So, Reagan was still coughing a lot (her "barking cough") and her nose was filling up with mucus so often that we needed to use our handy Nose Frida mucus-sucker tool at least every hour of the day! While Reagan wasn't having trouble breathing to the point of choking on whatever bacteria or virus was in her throat and nostrils, I thought that her coughing attacks and the frequency of her nose creating mucus were enough to have her go to the doctor again. I called her nurse in Knoxville today, and we set up an appointment for Friday, so that meant that my mom would need to drive me back to Knoxville early, which would also mean one less day in Wisconsin to spend with family during my Christmas vacation. Besides the selfish part of keeping her one day longer with family here up North, we decided to bring her into a walk-in clinic in Milwaukee, because we didn't want to see her suffer one more minute from this awful infection that she's been battling for the last three weeks.
When my dad and I walked in with Reagan to the local clinic in Milwaukee, the receptionist originally told us that we would need to wait for three hours before Reagan could see a doctor. Yikes! After spending six hours at the Emergency Room in the Children's Hospital in Knoxville two weeks ago, I wasn't too excited to wait again, and I would have if it was the best thing for Reagan's health, but I wasn't convinced that waiting three hours in a lobby again full of sick people would be better than bringing Reagan straight back home and waiting for her appointment in Knoxville on Friday. We would also have to pay out-of-network costs with our insurance to have her see a doctor here in Wisconsin, and we're on a tight budget as it is, but I would pay both my arms and legs to get her in if it meant helping her to feel better ASAP in Wisconsin before we returned to Knoxville this weekend.
However, the receptionist was really sweet and suggested that we check out the other children's clinic downtown that opened at 5:00 PM or else the pediatric unit in the same clinic down the hall. It was 4:15, and so after we registered Reagan into the computer, I waited in the lobby, and my dad went to see if we could have Reagan see a normal pediatrician rather than a doctor from the walk-in clinic for "everybody" (kids and adults). My dad returned to the lobby and was happy to report that he successfully set up a 5:00 appointment for Reagan with a pediatrician. I couldn't believe that we only needed to wait 30 minutes in the pediatric unit but three hours in the children/adult walk-in area!
The nurse and pediatrician were excellent. We explained Reagan's history and conditions with her sickness from these past few weeks, and after the doctor examined Reagan, she determined that Reagan had
bronchiolitis. My dad and I both asked how
bronchiolitis was different than
bronchitis, and although I forgot the pediatrician's explanation, I looked it up:
BRONCHITIS is
"an inflammation of the lining of your bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from your lungs. People who have bronchitis often cough up thickened mucus, which can be discolored." (mayoclinic.org)
BRONCHIOLITIS is "
Bronchiolitis is a common illness of the respiratory tract caused by an infection that affects the tiny airways, called the bronchioles, that lead to the lungs. As these airways become inflamed, they swell and fill with mucus, which can make breathing difficult.
Bronchiolitis:
- most often affects infants and young children because their small airways can become blocked more easily than those of older kids or adults
- typically occurs during the first 2 years of life, with peak occurrence at about 3 to 6 months of age
- is more common in males, children who have not been breastfed, and those who live in crowded conditions
Although it's often a mild illness, some infants are at risk for a more severe disease that requires hospitalization. Conditions that increase the risk of severe bronchiolitis include prematurity, prior chronic heart or lung disease, and a weakened immune system due to illness or medications.
Bronchiolitis is usually caused by a viral infection, most commonly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV infections are responsible for more than half of all cases of bronchiolitis and are most widespread in the winter and early spring. Other viruses associated with bronchiolitis include rhinovirus, influenza (flu), and human metapneumovirus." (kidshealth.org)
"Bronchiolitis is a common lung infection in young children and infants. It causes congestion in the small airways (bronchioles) of the lung. Bronchiolitis is almost always caused by a virus. Typically, the peak time for bronchiolitis is during the winter months.
Bronchiolitis starts out with symptoms similar to those of a common cold but then progresses to coughing, wheezing and sometimes difficulty breathing. Symptoms of bronchiolitis can last for several days to weeks, even a month.
Most children get better with supportive care at home. A very small percentage of children require hospitalization." (mayoclinic.org)
Ultimately, the pediatrician recommended the antibiotic Amoxicillin to Reagan because she believed at this point, although previous doctors said antibiotics would not work on the VIRAL infection that Reagan had, that Reagan needed something to kill this new bacterial infection or whatever was still in her body and keeping her from staying healthy.
We picked up the Amoxicillin right away at the pharmacy within the clinic and headed home. Reagan will take the Amoxicillin twice a day, and already after her first dose, she seems a lot better! The pediatrician recommended that we continue with the humidifier machine in Reagan's sleeping room and that we prop a pillow up below her head under her crib's mattress so that she sleeps with her head up a little to help her breathe better.
Reagan and I want to especially thank her Grandpa Don for accompanying us to the clinic today to see the doctor and get her antibiotics! I'm hoping that our little peach feels better soon! It's just the worst to see a baby that feels sick!
On a happier and briefer note than it deserves, I had a great time this morning looking for beautiful bridesmaid dresses with my soon-to-be sister-in-law, Carly, and the rest of the maids and matrons! EEG, hopefully all of us lose our Wisconsin whiteness and get in some nice summer tans to make Carly proud in the dresses come September 2015!
