Asthma Advice

As an asthmatic and the mom of two asthmatics, I can TOTALLY empathize with your concerns! Really -- it sounds like the treatment plan is exactly what I'd expect my doctor to suggest.

I would second Michelle H.'s suggestion to jump on any cold symptoms with albuterol. Don't wait for the wheezing. Albuterol is a very, very safe medication if it's used responsibly. Although it's a "rescue" inhaler, it can also help supplement the singulair & pulmicort to keep struggling airways open & prevent difficulties.

BTW -- my youngest was one of those "cough till you throw up" kids. She always felt so much better once she was able to get that mucus out! We made sure to look at it as a good thing so she wasn't scared or upset by the vomitting. She's now 18 and plays soccer like a crazy person. Her earlier breathing issues certainly haven't slowed her down!

It'll be OK, mama.

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I had an asthma seminar at the hospital where i work and was told by a physician that most childhood asthma symptoms are caused by allergies. I would try to see if she was old enough for an allergy test. Also, my 5 year old has been diagnosed with asthma since 2. We were told that they call it reactive airway disease until a child turns 2... so I would challenge the doctor by asking him why she is on all of these asthma medications if she doesnt have asthma!
Secondly, reactive airway disease or asthma can sometimes get worse when a child has an upper respiratory conditiion, such as a viral common cold. You should keep her up to date with all vaccinations, including flu shot. Teach her good hand hygeine, as my 5 year old would ALWAYS get asthma attacks after being around other children who were sick when she was 2.
Most importantly, please please do the Pulmicort faithfully, 2 times a day, whether she is sick or well. This is a preventative medication that can help make the attacks less extreme. Some times I was "iffy" about side effects and didnt want to give it and lo and behold, she got sick! When she took the Pulmicort faithfully, the asthma attacks werent as bad.
Also, my doctor added Childrens Claritin and it helped tremendously!
To add a happy note, I know that it is hard, but HANG IN THERE! because I noticed that every year after 2 it got BETTER and BETTER by itsself! She is growing out of it, as some children do. I prayed a lot! Blessed be! :)

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2 of my kids have/had the same thing. Doctors called it RAD - Reactive Airwary Disease. The good news is that they outgrow it. -- I would jump right on a cold with decongestants and albuterol at the slightest wheeze, to try and ward off a full blown incident. But we went thru all the same regimen you listed....many times...and they are outgrowning it with fewer and fewer incidents and further and further in between. Hang in there!

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My son that has asthma was to the point of being very bad and the allergist we took him to taught also at the hospital in KC, Missouri. He said our son was near death as if you don't clear up the deep inflamation it masks how bad it is, the kind of asthma where you are constantly on the albuterol. Albuterol is good for using after you get the asthma under control, or call it whatever until after age 2. He put our son on prednisone and cleared up the inflamation that was deep and he got very much better as long as he had the breathing machine at home for times when he got sick with anything that triggered it. He's now under control but still has asthma and it is from allergy and still can flare up but rarely. He was also on Advair as our grandchildren with asthma are. It's something I would have checked by an allergist and have him tested. They usually don't test until after age 2 I think. Many other things could trigger it if he has allergy. Try to think of when she gets worse, what she ate, what she was around that maybe wasn't around earlier, etc. Animals, dust, food all play a role sometimes but not always. I hope you get it under control though.

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I know this sounds crazy, but has her doctor ever talked to you about a possible milk allergy? I know of several cases where removing milk & dairy from the diet helped significantly with asthma. Just a thought! :)

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Usually Docs like to wait as long as possible to label your child as asthmatic. But it definitely sounds like she is. I would find an allergist as well and educate yourself as much as possible. And NEVER rule out homeopathic remedies either. She very well may have allergies, bt sometimes trying to "disinfect" your home of everything isn't good either. try to feed her as healthy as possible. Try those pillow and mattress covers that are for people w/ allergies. I have read great things about natural bee pollen which can be sprinkled into her food. But do read up on that as some people can be allergic, but no usually.
We had no sucess w/ singulair w/ my son. In fact a side effect can be ear infections which he did suffer from. hang in there, it's a tough road. But the more you educate yourself, the better. And again think homeopathic as well. Modern medicine doesn't have all the answers!

