Pertussis And Pots

[Maxine]

My poor granddaughter is only a month old, and has pertussis/whooping cough. She is in the hospital right now, but oxygen levels are good thankfully. However, she has severe coughing spells that make her face near her mouth turn blue. They are giving her oxygen, breathing treatments, monitoring, and antibiotics. My husband and I are taking care of Kaela, Mackenzie's big sister who is 3 years old-------thankfully immunized.

Carlie and my son Mike will need to go on antibiotics because they are obviously with her all the time. I'm not sure if I need them, but I did sit with Mackenzie a couple times so they wouldn't have to take her out. She had coughing fits both times. Were all very worried about Mackenzie, because she's an infant---only a month old. Not immunized yet. When adults get it, it's mild-----but can have long term coughing spells. I don't know how it would be for someone with POTS though. I also have sudden respiratory issues due to the upper spine/brain stem pressure, and also have apnea. I'm not really sure what I should do.

I left a message with my ANS Docs office.

Say a little prayer for Mackenzie.

Maxine :0)

[bellaluna]

I'm so sorry to hear that your little grandbaby is not well. I will say a prayer for her to get well soon, and hopefully have no long term effects from the illness. I can't imagine how scary this must be for your family... As far as you- I would definitely check with the doc. Just getting a respiratory infection is hard enough for POTS sufferers, and so something like this would be that much worse... hopefully you'll dodge the bullet and not come down with it.

Sending big cyber hugs your way.

Mary

[Rachel]

Maxine,

So sorry to hear about your granddaughter getting whooping cough. That is really tough on babies. My son also had it as an infant, so I know what it is like.

Will and I had to go on antibiotics so that we wouldn't get sick and then re-infect William. My doctor also had me call everyone who had been in contact with my son in the past week or two. There had been a lot of ladies who came over to help me care for William. We didn't know he had whooping cough, so we unknowingly infected others. The ladies were advised by the public health nurse to take antibiotics, not just for themselves, but to prevent the spread of whooping cough to others.

I would think that with the seriousness of your spinal issues, it would be good for you to take antibiotics as a precaution. Whooping cough can last for months, which would make life really tough for you. I'm glad you contacted your doc. I hope he has some helpful advice for you. I certainly wouldn't want you to come down with whooping cough.

I hope little Mackenzie gets well soon.

Take care,

Rachel

[gelann]

Maxine,

I just wanted to say that my daughter who has autonomic problems contacted whooping cough back in November. It started out as a bad cold then the doctors thought it was bronchitis. The coughing got so bad that she passes out. She finally was diagnosed with whooping cough. It has been over three months and has been unable to work and is still passing out when the coughing gets really bad.

Her POTS passing out was under control before the whooping cough. So be sure to get onto antibiotics as soon as possible. The pulmonologist said it would be a few months more due to her other problems.

I wish you well.

[Maxine]

Thanks for your advice ----

Mackenzie went home today with a 24/7 monitor for her breathing, and heart rate. She is on antibiotics, and I have no idea on how long they will need to monitor her. I took care of their three year old daughter yesterday, and today. My son picked her up after they got Mackenzie settled. Poor little sweet girl--------she's only five weeks old tomorrow. I'm so worried about her. We will see her tomorrow, as she has been on the antibiotics, and won't be contagious.

I didn't think adults got it that bad. I don't show signs of it now---not that I know of. It's hard to tell, as I feel fluish a lot, and last night it felt like I had a low grade fever, but when I took my temperature, it was normal then, but I've had low grade fevers on and off for a few days. Mackenze never got a fever once.

My son and his fiance asked Mackenzie's doctor about it, and she said antibiotics aren't necessary for me since I was only around the baby a couple times during coughing spells. I would think that is enough to pass it on to me though. I can not imagine getting whooping cough with my cervical/cranial instability--- Just getting a body rush causes my neck to move in places it shouldn't. I go to NIH in April for the EDS study, and more MRIs will be done---it will be interesting to see how my instability is doing. My lower cranium has bothered me a lot---like something is going to POP. I have that prominant vertebral artery problem, but no sense in bringing it up to local docs, they just don't take me seriously here.

The last time I had a chest cold and had a bad cough, it was so rough on my spine, not to mention my POTS.

The problem is that antibiotics are rough on me too-----really rough.

I left a message at Dr. Grubb's office Friday afternoon as soon as I found out about Mackenzie's pertussis test coming out positive to get his opinion on this. I thought I would ask him first about pertussis and POTS---and spine issues. He has all my spine instability medical records in my file. My PCP was a total jerk on my last office visit, so much so, that I too disgusted to speak about it. I wouldn't make sense to contact him, as he obviously not going to help me.

Maxine :0)

[morgan617]

I just want to know what's up with the pertussis? There is an immunization out there for this, so why are people contracting it? Babies tend to get antibodies from mom if she is breast feeding and kids are supposed to be immunized before they are allowed in school.

