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Topic: So what to do now?

03-14-2006 03:58 PM



ElijahsMom
Senior Member

Location: Waverly, Ohio
Registered: Nov 2005
Posts: 130
Last visit: 03-23-2006

When I took Elijah to his Ped. for his checkup I had some questions for him...and here are his answers:

"Is it normal for his eyes to be discharging so much---green?? Is there anything that can be done?" ---Yes. It's normal. But, no, There is really nothing you can do.

*It's getting really bad. And I've tried to keep them cleaned out with sterile water and it's not seeming to be working. I'm wondering if maybe he has an infection...or is it really normal?

"Is it normal for him to be so congested? Sometimes he seems like he can even breathe. It's also difficult for him to take his bottles sometimes." ---All babies are congested at one time or another. Once again, nothing you can really do.

*Well, I tried everything. A humidifier. A aspirator. Saline Nose Drops. Then I thought, maybe a little bit of Baby Vicks would work. So I tried it, and it did! He sounds somewhat better but can still be a little less congested I think...so much for there being nothing I can do!

These are the two that I was the most angry about. The poor little guy can't see out his eyes (and I KNOW that he can't see, but it just looks uncomfortable!) and can't breathe very well.

Any of you guys had these problems with your little ones? Any insight would help.

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Elisha:
Mommy to Elijah 2/1/06

03-14-2006 04:26 PM



lespring
Super Member

Location: Twin Cities metro area, MN
Registered: Mar 2005
Posts: 3743
Last visit: 03-22-2006

Sounds like his tear ducts are blocked, which is extremely common in kids with DS, and YES YOU CAN do something about it!

1) use warm compresses on the inner corner of his eye. He's so small, just cover one one completely.

2) after the compress, massage from the bridge of his nose (or where his bridge SHOULD be LOL) out towards his eye, a little bit down towards the underside of his eye, and a then a little bit up over his upper lid. Do this several times, in a row, and then a few times during the day if you can. That will help squeeze the gunk out that his blocking the duct.

HOWEVER....SO MANY of our kids need their ducts probed because they're so tiny and difficult to unclog with massage.

There are also drops that can be used, that are by prescrition only.

The congestion could be that he's refluxing, in which case saline drops, etc etc will do little if nothing for him. Sometimes they get refluxed material up into their nose, and sitting at the back of their throat that they can't clear. You can kind of tell, because the noise they make will make YOU want to clear YOUR throat.

So, 2 things to do. First, tell your doctor you want a referral to a pediatric opthalmologist to have his eyes checked out. This is a special type of opthalmologist that is used to seeing kids with various eye problems, and will know all the things to do for blocked ducts, etc. DON'T go to a regular opthalmologist!

Second, ask the ped about reflux, or for a referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist (a ped. G.I.) to rule out reflux or other stuff going on in that area.

And one last thing....I'd consider findng a different pediatrician if you can. This one sounds like he's not sure what to do. Eye massage for blocked tear ducts is like...standard practice!
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03-14-2006 04:56 PM



lilpayton
Senior Member

Location: Bristow, Virginia
Registered: Jan 2006
Posts: 213
Last visit: 03-24-2006

Everything I was going to tell you Leah has already said, so I second all of that!
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03-14-2006 05:07 PM



pilgrimhen
Senior Member

Location: Bagdad, Ky.
Registered: Aug 2004
Posts: 396
Last visit: 03-22-2006

Me too - do what Leah says. And seriously - get a new pediatrician.
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03-14-2006 05:18 PM



klem
Super Member

Location: Gadsden, AL
Registered: Aug 2004
Posts: 1759
Last visit: 03-24-2006

Yep, what Leah and the others said....and get a new Ped. Also, do you have an appointment with the cardiologist?
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Kelley, Robby's wife
mom of Daulton, the Mayor (10-07-98) and Drake, my treasure on loan from God (4-19-04) DS

03-14-2006 05:48 PM



Renee Lacey's mom
Senior Member

Location: Gloster, Louisiana
Registered: Oct 2005
Posts: 699
Last visit: 03-24-2006

Went through the same things with Lacey. They are common in our angels. If the massaging doesn't work take him to the eye DR. for them to see if he has a blocked tear duct or like in Lacey's case, a tear duct at all..

Be careful with the Vicks it can cause all of the stuff to settle in his lungs..

