Daughter is being treated for pneumonia. Currently on antibiotic and steriod. Nighttime is the worst. She has that chronic, barking cough that is interfering with her rest. We've tried sitting with her in a hot, steamy bathroom. We have humidifier. We've elevated her pillows. She drinks plenty of water. She is only on day two of meds, but needs more rest to totally knock it out. Recently read about Sinupret online. Has anyone ever tried this? Oh, daughter is asthmatic, so no Robitussin or any other OTC meds can be taken, like Mucinex. Sinupret is supposed to be herbal, but I want to know if anyone has ever had success with this.
Dear Moms, thank you so much for all of your advice! Unfortunately, it was truly pneumonia with my daughter and an upper respiratory infection we caught in time with my son. Both were placed on antibiotics and, because they are asthmatics, the office prescribed something similar to Robitussin-DM and told us Mucinex would be ok only at night to help them get some sleep. I tried to purchase Sinupret at Walgreens, which had told me it was available. Once there, I found out you could only order Sinupret online! I might order some for future use, and try it myself before giving to my children. Meanwhile, my daughter is off all meds except her antibiotic (she had a 10-day supply). Her cough is almost totally gone. My son is on the Mucinex at night so he can rest, which in his case is the best medicine. We still have to do his asthma therapy, but he's not coughing as much and plays in the daytime. Thank you again for helping me stay calm. Tried steam therapy, freezer therapy and humidifier--0h, and lots of prayer--but basically, this had to run it's course.
I've never used it, since I couldn't find it at the store when I needed it. But, I saw Dr Sears (www.askdrsears.com) recommended it. I always look to dr Sears for recommendations, so if he says it works, I'd be inclined to believe it does!
Hope your daughter is feeling better, its been 2 days since you posted your request :) HOWEVER, i'm wondering if this is bona fide pneumonia, because you mentioned the barking cough thats worse by night. sounds like croup to me, especially if your daughter has asthma. asthma kids are more prone to croup, and antibiotics wouldnt help if this is the case. instead of the humidifier and the steamy bathroom, when she gets really bad at night try opening your freezer and let her breathe in the cold dry air for a few minutes... if she can maintain normal breathing after that then it surely is croup, and she needs to go back to the doctor for different meds. taking antibiotics when they arent needed can lead to immunity to the drug, and thats never a good thing! try out the freezer thing, but above all else, i certainly hope your little girl feels better soon!! best wishes!!
Hi A.,
How old is your daughter? My son is asthmatic, also. What is your asthma treatment routine? It sounds like her asthma mioght be out of control. My son coughs when his asthma is out of control. He's had pneumonia so many times I've lost count (more than 5 or 6 times). Does she respond to her fast-action inhaler at all? Does she go more than 5 minutes without coughing?
If she is stuffy and it's phlem like post-nasal drip that she's coughing up, I would give an OTC cough like Triaminic cough and cold. I actually give my 11 year old boy (100 lbs) one adult sudafed when he is stuffy. I believe the concern of giving over the counter stuff is causing hyperactivity. At least that's what I think the doctor said the last time we encountered this (about 5 months ago).
It's so scary when your child can't breathe! Please feel free to send me an email at any time. My heart goes out to you! I hope your daughter gets better soon!!
Merry Christmas.
J.
____@____.com
PS - I just read the comment about the cupping. That is somehting my son's pulminoligist told us to do as well. I just forget to do it. You know how it is when you're up to your elbows in alligators!
Hi A.!
My son just had a bout of croup last month and had the same barking cough especially at night. What worked wonders for us was giving him warm liquids like tea right at bedtime and anytime he woke up in the middle of the night. It helps clear away the sticky mucus that has gotten stuck in the throat. Hope this helps!
A.,
I just received an email about Vick's Vapor Rub being rubbed on the bottom of the feet to stop cough at night. Not sure if it works but someone close to my mom said it did for her. She said it felt like there was a warm lanket wrapped around her and that she didn't cough at all that night. I'm not sure if that is something that you can or cannot use with your daughter but if so would be worth a try.
With her having asthma, I'm sure that you are very careful as to what you clean your home with, wash your clothes with and use around the house on a daily basis. I would love to share with you what I have found to help with natural immune support. Just let me know if this is of interest to you.
I hope she is feeling better soon! Good thing her teacher is so understanding and supportive. :)
Take Care,
N. :) SAHM homeschooling 3 boys 13, 8 & 2 yrs old and married to my Mr. Wonderful for 15yrs. I love to help other moms, who want to become SAHMs, reach that goal!
A.,
Get vicks vapor rub and ut it on her feet covered with socks and her chest. I dont know exactly why on the feet works as well as it does but I have done this with all 5 of my kidsand I have had peds and nurses tell me to do this and about 3 or so months ago there was an email going around about this method as well. I do know people have googled it to see why it works. Good luck.
I have no idea about antibiotics. But, I'd suggest acupuncture in addition to the medications given. It will help her immune system and address specific issues as well as the core issue that Western medicine avoids like the plague. Feel free to contact me if you would like a referral to a practitioner in your area.
Also, dairy and processed are good things to take out of her diet while she is having these respiratory issues.
L.
I can't respond to your specific request about using Sinupret, but I wanted to offer a non-drug option if you're interested. I assumed the ultimate goal is to move the mucus out of the lungs, so if that is the case here you go:
Basically, have your daughter lay face down on the floor or bed. Cup your hands individually as if you were going to hold water in them and then clap/strike them on her back, over where her lungs are (basically over the ribs, avoiding the spine and kidneys). You don't have to do it hard, but it will make a loud sound since your hands are cupped. This will help to manually break up the mucus and it will help the coughs become more productive. She may start coughing a lot right after you do it, but hopefully these coughs can get things moving. My husband just had a serious upper resp. infection and this was the only thing that helped get that junk out of his lungs.
Good luck - I hope your daughter gets better soon!
Yes, I have used it for over a year myself, it helps with the extreme sinus drainage that I have at certain times of the year. I also have a friend who has the worst sinus congestion/drainage I have ever seen and he is allergic to several foods, as well as mold, etc many things. I got some Sinupret for him and I was shocked .... 2 days later he was not coughing so often as he had since I met him. He started taking it ritually (first consulting his doctor) and I hardly ever saw any serious symptoms. We used to go to the movie theatre and within 5 minutes he was coughing so hard he could not even enjoy the movie.(most likely mold)...I doubt those around us did either. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the Doctor that actually invented this stuff... he lives in Poulsbo, WA. My orthodontist suggested I try Sinupret as my throat was constantly a bit inflamed. He suggested I take 3 tabs a day until the inflammation cleared up, which I did and then I took 2 per day. I will talk to friend who knows this doctor in Poulsbo. She will be able to give me his name and phone number when I reach her. I will then repost on this site for anyone who is interested. I do not know if that office mails out Sinupret....I always buy it when I go to Poulsbo. I will find out soon. Hope everyone is feeling better. Yes, I will get the price also, the doctor's office has the best prices. It is available online, but more expensive. I was looking for it when I happened on this site. L.
