I am struggling and so tired I can't get my brain to come up with any ideas. We have been sick for a couple weeks with a head/nose/chest cold and we have two that have a sensitive cough/gag/barf reflex. Every time they get coughing, they tend to cough until they barf. So every day we have been dealing with barf. I thought we were almost done with the cold but it looks like we've caught another one before we got over this last one.

To stop/prevent coughing we've done elevated mattresses, steamers, honey, suckers, ibuprofen, vicks on feet, hot shower, cold air, delysem, dimatap....but nothing works consistently.


The doctors say there isn't much they can give them until four except delysem or dimatap if we have to....but no cough suppressant.

I know we can't be the only ones with kids who have this issue...can we? Do you have any tricks or ideas for us to try. I am desperate....


Susan

Parent to GGG born 31 weeks 4 days 4/26/07




http://www.thedivinemercy.org/message

  

It used to be that kids could get an Rx for phenergan with codiene cough syrup when they were this miserable. Might ask the pediatrician about risk vs benefit, and explain HOW MISERABLE they are.

Sometimes the gagging with coughing is related to severe bronchospasm issues and a nebulizer treatment of albuterol might help.

It looks like you've covered most home-care solutions. Mine seem to improve with a steam mist humidifier and the Vicks vaporizor liquid in the steam chamber.

Sheila
GGB 10/29/06 (33 weeks)

Thanks for the reply...I will have to look into the bronchospasm issue and see if that is a possibility. I didn't think they had issues with that, but these colds could have triggered something or it could be cold induced.

Ours have a sensitive gag reflex most of the time anyway...they swallow wrong...barf...they stick a toothbrush in the wrong spot...barf...they burp wrong...barf...bleh.

I know that the phenegran/codiene worked for me and my sisters when we were little. But times have changed and they don't do codiene anymore for under certain ages. I just hope we get to 4 before they change the age to 8! I've also heard they want to up the age to 12 to force the drug companies to do the tests for children...I'm all for the testing...but hey...what about all the kids who will suffer while you use them to get the drug companies to comply. I say just slap a 50 trillion fine on them and solve the deficit and lack of testing at the same time.

I know they say it is best for the kids to have it this way...I'm not so sure after watching them suffer for 2.5 weeks. and certainly, after 18 days of barf I am very tired of it too.

Susan

Parent to GGG born 31 weeks 4 days 4/26/07




http://www.thedivinemercy.org/message

  

I donno if this will help or not wrt sensitive cough but when my kids have cough my ped suggests if honey does not work (never does long term) to give benadrly. I do so only when they cough prevents them from sleeping. does help.

<a href="http://tickers.families.com"><img border="0" src=""></a>

Ohmygosh, that's exactly my kids! They laugh, they barf, they cry, they barf, they eat too much, they barf. We had to change the carpet out of our playroom after a year becaue it was destroyed from the amount of throwing up. It's tiles now and we have mats over it. I walk around with plastic bags in my diaper bag and tons in the van b/c I never know when the barf will come.

We also have the coughing that leads to barfing issue. 2 of mine do hae cold induced ashtma so the nebulizer is what we use. We have done the honey, which I think is ok, didn't really seem to help us, but definitely worth a shot.

I've heard about putting vicks on their feet and covering it with socks. That also helps somewhat it seems. I just gave them tons of gatorage and stopped giving milk during that time, since it seemed to aggravate the cough.

I am sooo glad I am not the only one with barfers. I was beginning to wonder!

We just started switching them to cool juice/gatoraid the last few days and it has made a bit of a difference too. The milk was creating more phlegm for them to cough up. Seems like this problem doesn't have a simple solution...so we throw everything but the kitchen sink at it hoping each option will help just a little more.

This is going to be a long winter....they are back at playschool today. No fever, and only cough at night but no barf for a few days...so they are off to have fun and catch another new virus. I just keep repeating to myself..."we have to to this sooner or later and it is better to do it now than when missing a day will put them behind."


Susan

Parent to GGG born 31 weeks 4 days 4/26/07




http://www.thedivinemercy.org/message