Reading an article on the journal, I wanted to share our own experience. I’m currently sat in Crumlin with our newborn in ICU due to RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) along with numerous other parents and kids in the same situation.
https://jrnl.ie/5931975
Just to help any other parents with our experience so far and what we observed in this case. Note: I’m not a medical professional or providing any medical advice.
Our newborn contracted it from her older sibling after returning home from the hospital, us thinking it was a mild cold in her sibling and nothing to worry about but accepted whatever it was would be passed on.
About 5 days later, we noticed that our newborn had been sleeping a lot and feeding less, was getting congested and breathing rate was high in the evening (about 60 breaths per minute).
The following morning we were at the doctor who gave some advice on what to look out for and wrote a referral if it got worse as it had improved from the previous evening.
Breathing effort increased a lot over the day and went up to about 70-75 breaths per minute on average. We went into the ED at Crumlin and without any delay were admitted. From arrival to bed was about 45mins. An RSV and Bronchiolitis diagnosis followed.
Let me be honest, It gets worse (much worse) before it gets better. Breathing is laborious, supplemental oxygen is provided, some positive pressure is also needed to help inflate the lungs and reduce the effort needed to breath. Kids are much more resilient than you would think, but it’s so difficult to watch helplessly as they fight it off. Some end up on ventilators.
Decisions here at Crumlin are made fast and efficiently by staff. Escalation of care is very obviously planned and coordinated, hampered only by available bed spaces.
We’re getting out of ICU today but many others are waiting to get in. It’s not easy for anyone, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
I must give a huge amount of credit to the staff here for their handling of all cases. They are responsive, proactive and delightful to sea with on all levels.
My advice, if you think something is wrong, it probably is. Can your GP or follow advice at the link below. With early intervention we still ended up in ICU. But the help being offered here is critical to a good result.
We’re not out of the woods yet, but through the worst of it thankfully.
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/bronchiolitis/
9 comments
Read that article what an awful experience, our first child is due in January and anyone that wants to visit us has to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer end of.
Our daughter has just got over it after a week in hospital, she’s 18 months but was born very premature, medically speaking she’s great but still very small for her age so it hit her hard after catching it from her older brother who must have got it from preschool.
It hadn’t got too bad yet before we brought her into a&e, just was a bad dose and low appetite, heavy breathing/ panting while she was asleep but decided to bring her in anyway, they put her on oxygen for the week and an inhaler going home but could have been worse if we let it go another day or two.
When she was born last year she got jabs once a month for RSV, not sure why it’s not a more widespread thing considering how dangerous it is, hope your wee one is doing well!
Glad she’s on the mend.
Is RSV on the rise, heard a lot about it this year?
Glad your litlltle one on the mend. Hopefully this virus is a short stint and all recovered. Here’s me thinking croup cough is scary. Terrified for our little ones
My lil dude spent a week in hospital with it when he was two. Was scary. ICU on standby, etc. But when they Stert getting better, they bounce back quickly. Best of luck OP. Scary for you I know, but it will get better.
Crumlin staff are amazing. My first daughter was vomiting bile at 10 days old. We got an xray same day. They sent us home and rang us back 1st thing next day asking us to come in for a different type of xray. She was operated on that day for a twisted intestine. Thankfully she is fully recovered.
I’m of the view that we have RSV in the house here. We all have a **bad** heavy cold & coughs, that cannot seem to shift after a week or more of general treatment of a cold. We have a newborn and it’s worrying as they have it, but thankfully they aren’t bad with it all. So I’m hoping it’s not it, but *touch wood*, it’s been ok to now without it being bad.
I’ve had kids in hospital with serious illness, thankfully not full on ICU, but one with Septicemia that ended up in Crumlin for part of their treatment. It’s horrible as you can do nothing, just keep going as best you can.
Hopeful for a full recovery and back to themselves in no time!
I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through all that. Last year my 8 week old niece ended up being blue lighted up to Temple Street ICU because of RSV. Her older brother brought it home from creche. She recovered from it, is meeting all her mile stones and is a super wee girl. My brother and sister in law are still traumatised by the whole experience so be kind yourselves.
Thanks for all the good wishes. Quick update; a remarkable improvement in 24 hours and discussions about discharge in the next day. Once over the “hump” the rate of improvement is incredible to see.