Christopher, my 1yo, had a recheck yesterday. His lungs sounded great, hooray, but he had lost weight 
Now he’s 15#9oz. I asked the ped about nebulizer vs inhalers, and she said a recent study showed that an inhaler, when used properly, is equally effective to nebulization…..but that it can be hard to have good technique using an inhaler with babies and toddlers. I guess we’ll stick with the neb, even though the med is more expensive. She also suggested that through the winter we switch from treating 2x a day to 3x and also use a double dose of cromolyn at the night treatment. He was really congested when he woke up at 4am, and I was worried about him getting another cold. He was much less stuffy when he woke up, but his nose was crusty so I went ahead and put albuterol in with his cromolyn to try to head off trouble.
Chicken Pox and Asthma??
Help! I’ve got a question, and the nurse at my doctor’s office doesn’t seem to know the answer. Isn’t there something about Chicken Pox being worse for children with asthma, especially if they’re on steroids? I’m sure I’ve read this and been told this, but when I called the doctor (who was ‘at conference’), the nurse said she’d never heard anything about that. Am I crazy? The reason I need to know is that my 15-month-old has Chicken Pox now – in spite of the vaccination in August. It seems to be a very mild case, but there’s a chance that William, my 3-1/2 yr-old with asthma, will come down with it, too – also in spite of the vaccination (seems to be going around the daycare – mild cases for vaccinated kids). He uses a Flovent inhaler twice a day now. So, can anyone share their knowledge/experience re this with me? (You know, we like this pediatric allergist and his practice, but it bothers me that the nurse knew nothing about this, even to refute it – and, now that I think about it, these were the same people who told me I didn’t need to worry about what I ate while breastfeeding because “the baby won’t pick up allergies that way.” hmmm …) Thanks in advance for your help!
Oxygen Problem?
Hi. I have a question. For a while we’ve been battling with my son feeling weak and not much energy, etc. After a week or two of hearing this, it usually culminates into either needing antibiotics or Prednisone. Does anyone have this experience? I’m wondering if I should be considering a Pediatric Pulmonologist at this point rather than keep going with the Allergist. His breathing tests at the allergist’s are usually pretty good. Yet he is so weak. I hear from him all the time…Mom, I almost called you from school today, I was so weak. It’s almost like he’s losing oxygen. Input graciously accepted!
Hospitals and allergies
I actually have had monumental problems with food allergies and hospitals. I have a list of food allergies as long as your arm, and I have difficulty having them take me seriously. When Reggie was born, I was in the hosp for a total of 10 days, and could not eat a single meal they brought me. They sent up the dietician to talk to me, and I was told that if I couldn’t find anything on the menu I could eat, I would have to have food brought in. What service!! I hopr you have not had those problems with Shane. If you did…or anyone else for that matter, how do you handle it? We are looking at another admission for Reggie soon, and I am not looking forward to potential problems.
reactions to Intal
Last week Brady got her intal inhaler with aeorochamber and mask. The first night she had a tiny bit of dried up blood in her nose. Never happened again, so we dismissed it. Well, last night she got a nose bleed! Neither of my kids have ever had a nose bleed, so I freaked out! Could it be a side effect from the Intal? Should I bother calling the allergist and letting her know, or wait to see if it happens again? Thanks, Tammy
ear infections
We had one of those nights a couple of months ago, the first one in 2 years, since Isaac got tubes in his ears (they fell out about 6 months ago). We really resisted the tubes–fears about surgery and all that–but we are believers now… Our ENT is waiting to see if Isaac can clear his ears on his own after the infection two months ago; if not, he’ll have a second set of tubes put in. It’s hard for me to believe that I am so sanguine about this, given how resistant I was to the tubes before, but they made SUCH a difference in Isaac’s life…
Frustrated
I have been feeling so frustrated and lonely this past week. Brady’s excercise induced asthma is way out of control. Every time she goes out to play after about 5 minutes she is winded and coughing. The coughing lasts hours and hours. After about 1/2 an hour she gets the pale pasty look to her. She was on the nebulizer three times a day, but she had such a terrible reaction to the drugs her allergist said to give her Prelone. Am I crazy to think that it’s not okay for her to have to take a 5 day course of a steriod every single time she plays outside?? She is 2 years old, I don’t want to make her sit in the house day and night. But, I also feel by letting her out to play that I am inviting the asthma to attack her. I wish that I had a doctor I trust, right now she is seeing the top pediatric allergist/asthma specialist in Colorado Springs. Well, I will stop rambling, I just thought that if anyone would understand..it would be you guys! Tammy (mom to Brady: allergic to peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, milk, strawberrys, environmentals, cats, dogs, asthmatic).
Zyrtec and reactions?
My son has been on Zyrtec, 1 tsp/day since March…He’s 3 1/2 and has allergies, food and other, but not severe. For the last couple weeks, he seems to be more allergic, even though this is supposed to be his best season. He’s also getting wilder at night, much like his reaction to certain allergens like milk and msg. Then, the worst thing, and I have no idea if this could be related at all, but he’s been having “accidents” several times a day, of the wetting kind. I know these things are listed on Zyrtec’s possible effects, but was looking for opinions, or experiences. I’m still in a bit of denial over everything, and not sure what to do… Thanks.