Good luck!!
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03-14-2006 08:36 PM



lespring
Super Member

Location: Twin Cities metro area, MN
Registered: Mar 2005
Posts: 3743
Last visit: 03-22-2006

Angela was completely missing ducts as well. She had reconstructive work done in Dec. and it didn't work.
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mom to Noah 18, Tyler 17,Angela 9 (DS)
downcues.com

03-14-2006 10:11 PM



gloria&sammy
Member

Location: los angeles california
Registered: Mar 2006
Posts: 39
Last visit: 03-24-2006

I had the same problems when sammy was about 1 and 2 months the ped never gave me solutions for this.I also tried the vicks that really helps warm it a little and rub it in his chest and neck make sure you cover him really good.And about the eye i had the same problem her eye would get full of green stuff all he told me was to wipe it with a warm cloth and wait to she was 6 months to do something.After i beged him for something he finally gave me some eye drop that really helped her they are called Gentamicn sulfate. By the way that ped is super gone..Today i visit a new ped for her which i feel more good.

I hope he gets better..Sammy is doing much better now.
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03-14-2006 11:15 PM



ElijahsMom
Senior Member

Location: Waverly, Ohio
Registered: Nov 2005
Posts: 130
Last visit: 03-23-2006

Yes, he has an AV canal defect...the ped. is aware (only because I had mentioned it)...BUT---when I asked him when he should see the cardi. he said that he didn't even have ANY records from the hospital that Elijah was in for the first 3 weeks...? HOW can that be? He told me that if it wasn't for me asking, he wouldn't have even known!!!!!! Lordy, I just don't know WHAT to say about that! Childrens hospital has had plenty of time to get his ped. his records right? I mean, he was discharged on the 19, so you'd think that they would have by now? Hmm...I don't know.

I just tried the massage after his bath, it seemed to push some gunk out, so maybe that's helping. And, I don't use much Vicks, I know it's for 3+ months, but it's really helping I think.
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Mommy to Elijah 2/1/06

03-14-2006 11:45 PM



mariachi
Member

Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Registered: Dec 2005
Posts: 65
Last visit: 03-23-2006

The only other suggestion I have is to always keep Elijah semi-upright. Natalie always sounded congested, like she had stuff back in her throat and couldn't breathe very well from her nose. So her caridologist suggested never laying her flat. I put blankets underneath the top of her mattress of her bassinet and crib so she's at at least a 30 degree elevation. At night she either sleeps in her boppy or in her pack & play with pillow under the mattress. Natalie's head is always elevated and this has definitely helped with the secretions she had. I even change her diaper in this position. It worked for us.
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03-15-2006 12:04 AM



THESPILS
Super Member

Location: Las Vegas, NV
Registered: Oct 2004
Posts: 1714
Last visit: 03-20-2006

Everyone has said what I was going to tell you. I don't think Hunter's eyes cleared up untill he was 6 months old-maybe a little longer then that. I massaged his little tearducts a few times a day- and a squirt or two of Little Noses every morning worked wonders-that cleared up around 7 months-still gets pretty icky at times though. I always keep a bottle of Little Noses in the house
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03-15-2006 12:25 AM



always_chaos
Senior Member

Location: Detroit Metro, MI
Registered: Dec 2005
Posts: 479
Last visit: 03-24-2006

Elisha: sounds like a new pediatrician is in order. I'm with Leah on the tips-she always has great ideas.

As far as sleeping elevated-I think this will assist with the problem quite a bit.

I recall using a few drops of saline and then suction Elainah's nose before feeding her-to assist with the breathing in the beginning.

It sounds like you are already doing this, but I thought I would mention that before feedings may be a great help.
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03-15-2006 01:01 AM



Josiesmom
Senior Member

Location: Waterloo, Iowa -- USA
Registered: Dec 2004
Posts: 584
Last visit: 03-18-2006

We were just at the eye dr for Josie last week and he said that that gunk would come out when there is a blockage. And as Leah already said, there is something that can be done about it. We haven't had those issues, but since we were just there, I wanted to say that.

