https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 12 Nov 2026 00:47:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2445112 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:49:17 +0000 Corduroy 2445112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the responses. I haven't been able to keep up responding between holding baby boy and trying to work. Thanks for the reassurance that I was right to bring him in even though I was only doing so to follow instructions and didn't feel like an "emergency". Anything can happen quickly with breathing so it is better to get it checked out. </p> <p>Hopefully LO is on the path to getting better. Today's breathing is the same but we may be heading towards dehydration. Think wet diaper thoughts for us please. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2445102 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:40:13 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2445102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both los (at the time 5w and 3 years) have been given chest x rays with fevers and possible respiratory infections. One just had a virus but they do those tests for newborns, and the other has pneumonia. It seems pretty typical! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2445096 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:38:19 +0000 pastemoo 2445096@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: yes, they usually run a million tests unless you can worm your way out of them--which is unusual.<br /> BUT if you are worried enough to be at ER, the testing means they are concerned about something, too, and double checking that your child is ok before they send you home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2445077 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:28:47 +0000 MamaG 2445077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were in the ER in November for breathing issues with my one year old. It was the Children's Hospital ER and we were there for 5 hours and discharged. We had a triple dose albuterol treatment (which can only be done under medical supervision according to our ped) and a chest x-ray. We were given additional guidance of the top amount of albuterol we could administer at home (it was more aggressive than our doctors recommendation) and if it wasn't working to return to the ER for admission.</p> <p>My girls respond to albuterol, not all children do (particularly with RSV). My girl had RSV at 9 weeks and we were told to expect her to "heal" from it within about 12 months. This winter has been challenging for us and we aren't in a cold climate.</p> <p>Now what sucked was that that one ER visit cost me a lot of stress and anxiety and $1500! I know it's all relative and it we came home and she was okay, but it was a really costly 5 hours where I didn't feel like much was done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2445040 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:05:49 +0000 hummusgirl 2445040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I once took LO to the ER after his temp dropped from 102 to 95 in a couple hours (by ambulance, no less!). It turned out to be nothing but the nurses and doctors all reassured us we were right to come in if we were concerned. I think you did the right thing. Better safe than sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2445020 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:50:02 +0000 littlebug 2445020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: He tried the suction machine because it might have been successful. Lots of things are tried in hospitals, even if there's a chance they won't be successful, because if they are the results can be totally worth the discomfort. If doctors/therapists/nurses just didn't do things because they might not work, no one would ever get better.</p> <p>The treatment your LO got sounds like standard procedure for respiratory issues, especially in a child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444990 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:31:13 +0000 smocks 2444990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You've gotten a lot of good responses but I'll just add - yes, that sounds like a typical suite of testing done by the ER staff. DH is an ER doc, and he's told me that it depends on who picks up your case but most of the attendings are pretty cautious (especially in a young kid) about ordering as many tests as they feel necessary. They want to 1.) ensure they treat your child appropriately with the limited medical info they have and 2.) cover themselves from liability. </p> <p>For breathing issues, it definitely was appropriate to bring them to the ER, even if they just ended up being discharged. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444969 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:20:19 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2444969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD1 was also admitted to the ER for RSV. But she is 3, so her treatment might have been different. She was rushed back into a room because her oxygen levels were at 86. She was on the verge of unconsciousness! For her case, they gave her albuterol, oxygen, chest x-rays, IV fluids, IV medication, did a blood draw, and administered a steroid. She stayed on the oxygen and albuterol off and on for 8 hours.</p> <p>All I can say is that it's better to take your child to the ER even if it doesn't end up being an emergency, than to leave them at home out of fear of it "being nothing," and something terrible happening.</p> <p>FWIW, we have an oximiter now, and I wouldn't take my child to the ER if they're O2 was at 94 (bu of course you had no way to know what his o2 was). Our pediatrician said that as long as they aren't laboring to breathe and in obvious respiratory distress (blue-ish lips, gray or pale skin, fast heart rate, breathing quickly, flaring nostrils, involuntary flexing muscles to try and help them get air...), that anything above 92 is good enough for them to stay home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444957 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:10:35 +0000 BSB 2444957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: My daughter got that tube up the nose and using lube at the most recent ER visit. Essentially it is a snot sucking but with a more powerful vacuum and the small tube is able to get deeper in the throat. Definitely not something I could do with a nose frida.