Seeking Advice for My 2 Yr Old Diagnosed with Asthma

hi L.- I am a lot like you- I am a 28 single mom of a 6 year old- my son has asthma and has since he was a tiny baby- i have gone through this with my son for years- I am running out now but if you need someone to talk to Id be gad to offer advice- ____@____.com

I would go for allergy testing. My husband almost died at 3 months of age because he had a SEVERE allergy to mold, and the house they lived in had a bad mold issue. Once they moved out of the house, he did much better. Once he was old enough he went for allergy shots, and now at 31 he has NO symptoms of asthma or allergies at all. Best of luck, I know it's hard! You know what's best, if you don't like what you are hearing keep searching until you find someone who hears you, understands you, and will give you an acceptable answer. I agree the words "I think" isn't very comforting.

Hi L.:

Your son sounds a lot like me. I was diagnosed with Asthma at 2 years old and my mom (a single parent) went through so much including several hospitalizations. I'm much better than before, but I go through periods where things flare up such as cold and windy days. One thing I would suggest that my mom never looked into is checking around the house for asthma flare ups. Animals, mold, dust, etc. can all do a number on your asthma. Also, look into homepathic remedies because the medicines they give us are so strong and draining. Hot tea with honey helps me as well as a steaming hot shower. Also, be sure to jump on all colds. If colds and infection aren't caught quickly they can flare into the worst thing. You are doing sound like you are doing a great job. I hope my 2cents is helpful. Good luck.

I FEEL FOR YOU!!! We are on a very similar road with my son. He is 3 now. At 19 months old he came down with pretty serious pneumonia, and he had to be hospitalized overnight. His pediatrician suspected asthma and put him on albuterol and flovent. Symptoms improved, so she suspects he has asthma.

EVERYTIME he gets a cold, it goes straight to his chest and he has a hard time breathing. We end up at the drs office or the ER.
Half the problem is my son is still too young to undergo the asthma testing. He doesnt understand to hold his breathe and breath and out as the dr instructs him. So, we arent sure if he has 'asthma,' But being the asthma meds help him...It is a strong possibility that is what is going on.

We have discovered that my son is allergic to almost everything. He has seasonal allergies and food allergies, and he is allergic to cats and dogs. These things seem to trigger his asthma attacks.
As far as medicine goes....He takes a puff of flovent everyday. (Its the same as Pulmicort, just in a puffer not a nebulizer.) And he also take a Singular allergy/asthma preventative pill everynight. We have Xopenex for the nebulizer and albuterol puffers for emergencies.

I have heard not-so-great-things about using albuterol for an extended period of time. It can affect your heart and make you jittery. We use Xopenex instead when he needs it. I will say Xopenex is VERY expensive and albuterol is very cheap. So, getting your insurance company to cover it can be tricky. We needed a note from his doctor and I still had to fight for it.

My sons asthma is completely controllable, and I truly feel for you not being able to regulate his breathing. When my son has breathing trouble, I absolutely panic. I cant imagine having to worry about 24/7 the way you do.

If you havent already I would request an allergy test. Its just a simple blood test. Maybe there is something at home or something he is exposed to that is causing his asthma issues.
Best of luck....
Crystal

Hi L.,
I know how difficult this is for you. My son (who is now 12) started having problems when he was just a few months old. I had to rush him to the hospital when he was only 3 months and he was barely breathing. I've gone through the nebulizer treatments, steroids, antibiotics (for never-ending ear infections), etc. It was a nightmare but it did get better and I hope it will for you, too. I understand that you like his dr. but I can tell you from experience that you need another opinion.
I was able to find a great deal of relief for him about three years ago when I started using non-toxic products in my home. Now I know you are probably thinking (as I was) that you are not using anything in your home that would be "bad" for your son (we're good mothers) and that non-toxic products would cost more than you can afford (I actually save money using these products). However, the big companies out there don't care that you and your son are being poisoned by them (they only care about money) and for someone with asthma, like your son, the everyday products that you have in your home can be deadly.
If you would like any information on the types of products that I am using and where you can get them, please feel free to email me at ____@____.com luck. I hope your find the solution you are looking for and that your son feels better very soon.
V. T.

