Child has asthma?

Question

My son has real bad asthma. He is 6 and we just found out last year when we thought he had a bad cold with a bad cough and he was really having an asthma attack and had to be in the hospital for 8 days due to a partially collasped lung from muscus plugs and they could not get his oxygen level up. So all this is kinda new for me. He went to the doctor this morning and once again breathing treatments every 4 hours for the next 4 days then down to 3 hours for 3 days.. along with another med for the nebulizer and a steriod plus he 3 meds he is on for the allergies. ( he has allergy induced asthma). I am just so worried about him and scared that I may miss something like I did last year. This morning he had to have 2 treatments back to back to get his breathing under control. Anybody else have kid with asthma this bad that can put my mind at ease.. I am a nervous wreck about this..

Answer 1

Dear Sarah, I can relate to your fear, as my son (when he was the same age) had the same happen to him. Many times I was called by his school while I was at work and had to race back. It took forever for them to finally understand just how bad his attacks were. I live in VA and asthma is probably the #1 problem in this area. While I would love to put your mind at ease and help out with this, never ever let your guard down. It IS serious and I fully understand just how scary it is to see your child gasping for air. As I always do, I read all the other answers/suggestions first. After all, I don't want to sound redundant. Some suggestions are very good, for example the carpet/area rug issue. But I also understand that it is a very costly change you will have to make. The first thing though is to take stuffed animals out of his sleeping area. Yeah, I know, it will bring a lot of tears and protest from him but try what I did. I explained to my son that all the stuffed animals were sick and had to be taken to the hospital where they had to stay for a while. I took his favorite one and washed it in very hot water and then put it in the dryer (killing most of the bad stuff). Every now and then I'd use a hot (heat kills those critters) steamer on Mr. Bear. That alone did wonders for him and his breathing. Also, make sure that you carry an inhaler everywhere you go. Have extras, like one for the car, one for the purse. You can even get a signed form from his doctor that allows him to carry his inhaler in school. I know, these days they even frown on coughdrops, but the signed form should take care of that. Don't think for a minute that you are overprotective and people that say so... Well, just shrug them off. You are his mother and you know best. I even kept a baby monitor in his and my bedroom. If you can, do replace the carpet and try to avoid fluffy pillows. I went as far as getting a leather sofa to replace the other one. Sure, money was tight but do what you can. As far as mattress and bedding goes, I got him a waterbed and then an airfilled mattress. A simple and probably cheapest solution is to get a regular camping type air mattress. Beside, he'll feel so cool about this... :) And Mom, take it easy and just one step at a time. There is only so much that you can do without driving yourself nuts. Continue to be the loving and caring Mom you are and never doubt yourself. Try to stay calm, he needs you to be especially strong right now. Just think, he's gasping for air and on top sees the worry in you. That'll only make matters worse for him. The main thing is to remain calm. It is an illness and though it can be fatal, you are doing everything in your power. There isn't more you can do. Of course, try to keep him away from severe weather change (hot to cold or vice versa) and smoking as well as household pollutants. By all means, you are not alone out there. Just don't give up! Never! It will get better. And may I suggest that you sign yourself up to a self-help group for parents of asthmatic children. Everything becomes easier when shared!
By the way, my son outgrew his asthma :) and I am confident that your son will too, as their symptoms are so much alike. Take care and keep being the wonderful Mom you are...
MsB.
P.S. If you are ever in the situation where the inhaler is empty and you can't get to a hospital immediately, give him little sips of strong black coffee. Sounds bad but helps for the moment until you can get him proper care. Sorry for being so long but my heart is completely with you. Many hugs to both of you :)

Answer 2

It's a scary thing when a child can't breath. The inhalers will help. Make sure there aren't any animals in the house. Dog and cat dander can easily bring on asthma attack. The thing with allergy induced asthma is, if it's environmental allergies, they're hard to get away from. Spring and fall are usually the worst times, as the pollens are heavy in the spring, and the mold from the leaves falling in the fall. The steroids will work, but make sure that he comes off them gradually and not just a complete stop. If you have an air conditioner, this will relieve breathing problems in the summer. If you use a furnace in the winter, make sure the filters are clean. There is good news though. Most children as they reach the 13-14 year range experience much less symptoms and breathing difficulties. Stress also brings on asthma attacks. Make sure he stays within his physical limitations during exercise, but do not discourage it. In some cases, exercise can help the heart alleviate the fluid build up in the lungs.

