Bronchiolitis

After having a runny nose for a week and a half (during the snow storm), and an occasional cough the last week, you started wheezing today.  At first I thought you were getting congested again but after I cleaned out your nose, it was obvious that you were having difficulty breathing.  I called the Pediatrician's office and they sent us to an urgent care center.  The doctor immediately saw that you were wheezing and after checking you out, said that you had bronchiolitis.  I had no idea what that really meant, but all of a sudden I had a rush of guilt.  Did I cause this?  Should I have brought you in earlier?  Were you in extreme pain? Did I expose other kids to something contagious?

They gave you an oxygen breathing treatment and some steroids for the inflammation in the lungs.  You also got an inhaler for the rest of the week.  Unfortunately, all these things can only decrease the symptoms but there is nothing they can give you to make it go away.  It's supposed to improve on its own.  Although you are in terrible discomfort, thankfully it's not anything I could have predicted with your cold, they probably wouldn't have been able to do anything for you if I brought you in earlier or have prevented this from happening, and bronchiolitis is not contagious.

That's all to say that in the last two weeks, other than having a drippy nose and an occasional cough, you showed no signs of discomfort or pain.  It wasn't until today that you complained and even today, the only thing that was really evident was that you were not eating how you normally eat or after playing you would get easily tired.  You would even come crawling into my lap, rest your head, and then get back up to play.  Then you started wheezing.  That's when I knew that something was wrong and my heart started pounding in my throat.  EV, I know I said this before, but please don't hold in your pain.  Let momma know.  It hurts me so deeply to know that you are in such discomfort!!  You are the bravest baby I know.  I love you!