Louisa has whooping cough. I'm not really worried about it in the long run, since she doesn't seem at all sick except when she's coughing, and the Dr. just stresses how important that it is that she is still nursing and that there's nothing better than that to help her recover, BUT I WANT SOME SLEEP!!!!!!
Info I've gathered so far seems to indicate that there's not much you can do to decrease the symptoms. Has anyone here had any luck? So far, herbs have done nothing for her. I've started her on large doses of vitamin C, although I'm not sure if I can get her to take enough to make a difference, and I'll probably go out and get her homeopathic drossera. At this point, I would happily try a conventional treatment if I heard about an effective one, but I'm not finding anything. 2 consecutive hours of sleep would make me really happy right now.

Miki has never had whooping cough, but has been to the point of coughing every few seconds, with a break of 5 minutes between bouts, many times. It's actually her pattern when she's sick.

On those nights, I usually giver her a very warm bath with pepperming EO to deal with the irritated breathing tract.

I make her drink full glasses of water (child size though) multiple times. One after dinner, one while the water's filling, one after bath, one just before bedtime stories (just after peeing ;) ) and if I've had enough forethought, I will have been doing that all day/afternoon as well. The high level of hydration keeps her throat more soothed, and makes her coughs more moist at the same time. I may be wrong, but isn't whooping cough when it's like a dry honking cough? - this water method would really help to make the cough productive.

I also found on clearance a year ago or so, these little stickers (basically a fabric patch) that are full of a cherry smelling menthol, that you stick on the child's chest, and this also moderates the phlegm, and soothes the throat at the same time. Same a vick's vapor rub, but you don't have to make the child uncomfortable with the cooling sensation all over their chest.

Give echinachea with the vit c, it'll make it go away faster.

If you are comfortable with a light blanket (very light) or sheet draped over her head while she sleeps, it holds her breath's moisture and heat in, and keeps her throat soothed for much longer in the chilly night air. and if you can vaporize - go for it. Keep the room warm too.

Now If I'm wrong and whooping cough is the kind of cough that is almost suffocatingly phlegmy, then I wouldn't try this moisture/soothing approach (although I would still make her drink tons, as it will keep her hydrated while her body is diverting moisture into mucous production, and will speed healing in general by making her body more efficient) I think that kind of cough is called croup though, and therefore, hope that all these suggestions at least help a little.

Oh, and a gentle calmative like chammomile or a kid's valerian product could at least increase the child's restfulness and let her body go longer between coughing bouts.

Wow, I'm long-winded-I must go craft now. :)

no clue-but how's about actually seeing a homeopath-who can give her a custom remedy?

i hopy you get some sleep soon!

Thanks for all the suggestions, Ian. Pertussis is very different from other coughs we've experienced. There is phlegm, but it's way down in thelungs, so most of the time she sounds clear, but then tons of gunk comes up when she coughs (and sometimes it makes her vomit, too.) The usual cough remedies do not work. I had her on an herbal cough syrup using a recipe of Rosemary Gladstar's, that I've found very helpful in the past. It did nothing. Neither did rubbing eucalyptus oil on her chest. I've been giving her echinacea, so that should at least speed her recovery a bit. I think I will try giving her chamomile and/or valerian. Besides letting her go longer between coughing spells, it should help her relax, which she really needs right now. She's started being afraid to go to sleep, since that's when her cough gets really bad. Poor little thing. Last night during a bad coughing spell, she was trying to say something, and finally managed to gasp, "Daddy? Daddy? Daddy's going to get it out." I think she was remembering the time she choked on a piece of fruit leather and dh turned her upside down and hit her back to get it out of her throat.
Linda, a homeopath was one of the first things I thought of, but we can't afford it right now, since insurance won't cover it. The drosera seems to be helping, though. This was one of very few times, when I have felt reasonably sure I was picking the right remedy for her. Since we started giving it to her we've had 1 1/2-2 hr stretches of sleep every night, and not as many periods with coughing spells every 10-15 minutes. She is also coughing much less during her waking hours.
I was all ready to night-wean her, and then she got sick, so of course I can't do it now. I probably won't be so anxious to do it after she gets well either, since after this experience waking up once or twice a night will seem like nothing.

Well, I have this (I suspect) right now (and have for the past 40 days). Oh, and I'm pregnant, so everything I'm trying to do is probably okay for small children.

Not much has helped. Much fluids.

Actually, let me take that back, what helps the most is using whatever possible to lengthen the time between coughing spells. I believe I have coughed so much that I don't really have an infection still, but that my lungs have been so irritated/damaged by the cold that they are irritated and coughing - everything is clear, but plenty of it. I believe that were I to go to the doc, the course of action would be steroids. So, I'm trying to sleep as long as possible because my cough is actually able to stop while I sleep. So, I'd say whatever is going to increase the amount of total sleep she can get in a 24 hour period might help.

Ditto on the vit C/echinachea

How old is she? Can she safely use a natural cough drop? I've found that if I suck on those constantly, I can reduce the amount of coughing and allow my lungs time to heal.

The other thing I've found helpful is organicmama's cough and cold rub. I've coughed so hard that I've pulled the muscles over my sternum and that rub has been helpful for both breathing and warming that muscle group.

Good luck mama.

The drosera seems to be helping, though. This was one of very few times, when I have felt reasonably sure I was picking the right remedy for her. Since we started giving it to her we've had 1 1/2-2 hr stretches of sleep every night, and not as many periods with coughing spells every 10-15 minutes. She is also coughing much less during her waking hours.

very cool!

i hope that she is on the mend:)

Linda :heart: