need advice

ok my babies are 5 weeks old and like a week ago they catched the flu and i took them to their ped and they tested them for rsv and both came back positive, alexander has no longer been stuffy but has a really bad caugh and isabella is both stuffy and w/a bad caugh,right know i'm very scared and always in top of them in case the have breathing problems and also very scared that they might end up in the hospital,another thing is that they can take a shot called synegies but each shot costs $1500
and medicaid paid for it in the past but not any more the only way they pay for it is if they are born before 28 weeks and their docs are doing anything they can do so that medicaid can paid for it but but have no answers yet has anyone been thru this with ur baby/babies,thanx and any advice will help out alot thanx again

 

I'm sorry to hear that your babies are sick. My babies are about the same age as yours. RSV is a really common virus that is around in the late fall - early spring. For most people, we just get regular cold symptoms, but for little babeis, it can really give them problems with coughing, lots of congestion, and risk for respiratory distress and low oxygen levels. Unfortunately,it is a virus, so there is no medicine that will make it go away -- it has to run its course. The Synagis vaccine is given to preemies who have higher risk of developing more serious complications (due to history of premature lungs) with RSV. I was not aware that th vaccine would be of any benefit to a baby once they have already contracted the virus. Most babies will have bad cold/cough symptoms for 1 week or so with RSV, but some need to be hospitalized if more severe. In the hospital, they would be given extra oxygen (if their oxygen saturation is too low) and often IV fluids, since babies with severe cough/congestion/difficulty breathing also have great difficulty eating while they are sick. I hope your babies are starting to feel better, but be warned that the cough may hang around for quite some time, even if they otherwise look and feel well. Keep an eye out for any color change (blue or gray), pauses is breathing > 15-20 seconds, and breathing faster than 70 times/minute or if they seem to be striggling to breath, and are sucking in between/under their ribs -- call your pediatrician if you notice these things. Good luck and I hope they have a quick recovery!

 

I don't know much about it, just wanted to let you know that I edited your title hopefully so those with experience with Synagis will see it. You are so close to me! I am up in Ft. Myers!

 

If there is anyway that they can get them to qualify for Synagis I would definitely try and get it for them. I am sorry that you are having to deal with it. It is a terrible thing for a small baby to have. Hang in there and make sure you take them to the Ped if anything is just not right.

 

I'm glad you're calling some attention to the problems with insurance and this vaccine. Mine were born just before 32 weeks and Aetna does cover it for babies born before 32 weeks and/or with other risk factors--i.e. older siblings in school, smokers in the household, respiratory problems after birth, low birth weight, etc.. I just fought with them on the phone for 2 hours today ( not an easy task with 2 little ones!) and I'm struggling to come up with 10% that they want me to pay as a co-pay. $300 a month for 5 months is hard when I'm not working. I ended up putting the first month on our credit card and we'll figure the rest out as we go. It's truly a shame that RSV is recognized as such a serious and dangerous illness and that the effective vaccine for it isn't 100% covered by ALL insurance companies. Don't they realize that the costs of medications and hospitalization are much higher than prevention?? I really hope your children are OK and healthy. I hope you can figure out how to make this work!

 

QUOTE(first-time-mom @ Nov 16 2007, 10:46 PM) [snapback]499668[/snapback]
I'm glad you're calling some attention to the problems with insurance and this vaccine. Mine were born just before 32 weeks and Aetna does cover it for babies born before 32 weeks and/or with other risk factors--i.e. older siblings in school, smokers in the household, respiratory problems after birth, low birth weight, etc.. I just fought with them on the phone for 2 hours today ( not an easy task with 2 little ones!) and I'm struggling to come up with 10% that they want me to pay as a co-pay. $300 a month for 5 months is hard when I'm not working. I ended up putting the first month on our credit card and we'll figure the rest out as we go. It's truly a shame that RSV is recognized as such a serious and dangerous illness and that the effective vaccine for it isn't 100% covered by ALL insurance companies. Don't they realize that the costs of medications and hospitalization are much higher than prevention?? I really hope your children are OK and healthy. I hope you can figure out how to make this work!



You're so right. My boys were born at 34 weeks and they told me today that I MIGHT get it but I'm on the border line. I would know in a week. I'm terrified not to have the RSV shots. It's so dangerous to preemies! And my boys had respiratory problems as well!

 

thanx to all of u for your responce i received news yesturday that isabella was approved but alex is still pending,hopefully monday i'll receive good news,thanx to all of u once again!!!

 

QUOTE(twinbabies07 @ Nov 17 2007, 11:03 AM) [snapback]500035[/snapback]
thanx to all of u for your responce i received news yesturday that isabella was approved but alex is still pending,hopefully monday i'll receive good news,thanx to all of u once again!!!

That is great news!! RSV can affect any baby, not just preemies. My niece was full term and ended up in the hospital with RSV at 6 months. My two did qualify for the synagis last winter and got the shot every month from Oct.-Mar. and I was very happy about that. They don't qualify this year and I wish they did.

If you qualify for the synagis I would definitely get it!!! Here is a link to the synagis website.

 

Thats great. Definitely take advantage of it!! I only wish mine qualified again this year.