Answer 3

My daughter doesn't have allergy induced asthma, at least not that bad, but she does have asthma. It is ridiculous the medications they put them on. Don't you think that eventually they would come up with one treatment that would work, and work well, so that our children do not have to suffer? Is your son on singulair or anything like that? My daughter's has regulated a lot just from the singulair. She still has to take albuterol treatments occasionally but nothing like she had to take before the singulair. Good luck to you and I'm sorry he has asthma so bad. I'm sure you won't miss anything.

Oh one other thing. I'm sure your doctor has discussed it with you. Carpets and things like that in houses carry so many allergens. If you haven't thought of it already, you would need brand new carpet or hard wood floors in your house. Also dust mites from pillows, beds, etc. can be really hard on a child with asthma. Try covering the things he sleeps on in plastic hypoallergenic covers.

Answer 4

Do you own any animals with fur? That will flair most people up.Do you live in the south? I love the south and the weather but for some reason it makes me sick so sick I couldn't leave the bed. Humidity adds to my allergies and asthma. You need to buy a dehumidify good one like a Kenmore (I have one) and a hepa honey dew with a filer also needs to cleaned. Clean all the dust ducks out in the house and dust weekly.He should be in the other room when you dust. Keep the heater filter clean ,buy a new one monthly.
Since most people with asthma have more mucus in their lungs than needed. Let him spit it up (I know gross but it is better )
Another thing there is such a thing as asthma induced caused by Running aerobic. exercise is good but if he get worse after running. Try something like sits-ups or stretches, yoga.

Answer 5

It sounds like his asthma is out of control. You need to go back to the Doctor and ask for preventive medications to help prevent the asthma attacks. Controller medications are

Singulair, once a day pill
Advair, Twice a day dry powder inhaler
Clarinex, Allegra, or Zyrtec

Use the neb medication for asthma attacks only.

Learn his triggers and avoid them. Get a peak flow meter and record his peak flows every day. Keep a record of peak flow results along with a record of asthma attacks. Never let pets in his bed room, at all. Vacuum carpets at least once a week or more.
Use an air purifier in his bed room if you have one.

Check out the web sites below for more information. Good luck

Answer 6

My brother is an asthmatic and after ten years his asthma has shown no sign of improving. He has been to several doctors but they didn't help much.

If you want a proven, all-natural way to cure your asthma, without having to pay for useless medications with harmful side-effects, then this is the most important page you'll ever read.

Answer 7

I believe your discomfort. I've had bronchial asthma for 14 years now and feature visible a number of medical professionals. The reality is, there's no identified medication for bronchial asthma on the second. But the indicators can also be avoided. It particularly depends upon what motives your brother's bronchial asthma. Mine is most likely dirt and sizzling climate. But I believe the common system is utilising the manage inhaler. I cured my Asthma the traditional method?

Answer 8

The first thing you need to do is get rid of all of your toxic cleaners and laundry products etc. Most of these are registered pesiticides and could be part of the problem. Switch to all natural cleaners and then take your old products to your nearest toxic waste recycling place to dispose of them. Once you switch have him stay at a friends house while you thoroughly clean and wash everything in the new products. Shampoo the carpets and furninture with the new products too. Once that is done be sure you have good air purifiers throughout the house to help control the dust and dander etc. Switching cleaners and laundry products should be a big help though as the toxic chemicals is often a big trigger.

Answer 9

It can be a reaction to several things. Typically, dust, mold(very big problem) and animal products like feather pillows or pet dander.

Throw out any old newspapers, feather pillows, you may have to get rid of your pets. Check the detergent you are using; possibly buy one that is unscented. Restrict dairy from his diet. Also, some people have problems with peanuts and other types of nuts.

Restrict his sugar intake. You may have to cut out chocolate from his diet too.

You want to get him off of any meds that you possible can; they build up a dependency and are generally damaging to a persons body. Steroids are very hard on a person's kidneys.

BUY A VERY GOOD AIR CLEANER FOR HIS BEDROOM. NOT THE ONE FROM SHARPER IMAGE, BTW. Try a good one from Sears, Kenmore brand is very good. Don't cheap out on the purifier, the bigger the better.

After all of this, you may still be living in an area where the local vegetation produces allergens that the boy can't cope with, which means you may have to move.

Also, I hope you don't smoke around the kid.

Answer 10

it's sad to know ur son have a bad asthma.but normally it's inherited from ur side or ur grandparents.an asthma person is very sensitive to coldness like cold weather,cold drink etc.so the only thing is he must drink warm drink n away from cold drink/food,so he won't get cold n feel difficult in breathing.ur DR should know how to cure him n DR w'd give u some advices about handling of ur son.there's no short cut to cure it even if operation is done.take care.