Aa
My baby and I wake up coughing, choking, can't breath
What is going on with us??? At least 3 times each night we both wake up (alternating times) not being able to breath, choking and gasping for air. We do produce some clear sticky mucus sometimes. Our airways are closing up while sleeping (inclined mind you). Also during waking hours maybe 3-5 times per day this happens. The rest of the time, we're just fine, even during exercise.
This is how it all started:
3 weeks ago, my 2 year old daughter and I stayed with some friends in an old house with no air conditioning upstairs where we had to sleep. It was sweltering, so the woman offered up a window unit that was kept in the garage for several years. It worked great and soon the room had cooled off and we were ready for bed. We woke up freezing and turned off the unit. The next night we turned on the A/C unit but not so high. Again we woke up freezing, so we turned it off. That morning we both started coughing periodically throughout the day. It seemed like a "wet cough" sounded productive, but wasn't unless much hacking went on.
We went home and, it has gotten worse. I figured an expectorant would help, so we both started taking Mucinex...absolutely nothing. We did this for one week with worsening results. We both wake up coughing, gasping for air and plainly just CAN'T BREATH. I took the baby to the ER where they said her lungs sounded fine (triage nurse, er nurse and the doctor). Yes, she was fine at that time, but they acted like I was bringing her in for no reason, said she had an ear infection, gave us some amoxicillin and sent us home.
I went to the dr. two times. The first time she said she thought I had bronchitis, gave me augmentin. After 6 days, it was clear that wasn't working, so I went back. She said it sounded like I had pneumonia and ordered a chest x-ray. It came back just fine, but she gave me a z-pack anyway. At day 11 we started using my mother's nebulizer with albuteral "breathing treatment" in the morning and evening. Also, we have had a humidifier going in the living room and the bedroom where we both sleep going at all times. Still no progress. Yes, the breathing treatments do produce some good coughs with sputum, but it is minimal.
At day 17 I decided to change directions and stopped with the expectorant and went with suppressant (robotussin for me and Dimetapp for her and they both had exactly the same ingredients so I ditched the robotussin which tastes awful and switched to the children’s Dimetapp. This has a suppressant, antihistamine and decongestant. ) It isn't getting any better.
I am scared that there was something really bad in that air conditioner and now we will have this forevermore. Baby and I are both done with antibiotics and there has been no progress and I even have an ear infection in each ear now EVEN AFTER TAKING 2 ROUNDS OF ANTIBIOTICS! I have researched our symptoms and these are the things that I came up with: Acid reflux, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, emphysema, COPD and after researching each of these it is clear that we do not have any of these. I need help, the dr.s are not looking at the whole picture. There is a missing link somewhere, please help me find it. Thank you
This is how it all started:
3 weeks ago, my 2 year old daughter and I stayed with some friends in an old house with no air conditioning upstairs where we had to sleep. It was sweltering, so the woman offered up a window unit that was kept in the garage for several years. It worked great and soon the room had cooled off and we were ready for bed. We woke up freezing and turned off the unit. The next night we turned on the A/C unit but not so high. Again we woke up freezing, so we turned it off. That morning we both started coughing periodically throughout the day. It seemed like a "wet cough" sounded productive, but wasn't unless much hacking went on.
We went home and, it has gotten worse. I figured an expectorant would help, so we both started taking Mucinex...absolutely nothing. We did this for one week with worsening results. We both wake up coughing, gasping for air and plainly just CAN'T BREATH. I took the baby to the ER where they said her lungs sounded fine (triage nurse, er nurse and the doctor). Yes, she was fine at that time, but they acted like I was bringing her in for no reason, said she had an ear infection, gave us some amoxicillin and sent us home.
I went to the dr. two times. The first time she said she thought I had bronchitis, gave me augmentin. After 6 days, it was clear that wasn't working, so I went back. She said it sounded like I had pneumonia and ordered a chest x-ray. It came back just fine, but she gave me a z-pack anyway. At day 11 we started using my mother's nebulizer with albuteral "breathing treatment" in the morning and evening. Also, we have had a humidifier going in the living room and the bedroom where we both sleep going at all times. Still no progress. Yes, the breathing treatments do produce some good coughs with sputum, but it is minimal.
At day 17 I decided to change directions and stopped with the expectorant and went with suppressant (robotussin for me and Dimetapp for her and they both had exactly the same ingredients so I ditched the robotussin which tastes awful and switched to the children’s Dimetapp. This has a suppressant, antihistamine and decongestant. ) It isn't getting any better.
I am scared that there was something really bad in that air conditioner and now we will have this forevermore. Baby and I are both done with antibiotics and there has been no progress and I even have an ear infection in each ear now EVEN AFTER TAKING 2 ROUNDS OF ANTIBIOTICS! I have researched our symptoms and these are the things that I came up with: Acid reflux, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, emphysema, COPD and after researching each of these it is clear that we do not have any of these. I need help, the dr.s are not looking at the whole picture. There is a missing link somewhere, please help me find it. Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am so glad, especially for your little one. All the best. Take care!
Hello! Last night I gave baby some children's Zyrtec and I took some off brand antihistimine, we ditched the humidifier and neither one of us woke up fighting for our lives! It was the first time in 3 weeks! I guess the Robotussin and Dimetapp didn't have enough antihistimine in them to do the job. Thank you so much for your suggestion of the mold allergy, it was correct and now we can sleep in peace!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Talk to your PCP and maybe your daughter’s pediatrician. First you need a confirmed diagnosis. There are scratch tests and other blood tests available to detect allergy to mold spores. Once diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is by anti allergics, immunotherapy and medications taken to block the action of leukotrienes responsible for the allergic reaction.
Also you would need to make your home mold free. Get your air conditioning checked. If possible show an allergy specialist.
Hope this helps.. Take care!
Talk to your PCP and maybe your daughter’s pediatrician. First you need a confirmed diagnosis. There are scratch tests and other blood tests available to detect allergy to mold spores. Once diagnosis is confirmed, treatment is by anti allergics, immunotherapy and medications taken to block the action of leukotrienes responsible for the allergic reaction.
Also you would need to make your home mold free. Get your air conditioning checked. If possible show an allergy specialist.
Hope this helps.. Take care!
Thank you so much for getting back to me! What can we do to alliviate the symptoms? We've been taking an anthihistimine, is there anything else over the counter we can take? What can I expect a Dr. to prescribe for us? I found a pulmonologist who takes both children and adults and I was hoping to get a shared appt., but I know that's unrealistic and I won't be able to get in for months probably. What do I do next?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Welcome to the forum!
Since you used an old air conditioning unit, chances are that you and your daughter probably caught the mold allergy from there. This causes coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, sneezing etc. The symptoms vary from person to person. Also get your air conditioning checked. Once exposed to mold spores, further exposure and cold temperature worsens the symptoms.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Welcome to the forum!
Since you used an old air conditioning unit, chances are that you and your daughter probably caught the mold allergy from there. This causes coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, sneezing etc. The symptoms vary from person to person. Also get your air conditioning checked. Once exposed to mold spores, further exposure and cold temperature worsens the symptoms.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Undiagnosed Symptoms Community
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
