At some point during the past week of new play areas (a free church playgroup, a kids’ gym), Elise picked up a stuffy nose. Her first ever! (I know, I’ve been spoiled. Fourteen-month-old twins and one is just now getting a stuffy nose.)
I thought mostly nothing of it. She didn’t have much of an appetite, but she was nursing as usual and didn’t have a fever. I figured it was just one of those things and she’d get over it.
But at 11:30 last night, she woke out of her sleep coughing — bad. Chris and I didn’t wait more than 30 seconds before we realized this wasn’t a bad dream. After talking to the on-call pediatrician at the doctor’s office, we ended up at the ER with both girls.
They did an initial intake at triage almost right away. Elise’s barking cough, rattling chest and labored breathing gave away her diagnosis right away: croup. Blech.
One Ephinephrine breathing treatment, a dose of steroids and three hours later, we finally headed out.
We’re super glad nothing else was wrong. Luckily, with the short round of steroids, the worst will clear up in two or three days. And if God has any mercy, Althea will not be waking up in a few hours for another trip to the hospital….
Here’s more information about croup and some audio files of croup and stridor.
Oh god, that’s so scary, especially because it seemingly came out of nowhere. I hope Elise is feeling better. And as great as sharing is, I hope she keeps this one to herself.
I’m glad it was nothing worse. I hope she feels better soon. My 17 month old daughter woke up with 102 degree fever a few months back and I freaked out, because she is NEVER sick and I rushed her to the doctor only to be told it’s most likely from teething. Eh, better safe than sorry, though, definitely.
When my son came down with croup (he was about 18 or so months old), I phoned the pediatrician and (He’s the best pediatrician ever!) he called in a prescription to the pharmacy (I had my mother in law pick it up…..best mother in law ever), and he had a nebulizer delivered to the house. It came in about an hour or so. It was amazing! It cleared up in a couple of days……….
Croup can be scary. Glad to hear your little angel is feeling better.
just found your blog today. It’s so neat to read about other parents of twins are going through the chaos i am here as well. Thanks for sharing your blog. Hope they feel better soon. We just got through a weekend of the stomach flu for both of them of course. It’s a tough time.
my twins were born on october 1, so we are at about the same stage.. hang in there. …. as will i…lol
My nephew was in the ER in Sarasota for the same thing last week. Both boys have had crazy coughs this month but they’ve been more wet and choking than croupy.