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I'm so sorry you have to go through this! I have asthma myself, and my oldest daughter started with wheezing symptoms at only a few months old, every time she got a cold. Scared me to death the first time, because she started wheezing in her sleep and I didn't know what it was. She also has never been diagnosed with asthma, but tends to get a dry, barking cough when she has a cold that her dr. has us treat with albuterol. I've been on Serevent, Pulmicort and Advair in the past myself, but now that my symptoms are under control, I don't need any of them anymore.

It really sounds like your daughter's symptoms are not under control at all, and my best recommendation to you is to seek out a specialist. I struggled for a few years with multiple cases of bronchitis each winter and then several courses of steroids when things got really bad. I found a new allergist when I moved to the St. Louis area, and he got things really straightened out for me. I checked quickly online with the American Academy of Allergy & Immunology (http://www.aaaai.org/home.aspx) and they only have one member specialist listed in your area -- however, in my experience it is well worth the effort to see one.

I have seen and heard of cases of respiratory problems due to food allergies, so it is well worth investigating. My daughter also had a friend in preschool that always had respiratory infections and seemed to always be on antibiotics and steroids as a young child. Finally, a doctor found out she had exceptionally small nasal passages, so her sinuses could not drain properly and that caused the problems and eventual infections. You never know what small difference could cause such severe problems for your daughter. Reading your question, though, it seems like your poor baby is on a lot of meds for her to not be doing better by now.

Good luck to you -- I wish you the best!

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My daughter has asthma (triggered by allergies). We put her on Flo-nase (a nasal spray) a couple years ago... SINCE then, she has not needed ANY rescue inhaler! The side effects are, not noticeable (I couldn't tell you if she has any at all).

I have asthma and I need to get on Flo-nase! (no health insurance) I take a rescue inhaler/ nebulizer far too often. Had asthma since I was 5. I get bronchitis every year, and it gets so bad I need steroids. I hate the steroids:(

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Basically, sounds like par for the course. Sounds EXACTLY like my oldest at that age. The only difference I'd make is that whenever you think she might even be THINKING about getting a cold, start the albuterol and hopefully avoid the prednisone. Hopefully she will outgrow it...mine did by age 4.5 or 5. Hasn't had to take any drugs in about two years. I know it sucks, but she's probably on the best treatment she can be...that's why asthma sucks.

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Michele is right on with the RAD (Reactive Airway Disease). Ask your doctor about it. My older daughter had it, and like you said, every time she got a cold it went right to the restricted airways and coughing, etc. It was awful. And honestly, she's 23 and has never really outgrown it. She just has learned how to manage it over these years and that has made it easier on her. She used to cough through life!

Every time she got a cold we would start with the inhalers and steroids -- yes there are side effects to steroids, but there are also pretty bad side effects to not breathing! Do what you need to do to keep her breathing. Use a humidifier in her room and keep up with the inhalers -- and get a good cough syrup for nighttime. And also have her take vitamins and a probiotic to help keep her from illness.

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Have you out and out asked if this is asthma. It sounds like it is. I finally had to ask, because he would not out and out call it asthma.

Our daughter really suffered with it at this age even ended up with pneumonia and in the hospital for 4 days.

The winter and spring were the worst times.

I finally got rid of all carpets all drapes, because they collect so much dust. I purchased an electric air filter for her room and changed the filters every 3 to 4 weeks depending on how quickly it collected the dirt. I also changed the filters every 4 weeks in our conditioning/heater.

It really did help.

She finally outgrew all of this by about 6 th grade.

FYI, hers was a coughing asthma. It feels like you cannot catch a full breath.