I would be shopping for a new ped as well!!!
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Mommy to Josie (DS) 10/27/04
and Katie 11/30/05
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03-15-2006 09:40 AM



klem
Super Member

Location: Gadsden, AL
Registered: Aug 2004
Posts: 1759
Last visit: 03-24-2006

I don't want to be an alarmist but you might need to set up a cardiology appointment on your own. That conjestion---and this is just going by Amy's recent post about her ENT---could be cause for concern in a heart patient. Something about it causes pressures to be off in the heart chambers?? I dunno, but nothing to ignore, I'm sure. And yes, the ped. should have his records. When Drake was still in NICU I was standing with the Neonatologist when he called our Pediatrician and talked with him at length about Drake. The very first day we went to the Ped he knew exactly who Drake was and knew everything that had ever gone on with him. He picked Drake up and gave him the sweetest kiss on the forehead and treated him with the utmost respect. Look for someone who will do that for your baby. (I'm not saying my Ped is perfect, but I am very comfortable with the way MOST things have gone).
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mom of Daulton, the Mayor (10-07-98) and Drake, my treasure on loan from God (4-19-04) DS

03-15-2006 01:00 PM



Barbara
Super Member

Location: Charleston, SC
Registered: Jun 2002
Posts: 1220
Last visit: 03-24-2006

Ditto on what Klem has said! Henry had an echocardiogram done at day 1, day 15, 1 month, 2 month, 4 month, etc by a cardiologist. Most AV Canal Defects typically are repaired at 4 to 6 months of age. The cardiologist would also take a chest xray, which would be beneficial to show what's really going on with the congestion, to make sure it's not in lungs.

I will keep Elijah in my prayers and will look forward to an update from you!

03-15-2006 03:20 PM



ElijahsMom
Senior Member

Location: Waverly, Ohio
Registered: Nov 2005
Posts: 130
Last visit: 03-23-2006

We have a date with the Cardiologist on the 14th of April. They told me that from the charts they have, they don't need to see him before then...good thing?? Maybe. At least I hope so!
Also, after his bath last night, I massaged around his eyes...gave him a body massage...put on some Vicks...gave him is bottle, and he was out for the night! I swear I got lucky! (with him sleeping through the night, of course!)
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Mommy to Elijah 2/1/06

03-15-2006 03:57 PM



** Hannah's mom ** UK
Super Moderator

Location: West Midlands UK
Registered: Jun 2004
Posts: 3851
Last visit: 03-24-2006

BREASTMILK

seriously it helps to bathe gunky eyes in breastmilk

( if you haven't got any maybe someone can help you out )

I have done both my kids with breastmilk and also helped someone else out by donating my own
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03-16-2006 10:32 AM



Widow
Senior Member

Location:
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 243
Last visit: 03-15-2006

Don't really have anything to add for suggestions. We did the upright thing with Catalina because nothing else worked. She's sounded stuffy since birth...everytime we're in the hospital they keep trying to suck stuff out...but that's just the normal way she sounds due to her nasal passages being so tiny. Therefore, everytime she gets a cold she gets plugged up to the point she can't breathe.

Hope he's doing good!
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03-16-2006 03:09 PM



alexmom
Senior Member

Location: Hilliard, OH
Registered: May 2004
Posts: 617
Last visit: 03-22-2006

Glad to hear that you have an appt. with a cardio. What doctor are you scheduled with?

Alex had problems with gunk in his eyes, but it only happened when he had a cold. Congestion was a problem during his first year as well. It was as if he had something at the back of his throat and need to cough, but couldn't. It drove us NUTS. Family members were always certain that he had congestion in his lungs prompting many visits to the ped. It was even embarrassing sometimes like in church....he would get so loud. Doctor brushed it off on many visits. Finally I told him that I would like a referal to an ENT to check it out for my piece of mind and he gave me one. Just something that he would grow out of is what we were told, and he is growing out of it.

Something else that you might want to take a look at is the Down Syndrome Clinic at Children't Hospital. Eli, Abigail's Mom might be able to give you a little more insight beacause I know that she takes Abby there. The doctor there will be much more familar with problems associated with DS and they can help you get the referals that you need.
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03-17-2006 05:08 AM



Tigger
Senior Member

Location: NSW, Australia
Registered: Jan 2006
Posts: 111
Last visit: 03-24-2006

Talitha had the same thing - constantly mucky eyes. I used breastmilk and massage and eventually they cleared up. Her breathing is still really congested and sometimes it seems so hard for her to breathe I want to do it for her. I was told it was a combination of the heart problem (complete AV canal defect) and the lack of muscle tone.

Since she went into heart failure and went on diuretics her breathing has been a bit better but still very noisy.

When I think it is getting too noisy I take her to the Dr and just get him to check that her lungs are clear.

Don't let people put you off - you know your baby and what is 'normal' for him. If you think something is wrong and you are not happy with your paediatrician, find another one!
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