Tired of this now

[ailbhe]

Rob was snoring. Astrid was snoring. I woke Rob up to go get his anti-snore breathing strips. Then I realised Astrid wasn't snoring, she was rasping, and looked at her chest. Intercostal heaving and huge chest valley with every breath. Turned on the light; very pale skin with grey bits. Tried to talk to Rob about it; he was too tired to see and had no idea.

Called 999. Partway through the call - lovely, quick, friendly call-handler - she got massively better and we stood the ambulance down.

Now she's ramping up again. Rob is asleep in the girls' room and she and I are alone in my bed.

This is no fun.

Comments

[serene]

Oh, sweetheart, oh no! Is everything all right now?

[bens_dad]

I hope your night got better and all is well now.

We've had nights in A+E with Ben's breathing but the only ambulance trip was overkill from an inexperienced, panicked out of hours GP, when we knew perfectly well that a car trip from out-of-hours surgery to A+E would have been perfectly adequate and much less inconvenient.

It isn't fun when you get most of the way though a panic, they seem to get better, you stand everything down and then they get worse again, but I haven't a second 999-level worry like that and I don't think Ben's mum has either.

When Ben had his second bout of breathing problems we bought a pulse-oximeter (about 20 quid) which has proved accurate but not always helpful. Doctors don't seem to appreciate you having one and (apart from the GP without clue) seem to prefer to judge by symptoms. Twice we weren't sure whether he was OK, didn't like the numbers on the pulse-oximeter so went to A+E only to be sent home again. *If* you do get one find out what her numbers are when she is well, then you have a baseline to compare against, but I think they can cause as much worry as they stop.

[sfred]

Argh. Thinking of you all.

[1ngi.livejournal.com]

At the risk of being helpy, being more upright helps with asthma and chest infections (life-long experience). Could you build a pillow pyramid with two pillows at right angles to each other and prop her up so she is not completely flat on her back. I know she is v little and may not cooperate but might be worth a go.

Really feel for you.

[jexia]

Scary scary awfulness. I wish I was nearer and could offer practical help instead of just good thoughts.

[ruthi.livejournal.com]

*hug*
I wish you good things, and health.

[sidheag.livejournal.com]

That sounds no fun on so many levels. Hang in there.

[hilarityallen.livejournal.com]

Oh no. Anyway, I hope that she's getting better, or that you're getting excellent medical attention. (Or, y'know, both.)