idont check my email often actually this is probably the first mamasource ive opened but i read your piece and wondered if youve ever tried an osteopath that does traditional ostepathic manipulation... they are physicians that not everyone knows about unfortunately .. but they use their hands to diagnose and treat many things like asthma... for example, the diaphragm may be tight... the ribcage may also be tight, the accesory muscles of breathing in the neck... there are so many things in the body's structure alone that are involved with asthma - which if they get relieved, it makes it easier to breathe and better to get at the root cause while they are young
i had mild asthma - but enough to use an inhaler but while going to school an osteopath was treating me and now i dont even have a spare inhaler because i never need it.
its worth a try
hope that helps
oh there is an association called the Cranial Academy that im sure if you google you can get the number and they can refer u to osteopaths that would be able to help - remember to ask for someone who does traditional osteopathy and not just what every other doctor does...
good luck

Hi L.,
Be strong.
My son also just got diagnosed with asthma that came about when we rushed him to the ER at CCMC when he was was wheezing really bad/couldn't even talk. When we got in there, one of the first questions they asked was...has this ever happened before and let me tell you and I said yes but never this bad. So they asked me about breathing treatments and I said what? no he's never been on that...they looked at me like I was crazy. My pediatrician never even mentioned anything about breathing treatments whatsoever he said just wait and see...he has been wheezing almost every time he gets sick from when he was 6 weeks old...this is my second child and my pediatrician who I also loved and trusted did not do anything about it. On so many occasions I told him about the wheezing and coughing at night...and he would just tell me wait it out. I thought my doctor was awesome until I found out what I did when I went to the ER and when I went in for follow up the next day he was like, "oh I guess he had an asthma attack". Almost like he didn't beleive it. And still he gave me no plan of care so I went to an allergist (CT Asthma & Allergy in West Hartford. I don't know where you are?)
The allergist tested him to see if he was allergic to anything to see if there was anything that could trigger the asthma. They gave me a well plan/sick plan so that I had a plan of what to do when he was well and when he started to get certain symptoms then I would start him on treatments and when it got to a certain point then I would start him on the oral steroids etc...
So yes it is so freakin' scary and a part of me just thinks well because he has been having the wheezing every time he gets sick since 6 weeks old what if because it was left untreated that this will make it worse.??? I just wish I pushed this earlier.
Anyway. So my advise is if you haven't already then go to an allergist who may be able to help find out what triggers the asthma attacks...and definately go to the pediatric pulmonologist...I know they have great doctor's at CT Children's Medical Center. When I was there the respiratory therapist told me that if I was unable to get a plan of care from my pediatrician/allergist then make an appointment to the pulmonologist there. I ended up sticking with Dr. Abbosh at the CT Asthma & Allergy but if things get worse I will definately go up there.
Needless to say, I did end up switching pediatricians, I have to drive further but I feel more comfortable with the one I switched to...they seem to take this matter more seriously.
I know it is so hard and scary...it scared me to death when he was hooked up to the machine at the Hospital and it kept on beeping because he didn't have enough Oxygen in his body. It was awful. But be strong. Do what you can...Take him to the specialist and just one day at a time. You'll get through it. Keep on pushing the doctor's...take him to the pediatric pulmonologist...take him to the allergist...do whatever you have to so that he gets better and this is under control.

Hi L.,
I shop from a company that has safer products for your family and home environment. The nice thing about it is they are no more expensive than the brands you buy in the grocery store. They do not have harsh chemicals and preservatives like store brands and they really work! My daughter had a lot of problems with sinuses and clogged ears for years and since I've switched to these products, everything has cleared up completely. From cleaning products to vitamins, over the counter pharmaceuticals, make-up they have it all. A lot of people don't realize that the products they use in their home can effect their breathing. They have cheap preservatives in them that are not safe for our families and companies are not required because of trade secrets to list ALL of their ingredients. If you would like to find out more about it, I would love to talk to you. There is no pressure at all. It is my mission to educate people about the toxins in their homes.