In Idaho, in the north (where many odd people live, like aryans and people who hide from government conspiracies) they don't get their kids immunized and there are some cases every year, but they are contained in very remote areas. These kids don't go to school, they are home schooled, because they won't allow them in without the shots. I just find it really weird.

Anyway, I hope the baby recovers very quickly and you don't contract it....morgan

[Maxine]

Thank you for your support and kinds words. Little Miss Mackenzie is at a healthy weight of 11.5 pounds----3 pound weight gain in one month----that helps her out a bit too. She's still eating well too.

You know---my son could have given it to her. He has had a cough for a long time. He just figured it might have been a residual cough left over from an old cold, so he didn't worry about it. But since Mackenzie got sick with this, he wonders, and so do the docs. He was on antibiotics since his last cold though. The doctor diagnosed him with asthmatic bronchitis---but he could have been misdiagnosed. Anyway he was on antibiotics, and would have stopped pertussis ----this was before Mackenzie was born. Unless he has since contracted pertussis, as he was still coughing when she was born.

He said he would cough until he threw up.

I wonder why there has been more outbreaks of this also?????

Maxine :00

[gelann]

I just wanted everyone to know that my daughter who contracted the whooping cough at work (A HOSPITAL!)

was vaccinated for pertussis and still caught it.

There is a new booster vaccine for adults which we have just learned about. She was a new employee at the hospital and her blood tests were tested to see that she was up to date on all vaccines. But it still happened!

If you read about whooping cough which I have read so much on it in the last few months. Most adults do not even realize they have whooping cough. In a health adult is is often misdiagnosed as bronchitis as was hers by three different doctors. Her first blood test also came back negative and then the specialist (pulmonary dr.) retested her for whooping cough and confirmed it. Unfortunately with her dysautonomia is is taking an extremely long time to recover.

[morgan617]

Geez, that makes me want to get my hepatitis titer rechecked. I knew they were starting to recommend some boosters for adults, but didn't realize it was pertussis. It's pretty scary isn't it? Sometimes I think we get too comfortable that we have eradicated all these things. I remember getting the small pox vaccine, and no one thought anything about it, now people fight it tooth and nail when going overseas, but it isn't given anymore and some third world countries still have it.

Makes you wonder.

[Sophia3]

Whooping cough making a comeback has been in the news for sometime and I just read a headline on the Drudge report weeks ago. It's a big issue and even locally.

Though not politically correct to say this, many blame those who do not get immunizations....also other health crisis have been making a comeback.

So it's kind of scary really.

Makes you want to wear a mask in public. I even keep antibacterial hand gel in my car and hand wipes for after going to the Y to work out.

They have SIGNS everywhere saying to spray off the equipment after you use it. Um, I don't think so. The "SPRAY" makes me have asthma like coughing. And WORSE, everybody touches the spray bottle with sweaty hands!! So I don't ever sweat to leave many cooties on the exercise stuff or treadmill. Where my sister works out they use the wipes, like at the grocery stores.

I told one of the girls at the Y months ago the spray gave me breathing issues so I will use the hand gel on their desk before I LEAVE.

But hospitals are FULL of germs...so hard telling how the baby got the whooping cough. I just know on local news online they mention the 'bark cough' and the hospitals have seen a huge increase.

[joiedevivre516]

I had a really bad case of Pertussis when I was 17-18, despite having been vaccinated. I ended up in the hospital for a couple months, and at home on bed-rest and being closely monitored with O2, etc., for months after that. It was a very scary time, and I'd recommend doing whatever possible to avoid it, as the autonomic issues really exacerbate it and vice-versa. My parents were put on prophylactic antibiotics as well, and they never got sick. I'm sort of surprised that your doctor's not willing to do even a cursory bout of prophylactic antibiotics, but I'm sure that things will be ok -- you probably would have developed it already if you were going to. I really hope that things work out for your granddaughter -- it sounds like she's being very well taken care of!

[Maxine]

whoops----sorry, I must have posted the same thing twicce..........

[Maxine]

Well, we will find out tomorrow if the doctor's office calls back. I'll call again if I don't hear back from them.

I have a tooth extraction coming up, and were waiting for insurance approval, as it needs to be done in a hospital due to complications from cervical/cranial instability. Getting pertussis would definately be a BIG problem--- I would never be able to get the extraction done with pertussis.

It's hard to tell if I contracted it. For two or three days, I had a couple bouts of low grade fever, and felt crummy--(I've gotten this before with my potsy issues)----. I also don't have a cough. My sinus congestion is from my previous cold----I think-----I hope, or maybe I'm not over it completely. I assume these symptoms are NOT pertussis, but part of my usual ups and downs with the combination of my health issues. There never was an explanation to my low grade fevers that I have had on an off for 7 years. Nor has there been an explanation to the high white blood counts, high IGA levels, 0 hydroxyprolene levels, and other abnormal blood work.

