Need Advice on Giving Breathing Treatments

Hey C.,

I dont' know about the snoring, but as far as the treatments go I can help I little. My son as been on treatments for as long as I can remember there was a point when I felt like it wasn't even helping him because he would get so upset. Anyways we switched medicines, from albuterol to xopenex because it is a purer form and it doesn't make him so shaky and jittery. It really seem to help, once he relized that the meds were different he didn't fight me as much, also give it to him while he is sleeping, I found this to work really well.

Get yourself a mask or a peace pipe (what I call the normal ones) and wear it while he does his treatments. Masks work a little better because you can take deep breaths and make funny noises at each other during the treatments.

Sounds, honestly, like he could have sleep apnea - I'd talk to his doctor or an ENT about evaluating his tonsils and adnoids, because clearly he's not going to put up with a cpap machine.

Most importantly - don't back down. It's for his health, ultimately, not his happiness.

S.

I agree, see an ENT re the snoring; it may mean that his tonsils are too large. My 4 yr old daughter had trouble sleeping until we had them removed. If they are too large, it will have to be done sometime and the sooner the better; less recovery, less trauma, better sleeping immediately. Also big tonsils can cause more ear infections and throat infections. I highly recommend Dr. Timothy Trone at Med City; I believe he has an office in Plano, now. He is really wonderful with kids and specializes in pediatric ENT issues. When I give my twin sons breathing treatments, I just sit them in my lap, turn on a special DVD, and hold them tight so that they cannot get out. Eventually they settle down and watch the DVD. It's not fun. good luck. Also, have you seen a pulmonologist about the asthma? My sons were diagnosed by the pediatrician with asthma, but it turns out they are "pre-asthma" which means we may be able to prevent it. He put them on Zyrtec and it has helped greatly. I would be glad to get his name and number for you; he was really wonderful with the boys, also.

my daughter had the snoring problem and she went to the ent and had her tonsis taken out a years ago. With the snoring he may have sleep apnes (my daughter did thats why we went for the durgery)
for the fighting of the breathing treatments. We sit down and watch a movie or cartoon we also have stickers that my son and daughter are allowed to put on the mask, machine whatever as long as they take it. (googone or alcohol takes the sticky off when we take the stickers off) One of the medication reps has some that go on the stuff also and it clear background.
We also do play bklocks,color, puppets, make goofy faces is the biggerst fun.
Best of luck!

I don't know if he has a favorite stuffed animal/lovie or toy but our DS is two and has to be on the nebulizer, since 11 mos., whenever he has flare ups and we have a mask for him and a mask for lovie(his giraffe) and that seems to help as well. I know it's hard but keep it up and tell him that this is to help him and that you won't/can't stop.

OK, coming from the wife of a sleep specialist here, there is something wrong if he is snoring, no questions asked!! And, a humidifier is not going to help!! Get a specialist, including an ENT and maybe even a sleep study done at one of the children's hospitals, do figure out what the problem is! Even if it is apnea, my hubby says that most likely they wont turn to a sleep machine, as in children there tends to be other causes for snoring..like adeniods, tonsils, etc! I also support seeking chiropractic care too, but for sure do something! It is not good for him to be on all those breathing treatments, and to be snoring, he is not getting a full,deep sleep. Let me know if you have any other questions, I will ask my expert:) Good luck! ~A.~

I agree with Amber...if he's snoring then there is something else wrong. My son who is 9yo use to snore till he had his tonsils and adenoids removed 2 years ago. Both of my kids do breath treatments for asthma. My son does them very well my daughter who is 4yo just started to cooperate. I think it might be because she's a little older now. We use to try and buy her specials DVD's that she could only watch when she did breath treatments which helped sometimes and then of course sometimes it would have to be a special snack to get her to do them.
K.

I have to give my daughter breathing treatment every so often when she fights with me I make sure that I get her on a schedule that will include times when I know she is sleeping and give her treatments to her at nap time (while she is asleep) and soon after she goes to bed. It's so easy to just sit by her bed and hold the mask close to her face. This avoids the fight and the unhappy child.

The snoring can be a serious matter. If your pediatrician doesn't take it seriously go see an ENT for an evaluation. Masks are scary things, especially when having breathing problems. The natural instinct is to throw off anything too close to the mouth and nose. Until he is old enough to cooperate, try making a little tent over him of heavy duty clear plastic and just hold the mask near his face. Make a game of it. Distract him by playing peak or reading a book. I wouldn't recommend that you climb in with him, but if you must, stay near the edge and hold the mask closer to his face. If you can take away some of the panic and scariness, you'll have better luck and he'll feel better about the whole process.

Hello C.,

You've gotten great advice so far. by any chance, could your son be allergic to latex? latex allergy can show up as delayed reaction as asthma. Has he been tested for allergies? when going to the allergist, ask him about using magnesium to help with the asthma.

I helps my daughter big time. I mean that instead of 15 days of breathing treatments, she needs ONE day of breathing treatments. I don't know if your son would have the same results. Also, I did not just stop her medication when I gave her the magnesium. I had her checked by her doctor and I even used a stethoscope at home to make sure she was not wheezing. I also noticed that when she had asthma she was also constipated. 1 tsp milk of magnesia mixed in her strawberry milk has done wonders for her. Magnesium is a bronchodialator and in conjuction with treatment can help.

I googled: asthma magnesium here is the link:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4DKUS_enUS25...

Good luck and definitely check w/ an ENT and allergist. ~C.~