Have a nice day!
K. G

My son was hospitalized at 7 months with bronchiolitis and we went the nebulizer route also, three times a day for well over a year (pulmicort/xopenex). His hospitalization came almost 3 months after the coughing started. It was a very stressful time and I can completely understand the lack of sleep and worrying. When we moved almost 2 years ago, all symptoms stopped. There was no wheezing, coughing, nothing. He started preschool this year (he's 3 now) and about 3 weeks ago, the coughing started again. We started the nebulizer again, it has calmed down. I use only the pulmicort with him now. Try raising the head of his bed (put a pillow or two UNDER the mattress that way he isn't surrounded by pillows). Does he have a mask for the nebulizer or does he use the other thing? My guy uses the mask that way he can still talk to me while he's having his treatment. I also let him turn his nebulizer on/off when his treatment is done-it gives him a little 'control'.
Colds and exposure to all of the kids at school can trigger this, as can the dry air from heat.
A pediatric pulmonologist is a great start. Allergy testing is also a very good idea.
If you need to chat, feel free to contact me.

Change your doctor and also have them try singulair or preventil or both. My daughter had asthma since she was 6 weeks old. So I do know what you are going through. J. D

Hi L.

In the past 5 years that i've been using the products i use in my home - I've seen many, many children's asthma symptoms go away as their moms switch to more natural cleaning, laundry and other products in the home.

I don't sell the products, but do show moms where they can shop direct from the manufacturer wholesale.

Basically, the solution that i've seen work is this - see what triggers are in the home - many times it's cleaning products, laundry products, aerosols (esp lysol- very bad)-- remove those products from the home, replace with more natural alternatives, and see the difference in the home environment - i would be happy to send you emails or phone numbers of moms that have experienced this firsthand..
____@____.com

L.

You need to seek alternative advice ...your son is right "hen he tells you "no more medicine mommy!"

I am so sorry! It must be terrible for you to worry all the time like that. Definitely schedule a blood allergy test, this may give you some insight into what is bothering him.

Also, if your doctor can't be sure, because it is hard to diagnose at such an early age, why don't you see if you can take him to some kind of pediatric specialist? A second opinion on which drugs to give hima nd the root of teh problem would be reassuring and helpful.

Hi L.,

Your story sounds like mine word for word. I too am a single mom and I have a toddler (she is now four years old) who was diagnosed with asthma over two years ago. Of course, it took a horrible experience at the emergency (Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto) when she had pneumonia and endless rounds of antibiotics before I got the answer but now I monitor her quite closely with a children's pump, and her puffer (flovent). Whenever she remotely starts a cough or cold, always around seasonal changes, I give her the pump and we pretend it's a game - one puff, two puff - morning and night. So far it seems to work and she usually ends up sleeping (of course, i still don't out of worry...and just loving watching her sleep!) Like your little one, she fights me on any other oral medication (I try to give her an incentive and explain that Dora or Diego take this too when their mommies take care of them!) but the pump is fun for her and (knock wood) taken properly prevents her cough from developing into something worse. As to your doctor, from one mom to another, I don't think she knows what to think. But there are pediatric nurses / doctors who specialize in asthma - I know because my sister is one in Ottawa at the Children's hospital - and many websites. So, perhaps your doctor can recommend one or your local hospital must have a division or specialist on staff. Most of this info can be found online too. Hope this gives you some relief, at the very least know that someone up north empathizes with your situation! Take care, B.

My son also has asthma. However, it is mild. He went through months of being sick with colds and ear infections when he was around your sons age. The drs would hear him wheezing when he had the colds. I took him off of cows milk which definately helped. He never had an ear infection again (now it is 4 1/5 years later) and his colds seemed to be much better which helps with the asthma being better.

I don't know how you feel about chiropractors, but my chiropractor has a 3 year old with asthma. He said that after only a few weeks of going to him, she is on half of the medication she was on.