</p> <p>I found this medical term: "The mucus can be suctioned<br /> out regularly by a nurse, again using a soft<br /> suction catheter. "</p> <p><a href="http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/Controlleddocuments/Patientinformation/Childhealth/Bronchiolitis-patientinformation.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/Controlleddocuments/Patientinformation/Childhealth/Bronchiolitis-patientinformation.pdf</a></p> <p>My daughter and son were both diagnosed with Bronchiolitis and both a caused by a number of viruses. This time it was RSV for my babies, but it could be Rhinovirus and a bunch of others. Sadly, they aren't immune so they could catch something else. We are sorta staying inside until the winter season is over. I don't want my babies catching something else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444956 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:09:35 +0000 Adira 2444956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: Ooops, I missed the part of your post where you said he got breathing treatments. With kids, and especially with breathing issues, it's always better to play it safe and bring them into the ER, so don't question yourself there! Whenever I've brought Xander, they see that he's a toddler with breathing issues and they immediately bring him back to examine him, because stuff like that can go from bad to worse quickly. Glad your LO is okay! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444948 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:05:36 +0000 BSB 2444948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: Ugh, I re-read your post. I can't believe the nurses looked at you like you were nuts. Granted I'm sure they get a lot of people who are not sick and come in just to have a warm place to sleep, but you were concerned for your LO. Plus, it is flu and RSV season. Beds were filled at the Children's hospital I was at. Your dr suggested you come in to the ER. I'm hoping this nurse just had a long day and wanted to go home. If I had the name of the nurse, I would complain. I've been to many (many many) hospitals and almost every time they have me fill out a survey on how my experience was. Most of the time, it's been great. They want to make sure they are doing all they can to make me feel comfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444946 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:04:12 +0000 Chillybear 2444946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would think that since you went to the ER over the weekend and you were discharged, they would want you to follow up with your pediatrician today or tomorrow. All of your questions are valid and should be answered by your regular pediatrician. </p> <p>2 weeks ago we were in the ER with my 2 1/2 year old and she had croup. Even though it was a very textbook case, I'm glad we went in and they gave her a dose of steroids. They had us follow up with our Dr the next day. Both the ER ped and our ped, reassured us that we did the right thing by bringing her in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444941 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:00:21 +0000 Corduroy 2444941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Yes, he was given albuterol on Friday and again at the ER. Both times before and after the treatment they said they didn't expect it to help and it didn't. Thanks for chiming in with your experience. When LO1 had RSV they said she was borderline needing to be admitted. That didn't set off any alarms in my head. Hearing it Friday and yesterday didn't really either. I think I needed to hear that I'm doing the right thing to bring him in regardless.</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: Snot sucking isn't the right term for it. It was a tube up the nose trying to go into the lungs. Lots of lube and screaming. It looked pretty bad and the technician gave up twice mid-procedure because it was too difficult. It seemed odd, like obviously it wouldn't be easy. Not sure why he even attempted it he was just going to give up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444937 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:59:00 +0000 Adira 2444937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: Interesting that your son didn't get albuterol at all. Xander's always received it when we've gone to the ER for breathing issues. And when he was admitted, he was receiving oxygen as well as albuterol around the clock. I didn't know that sometimes they don't administer it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444928 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:56:05 +0000 DenverMom 2444928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It doesn't sound like the hospital did any unnecessary tests/treatments. The treatments provided all sound very standard for RSV,though I too am surprised they didn't give him a nebulizer treatment.