I'm still in the incubation period, but you would think I would show something by now---but it's confusing because I haven't felt good since Mackenzie was born because I just got a cold two days after she was born.

Maxine :0)

[DancingLight]

Just a note about the booster shots, since that is what immediately came to my mind in regards to relevance to folks on the board...

My PCP has been recommending the booster for whooping cough and my ANS doc has given me the A-Okay to get it. (And he's the one that does NOT support me getting the flu shot)...

So, I think it's a good idea to check in to the booster, b/c as Sophia said, there have been quite a few outbreaks of whooping cough in various areas of the country in the past couple of years especially.

There is also a measles booster (I think?) or is it mumps? I can't remember! But, the are also having outbreaks of those and recommending boosters for those.

Time to get your booster shots folks!

Here's hoping your exposure to the whooping cough does NOT cause you any problems, Maxine, and also to a speedy recovery for Mackenzie.

Emily

[MightyMouse]

I know that ithe measles booster had been suggested for a number of years. We had a big outbreak when I was in college and al who got it were vaccinated. I'd had a booster before starting college b/c they couldn't find my records and wouldn't let me attend without a verified shot.

Nina

[Maxine]

I heard from my ANS doctor's office, and they said it's not necessary to take antibiotics, and that they did not think I would get pertussis-----even though I had close contact with Mackenzie. They did inform me that he is not very familiar with pertussis, and I should call my PCP. I told the nurse that I called my ANS doc because I wanted to see if they were familiar with what to do in regards to exposure to pertussis, and having POTS, and how it might complicate my POTS.

My ANS doc said if I did get pertussis, I would be his first patient who got this, and who also had POTS.

My PCP is rude and insensitive to my situation, and his nurse asked my son----"is this necessary" in a nasty tone when he called about prophylactic antibiotics so he wouldn't spread it if he contracted it. Obviously he has close contact with his daughter, and it's possible he had it first. He needs to go on antibiotics, and they finally figured that out and called it in.

Now, how serious do you think they will take me asking about antibiotics?

I feel like I have flu body aches, and my spine is on fire all the way up to my cranium. I can't do anything without feeling like I'm going to collapse.

When I get my strength back, SOMEBODY is going to listen-----I'm tired of the rudeness, and insensitivity of my PCP.

This is just plain wacked!

Maxine :0)

[Tessa]

Hi Maxine.

I just read about your little Mackenzie. How is she going on now?

So sorry about it.

I hope she is better as well as the rest of the family.

take care,

Love

Tessa

[delphicdragon]

Regarding Pertussis. It really is making a comeback. There was an outbreak at my college about 2 years (when I was a senior.) And now there are antibiotic resistant strains out there. As for the vaccine, I'd be careful getting it. Maybe it's just my sensitive nervous system but I wound up paralyzed after my second booster shot (I think I was 2.) The TDaP, which is the current vaccine, is apparently attenuated Pertussis, so there should be less reactions. Hope that MacKenzie feels better soon!

Sara

[Maxine]

Thank you----

Mackenzie is doing better, she did not turn blue once yesterday, and now having less episodes. When she did turn blue it would be around the mouth and nose. This happens with pertussis, but the doctor sent her home from the hospital last week because her oxygen levels are good. Her spells last a few seconds. She is on a monitor when sleeping, or when no one is in the room with her while napping, or just sitting in her various baby chairs, sleepers, ect.----

She's a hardy baby, and weighing 11.11 pounds so far----which is over a 3 pound weight gain in less then 6 weeks-----she was born on Jan 20th. She's been sleeping more, and the doctor said this is normal, as her body is trying to heal from this.

She's adorable, and starting to smile, and makes the cutest little grunting noises. I'll be baby sitting for a couple hours today while my son and his fiance go finish registering at Baby's r Us. My husband's twin sisters, and I are having a shower for her on March 29th.

She saw her pediatrition for regular check up today, and she said it's a waiting game, and it will take time for Mackenzie to recover, but she is doing better. she sees a pulminologist is a couple weeks.

I'm helping with Kaela who is 3---4 in April, and it's only about 3 times a week. I'll either pick her up from day care, or sit with Mackenzie for a couple hours so her mom can get out of the house. My husband helps me if I help in the evening.

It's not very difficult, as they set everything I need right near where I sit so I don't have to walk anywhere with Mackenzie.

I don't feel comfortable carrying Mackenzie with all my spine problems, my upper body strength is bad. Kaela is easy to watch, and she's a big help---- This is temporary, as I really can't do anything on a regular basis without causing further problems with my health. Basically, this is what needs to be done to avoid taking Mackenzie out. She can not be exposed to anything now, as this would be very dangerous for her, so if they need me for a couple hours here and there, I'll do what I need to do so Mackenzie is protected.

I keep praying all the time for Mackenzie, it's a very scary thing.

Maxine :0)