Wheezing and Rashes

Last night, when we gave Nolan his bath we noticed a faint rash on his abdominal area. I know rashes are pretty common in early childhood and had decided not to fret unless still present by morning. 

This morning it was much redder and covered most of his abdominal area. So I called the doc and of course they wanted to check it out.

When we got there I was informed it was just a rash that makes a common appearance at the end of some kind of viral infection, and that it'll clear up on it's own. The viral infection explains the extra, extra, fussy baby we've had this past week. 

She was much more concerned with his wheezing and cough. I explained that I was too, but every time we'd taken him to the MO doctor about it, it was played off on the reflux and not treated.

Nolan has had this chronic wheeze/cough since he was about 3 months old. Our MO Pediatrician told us it was caused by his reflux and that was that. I've repeatedly been concerned with it, but every time was assured it was nothing. You can hear the wheezing too, you don't need a stethoscope. It's so prominent that I've even had people ask me about it.  

New doctor was baffled by this, because even if it is caused from the reflux it should still be treated. She told me, "If it's reflux his esophagus is inflamed, if it's not his bronchial tubes are inflamed. Either way, something is inflamed because wheezing and coughing aren't a part of life." 

She gave him a stronger breathing treatment than what he'd had in Missouri and then came back to check on him about 15 minutes later. 

(I love how goofy he looks here)

I have to admit, even the audible wheezing from his breathing had improved. She confirmed that his lungs were much less wheezy and moving much more air. She showed obvious signs of irritation towards previous diagnosis. 

She prescribed a few inhalers for us to try twice a day for a week and is going to see him back next week to check improvement and go from there. 

I have to say, I'm more than a little irritated too. I've asked at least 3 different doctors in MO about this and only one of them tried to treat it.

It's one thing to tell  new parents of a child with no symptoms that the issue of concern is nothing. It's a wholly different thing to tell a parent of a child who has been coughing and wheezing for months that it's nothing. And then, when that turns out to be something, you've really brought to life the mama bear in me.

Doctors shouldn't be lazy. I'm not saying order every test in the book or anything, but hey, if you've got an infant wheezing and coughing... you might as well try some of the basics and just see - just maybe - if it improves their breathing. Then, again, I'm not the doctor... I'm just the crazed new mom, right? 

She agreed this has probably contributed to Nolan's whiny/irritable behavior too. I sure get cranky when my lungs act up, just ask Cory. I, for one, can imagine what he's been experiencing. I just decided to not think like that since I'd been told numerous times it wasn't anything to be worried about. 

So to think that he has been experiencing that degree of discomfort for months, makes me irate. I come from a pretty protective family, but messing with my kid's health adds a new, fiery element to it.

Poor baby. 

I'm one hundred percent against steroid use, and I think it's easy for doctors to be all steroid-happy when it comes to lung issues and inflammation. But I'm allowing it for now. I'm curious to see if it improves his breathing. I'm going to be taking a lot of notes this week! And praying the Lord blesses these medicines in Nolan's body and brings forth healing!