Hope this helps.

if your son has been taken all these meds by the pediatrician and it is still not getting better or worse....you need to now see a specialist and go above the pediatrician...he may be nice and a good general doctor for your son...but...its time to see a pecialist...good luck...

Hi L., This sounds exactly like what I went through with my daughter when she was 2. She would cough non-stop every single night. I know she had a nasal drip and then eventually would throw up. Finally, her pediatrician sent me to a pulmonologist. They ran tests and through x-rays he could clearly see how blocked her airways were, therefore, diagnosing her with asthma. He put her on an inhaler, flovent, through a chamber. She has to do this every day 2 times a day. I know it seems like a lot, but it has worked wonders! Flovent is a preventative asthma medicine, whereas albuterol is a rescue medicine, which we only have to use in extreme cases (which is now very rare). So I feel much better about using it because you don't get the jitters like you do with albuterol. You are pretty far from me to recommend our pulmonologist, he's out of Morristown hospital in NJ. But you should definitely find someone you are happy with and feel comfortable with, because ashthma isn't something you want to mess around with. I hope this helps and email me if you have any other questions. My daughter is now 3 1/2 and I can't even explain how much this has helped her.

Good luck, Jennifer

Hi L.,
First, I have a 5 yr old son who shares the same birthday as yours. Ironically, he's had the same problems since he was very young. When he was 3mths old he had a terrible cold that wouldn't quit. Took him to the doctor and he told us to do the shower (steam) thing and gave us some medicine. That night, he was breathing very irregular and I rushed him to the hospital that night (hubby thought I was exaggerating but my instincts kicked in). He was diagnosed with RSV and stayed a week in the hospital. From that experience on, I've always trusted my instincts and didn't always trust what the doctor said. Last year with yet another terrible cold at 4yrs old, his new doctor diagnosed him with asthma. I honestly didn't think he had asthma and that his shortness of breath came from coughing 24/7. I've had a nebulizer since he was 2y.o. using Pulmicort and there was another one I forgot. I started researching on the net for other things that could help rather than using the steroids. He was also suffering from terrible nosebleeds.

Have you tried any natural remedies and supplements? I urge you to go to your nearest health food store and speak with someone there. They are usually aware of what herbs are used to treat asthma. Humidifiers work too. I'm not sure if my son grew out of it or if the supplements I'm giving him are actually working, but I haven't used the nebulizer in a long time and he's actually fighting his colds now. Also, as the other moms mentioned - diet is important. He could be allergic to something and dairy is not good either. I hope that in sharing my experience, it can help you too. Good luck and I hope he feels better soon.

L.,
My son has asthma as well. It started when he was a baby when he was 4 weeks old he got bronchilitis which triggered the on set of asthma. Things were quiet till 13 months when he got a cold. He ended up wheezing and on the nebulizer we went through this for 5 months straight of on and off the nebulizer. Thats when the pediatrician put him on singulair daily. He would chew the pill every morning and make it all gone. We to have used the pulmicort when it has been real bad. My son is now 6 1/2 he takes his singulair everyday ( we take it during the school year to help with colds) We only use the nebulizer once in a while. I know it is very frustrating to go through this. Talk to your dr about singulair and see if they will let you try it. I did not have to go to a pulmonologist but if it will help you maybe you should take your son. If my son needs the nebulizer now we use xopenex because the albuterol wired him and he couldn't sleep he was an emotional mess. I hope things get better for you please feel free to email me at ____@____.com .
Sherri mom of 3 a 6 yr old boy and 2 girls ages 4 and 1.

hello, i don't have any of those experiences but i think that you definitely should get another opinion or even more, go to other at least two doctors, more heads knows more. Your doctor can "think" what she is making for dinner not about decisions for someones child health. It really doesn't sound so assuring, specially if he doesn't even get better. Good luck!

Been there, done that. I really am a bit concened that your Dr. would say he has "uncontrollable" asthma - uncontrolled right now yes, but uncontrollable?! PLEASE take your son to a specialist ASAP. I did with my son and it made a world of difference. If I was you I would switch pediatricians - you really need to have confidence in your Dr.
Good Luck.