway because I could hear and feel him rattle when he breathed. He tested positive for RSV. (They tested him because he's still so young.) They sent us home with things to look for and another appt on Weds. (The dr told us that the bad days of RSV were generally 3-5. If it started on Friday night, then we might already be at day 3.)

Monday night we had to sit up with him so he could sleep upright so his oxygen levels didn't drop. I made it to about midnight (I was still tired from Lincoln having strep the week before). Then Doug took over and kept him upright until 4. I don't know how he did it - staying awake the whole time. The problem was that Ben stayed awake the whole time, too. He just didn't do great actually sleeping on daddy. We slept on the couch, completely propped up so that we wouldn't move even if we managed to hit deep sleep. This lasted fine until just before 6 when Lincoln and Doug got up.

Tuesday we ended up back at the dr (different dr, but one we respect and like)because Ben seemed worse. He was. His original oxygen levels were in the mid 80s (97% is considered the acceptable low). However, when he had been sitting up on my lap or on my shoulder for a while his levels went back up to 99%. So, it was decided that he couldn't be laid flat until he was better (days at least). They didn't even want him laying down to weigh him. His diagnosis was changed from RSV to the next stage, Bronchiolitis. I was told that this was just the beginning of the bronchiolitis and that it would surely get worse before it got better. The dr said there was about a 90% chance that we would end up in the hospital before this was over. However, since his oxygen levels came up so nicely, she wasn't going to admit him at that point. She wasn't even going to do a breathing treatment (because that could irritate his lungs/airways and he was doing fine without one).

He did have a low grade fever on Tuesday morning because the RSV had caused an ear infection.

We had given Ben one feeding or so of breast milk that our neighbor had given us because she has surplus and we asked for it. Once we went back to the dr on Tuesday they suggested we give him as much breast milk as was convenient for us at this point. So, we fed him breast milk every (I think) feeding. Sometimes he needed more than one bag so we supplemented with formula. He was still eating good.

A bit of a tough night for mommy on Tuesday night, sleeping all night with Ben, propped up on the couch. Good news is that we had figured it out and worked out a bunch of kinks the night and day before and we actually slept (fitfully, but still) most of the night.

Weds, back to the (original) doctor. Oxygen levels right up to 100%. Ear infection gone. Eating and sleeping fitfully - dr says VERY typical for RSV - surprised we didn't see it sooner. Changed diagnosis back to RSV - no bronchiolitis. (I swear it was the breast milk plus the almost constant holding/loving that made him better when he was supposed to be getting worse.)

Thursday seemed better - he could and enjoyed playing on his tummy on the floor and taking naps there. Great sign - hope for the night. But, no. By nighttime he was coughing but didn't seem to be able to bring anything up. He sounded miserable. The swing, bouncy, and flat surface didn't work. He slept all night across my tummy. Thankfully, we managed this in bed, so it was a bit more comfortable. (No worries, grandmas, I couldn't move or he'd cry. There was no way that I was going to be able to move enough to do him any harm accidentally in my sleep.)

Friday - Christmas was a good day except for him being insanely funky at feeding times. Enough to really irritate Doug and I who were going on no sleep. [Side note, the previous Saturday Doug started feeling lousy. His dr called in a Tamiflu prescription which did nothing. He went to the dr on Monday. Strep. It took him over a week to not have an unbearable sore throat.]

Friday night Ben was able to sleep for long periods of time but would wake up completely freaked out and coughing. Presumably he couldn't cough up what was bothering him and he was worried. It sounded like he would choke to death, so we were a bit scared at times, too, to the point where we held him upside down. It didn't help. But, he did evenetually stop. We had a few bouts of this overnight.

So, back to the (original) dr on Saturday. His oxygen levels went right up to 100%. He did fine in the car seat. He was still funky at eating but really happy. (he had gained 6 ounces in three days and now weighed 18 lbs 5 oz!!!!)

Dr confirmed he was fine. No bronchiolitis, no pneumonia, no fluid in his lungs or other bad things. Nothing we can do (that we weren't already doing) to help him when he starts to cough. Keep on keeping on.

Sunday he continued to improve.

Monday, both boys at school, both mommy and daddy at work. Ben sleeping in the Pack'N'Play in mommy and daddy's room - flat - with no problems.

Some sleep again!