</p> <p>RSV and breathing problems in infants are taken very seriously, and I think you made the right decision going to the ER. We had a similar situation when my son was 2 months old. His breathing was labored and when I called the nurse line I was eventually told to just go to the ER. Well within an hour of getting to the hospital, my LO was diagnosed with RSV and transferred to a local children's hospital. At the children's hospital he was immediately intubated and he was admitted to the Neonatal ICU for two weeks. Babies die from RSV, so I think you made the right decision to take him in. </p> <p>I hope he feels better soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444915 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:51:28 +0000 BSB 2444915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: You said they didn't do a ton of tests, but you said "He got a chest X-ray, breathing treatments, and a respiratory technician tried to suck snot from his lungs." My son didn't get a chest x-ray when he was in the ER, so I think what the did seemed normal to me. This is coming from someone who has a husband with severe asthma and he goes to the ER a lot! He sometimes just needs oral steroids, sometimes he needs IV steroids, sometimes he gets a chest x-ray. I personally would not know when and how bad he is from looking. After or during the visit, I'll hear things like 'his lungs are clear'... meaning usually his airways aren't restricting. That's usually a good sign. </p> <p>Also, you said he has RSV so I'm assuming that they tested him and that's how you knew he has RSV. </p> <p>I would touch base with your pediatrician and tell her your concerns, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444910 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:49:50 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2444910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: Are you feeling like they did too much? I'm a lawyer who represents doctors and hospitals in medical malpractice cases, and I have to say from a care perspective and a liability perspective, they would much rather run too many tests than risk sending a child home with dangerously low oxygen levels or a potentially serious breathing issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444909 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:49:28 +0000 blackbird 2444909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, typical! I've worked in an ER since October, and I'm always clicking the boxes for x-rays and breathing treatments on breathing problems! About a quarter of the time, pneumonia shows up. Especially this time of year...also a full panel of testing by the lab was probably done. </p> <p>Seriously don't question yourself. I can honestly say that 90% of the people come to the ER for non actual emergencies. It's just the way times are going and changing. People come in to be treated *now*, and it is rarely life threatening (basically, it is common to come in and be discharged!)! I bet your LO feels better now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444908 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:48:51 +0000 avivoca 2444908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds pretty typical. We got a chest x-ray when they clearly saw that she had an ear infection. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444901 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:45:34 +0000 BSB 2444901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: I'm not a dr but my daughter got a breathing treatment with albuterol. </p> <p>When I took my daughter in 2 weeks ago (this is after the 5 day stay at the hospital) for wheezing again, the dr told me at 5 months old, some babies don't react to breathing treatment like albuterol and steroids. She was given both. She ended up going home with us and not being admitted. </p> <p>When my son was taken to the hospital, he was not given albuterol because he was still getting oxygen and when they listened to his lungs, they could hear his airways were clear. I assume my daughter was in respiratory distress that first time and that albuterol was given to see if her vital got better. It did not, which is why she was transferred to another hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444881 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:34:46 +0000 BSB 2444881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD and DS were both in the hospital for RSV recently. </p> <p>My DD was really bad when I went to the urgent care. At home, she was wheezing. (My peditrician knew she had a fever and and had a bad cough and said to take her to urgent care or ER, if I see any signs of difficulty breathing.) She was destating and her O2 levels were dropping to the 80s. She had signs of retractions. <a href="http://kidshealth.org/teen/asthma_center/words_to_know/retract.html" rel="nofollow">http://kidshealth.org/teen/asthma_center/words_to_know/retract.html</a></p> <p>Yeah, she was taken to the nearby hospital by ambulance. </p> <p>She was eventually transferred again to the Children's hospital because the hospital we had did not have a PICU. The first hospital had a pediatrics unit but not a PICU. </p> <p>Even at the children's hospital, she was given supportive care. No meds. With virus, there's not much that can be done. So she was given no antibiotics. She was given fluids, oxygen and around the clock monitoring. I think they gave her a NG tube because she was having trouble eating with the breathing issues she had. (When I was home, she was feeding fine... With RSV, between 3-5 days is when it gets worse, she they did tell me that she might get worse before she gets better.) She ended up being in the hospital for 5 days. </p> <p>Now my son he didn't catch RSV as bad as she did. Not sure if he was stronger than her but I did have to rush him to the ER because I thought he had difficulty breathing. He wasn't wheezing but he had trouble catching his breath. I decided to take him to the hospital closest to us with a pediatrics unit. Not the one where my daughter was that was a Children's hospital. It was a 15 minute drive or 45 minute drive. I wasn't sure how bad he was and I figured they would transfer him, if he did need a PICU. </p> <p>Anyway, after looking at him and they used suction to get a lot of the mucous out of his airways. He was a lot better. I had a nose frida at home but wasn't able to get much. I needed a stronger suction at the hospital. They did test him and he did test positive for RSV, but his symptoms were not bad enough to be admitted. They sent him home and told us to watch if he got worse. He managed to get better on his own. I guess his immune system was slight better (stronger) than his sister's. Oh, also, my daughter has always had issues with congestion... so more mucous. So getting RSV compromised her even more. I think that is why it was so much worse for her. </p> <p>I don't think you messed up at all. You felt like it was an emergency and you took him in. Better safe than sorry. For wheezing, I definitely took my daughter in. I would do the same for my son. </p> <p>If you still are concerned that your LO is still having trouble breathing, I would take him to the emergency room at a Children's hospital. I would say they are a bit more cautious and better treat children than an ordinary hospital. They know and treat children all the time. If they sent my LO home, I would feel better that I sent them to see someone or facility that specializes in pediatrics. </p> <p>So scary but you did the right thing. Hope your LO gets better soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444858 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:18:19 +0000 Adira 2444858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They didn't administer albuterol?</p> <p>In general it sounds pretty standard. Whenever we've gone to the ER, we're always there for about 4 hours. Our ER doesn't have access to the pediatrician's records, so they also have to do all the same testing that the pediatrician may have already done.</p> <p>ETA: Although it's generally wise to go with your gut, mommy instinct isn't always right. My son has been to the ER a number of times because of breathing issues and it was getting predictable: albuterol, monitor, go home after 4 hours. And then, one day, it wasn't. I thought it was the same-old, same-old and I only brought him to the ER out of habit, and he ended up being admitted for three days! Breathing issues are no joke and sometimes you (as a mom who's not a professional in this area) just don't know when things can take a turn for the worse. You did the right thing bringing your LO in and it sounds like the ER did everything they should've too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444857 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:18:17 +0000 kiddosc 2444857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a little confused whether you think they did too much or too little. I think you were right to bring him in though. His oxygen sat levels could have been bad and you wouldn't have necessarily known at home. At the ER they are able to check and provide supplemental oxygen or medications when necessary. When breathing is concerned, things can deteriorate so quickly. Did they send you home with a nebulizer or anything? I'm surprised he's not on regular breathing treatments if he's wheezing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444854 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:15:19 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2444854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you did the right thing in following dr advice to go to the ER. It doesn't sound like a bad visit to the ER and the tests done weren't invasive or with lots of risks (snot sucking and oxygen treatment). </p> <p>One time we ended up in the ER for a stomach bug (turned out to be rotavirus). They wanted to do a chest Xray as a normal standard ER procedure for babies. I declined because I knew she had no respiratory issues and I wanted them to do more stomach testing before additional X rays (she had already had one a few months prior and I didn't want her to have more/unnecessary exposure). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444850 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:14:39 +0000 catomd00 2444850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They're the professionals, soundss like they did what they should have. Obviously he was in bad shape to be a borderline admit. Why wait until it gets to that point? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444848 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:12:19 +0000 Truth Bombs 2444848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When it comes to a child's breathing I think being overly cautious is never a bad thing. The tests and treatments didn't hurt him so I don't think there is any harm in having taken him to the ER, worst case, you learned more specifically what to look for moving forward. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/er-experience-typical#post-2444841 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:08:23 +0000 Corduroy 2444841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Long story short: we went to the ER yesterday in an abundance of caution. They did everything they could which I appreciate but it seemed like so much. Is that typical of ER? Do they ever just send you home without a ton of tests? Was I essentially asking for extensive tests by going?</p> <p>Longer story: DS, 7months, has had RSV since Thursday the pediatrician on Friday and she checked his wheezing. She said if he got worse we needed to call the HMO advice line and do a skype-style call with a doctor. Yesterday afternoon the wheezing and lethargy got worse so I called the line. No doctors were available to see him but the advising doctor told us to go to the ER. I took him in even though it felt like overkill. When we were checking in he perked up and was barely wheezing. The nurses looked at me like I was nuts. He started wheezing again soon and then he looked like a sick baby I've had for the last few days. His O2 was 94 at it's lowest. He got a chest X-ray, breathing treatments, and a respiratory technician tried to suck snot from his lungs. When the pediatrician came down he said LO was borderline admit worthy but they would do nothing but monitor O2 if we were admitted. I overheard the pediatrician tell the ER staff that they didn't need to do the snot sucking and oxygen treatments. I was told to keep him hydrated and bring him back if he was much worse and gave us some more specific signs of distress to look for (much more helpful than 'if he gets any worse'). </p> <p>I'm glad DS didn't need to be admitted but I don't know if I should have been asking more questions about the other treatments? I just let the ER do their thing but I'm feeling like I messed up somehow. My mommy instincts weren't telling me this was an emergency at all but it's breathing and I'm no health expert at all so I brought him in because it was 'worse'. </p>