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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
I haven't slept since Sunday night. We are having a horrible week. Went to Pulmonologist this morning.
just want some opinions please, thanks!
1. If asthma is bad and you are giving a treatment every 4 hours...still coughing, wheezing, heavy breathing from stomach...when do you call dr? which dr do you call?
2. How long does it have to be "bad" for before you call dr for anti biotic or predinsone(sp)?
3. Does a bad episode(more then 2 days) ever just disappear without extra meds?
4. When do you go to ER?
thanks!!
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Posted 5/1/09 4:18 PM  |
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Blissful
Ultimate Expression of LOVE
Member since 6/08 4985 total posts
Name:
Maria
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
Sounds like you need to call the pulmonologist....If you give him a treatment and he is still wheezing or starts wheezing soon after he needs steroids......
At this age RARELY will an attack resolve on its own when its this bad without steroids
If you give Josh a Neb treatment and after that treatment he is still wheezing and belly breathing he needs to go to the Dr. if its after hours I would take him to the ER and I'm a medic........
THe thing with kids and respiratory issues is that they can go a while with a problem but you get very little warning when they are about to spiral and can spiral down VERY VERY fast!!!
FM me if you have questions.
I hope he feels better soon and MANY hugs to you cause I know you are stressed beyond belief. Just know you are an AMAZING mamma and doing an AWESOME job!
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| Posted 5/1/09 4:55 PM |
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ChrisDee
My Girls
Member since 11/06 9543 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
The 1st pulmonologist we saw diagnosed DD#1 with Asthma and put her on steriods and some other inhaler. After 2 months, the kid did not improve and I never actually believed she had asthma. Well... We switched Dr's and I was told that she in no way, shape or form had asthma. She had some other health issues that we did not know about that lead to her having chronic respitory issues. The second Dr. figured it out DD has some minor surgery and is FINE!!!! Get a second opinion if he is not getting better.
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| Posted 5/1/09 5:05 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
Posted by Blissful
Sounds like you need to call the pulmonologist....If you give him a treatment and he is still wheezing or starts wheezing soon after he needs steroids......
At this age RARELY will an attack resolve on its own when its this bad without steroids
If you give Josh a Neb treatment and after that treatment he is still wheezing and belly breathing he needs to go to the Dr. if its after hours I would take him to the ER and I'm a medic........
THe thing with kids and respiratory issues is that they can go a while with a problem but you get very little warning when they are about to spiral and can spiral down VERY VERY fast!!!
FM me if you have questions.
I hope he feels better soon and MANY hugs to you cause I know you are stressed beyond belief. Just know you are an AMAZING mamma and doing an AWESOME job!
thanks Maria!
the pulm never wants to see us, he's like the most busy guy in charlotte. I called his office on Tuesday and Wed, spoke with nurses who told me to keep doing treatments till my friday check up.
The pulm hates when I go to the ped with asthma issues...he hates when they try to put me on different meds. pulm seems to know what he's doing. before we went to him, we had 5 hospital visits in 3 months. Now we are 7 months, no hopsital...so he sees that as a huge sucess.
The boy I watch showed up monday with a respiratory infection, I knew that was going to be trouble for Josh. But Monday night, it hit. The last long episode was back in February, so we were doing well.
Josh's attacks come on quick. Last June, he woke from a nap. Belly was pumping, took him to ped. He was in distress and spent 5 days in hospital.
The ped will see me anytime, and I like going...mainly to get the saturated oxygen number...that's worth my 20.00 co-pay.
Pulm feels that unless josh is blue or belly looks like an alien is trying to rip out don't go to ER.
IT took everything in me not to go to ER this week.
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| Posted 5/1/09 5:40 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
Posted by ChrisDee
The 1st pulmonologist we saw diagnosed DD#1 with Asthma and put her on steriods and some other inhaler. After 2 months, the kid did not improve and I never actually believed she had asthma. Well... We switched Dr's and I was told that she in no way, shape or form had asthma. She had some other health issues that we did not know about that lead to her having chronic respitory issues. The second Dr. figured it out DD has some minor surgery and is FINE!!!! Get a second opinion if he is not getting better.
OMG...how interesting...
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| Posted 5/1/09 5:41 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
also...we are doing Josh's room this weekend...
carpet is pulled out, floors going down tomorrow.
no curtains, bought blinds.
building toyshelf in closet so there will be no clutter.
ordering mattress covers and pillows
ordered an infered light for AC duct that kills 99% of mold, mildew and dust...
do you guys use a humidifer? I got mixed reviews on the moisture. He can't handle the day after rain at all...but that's mainly due to the ozone. not sure if that matters.
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| Posted 5/1/09 5:49 PM |
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
Posted by Janice
also...we are doing Josh's room this weekend...
carpet is pulled out, floors going down tomorrow.
no curtains, bought blinds.
building toyshelf in closet so there will be no clutter.
ordering mattress covers and pillows
ordered an infered light for AC duct that kills 99% of mold, mildew and dust...
do you guys use a humidifer? I got mixed reviews on the moisture. He can't handle the day after rain at all...but that's mainly due to the ozone. not sure if that matters.
I just brought DD to the ped. because she has been sick. I go to a group practice and this was my first time seeing this particular doctor. I told him I would do the humidifier and vicks plug in and he actually doesn't recommend the humidifier because he feels it makes them sicker because the of mold spores. Now, I know they have the sanitizing one (which you probably have) and I didn't ask him about that one because I have one to. I just thought I would throw this info out to you.
I think overall, I would get a second opinion. I would be really turned off by the pulm and the fact that he doesn't want to see him.
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| Posted 5/1/09 6:23 PM |
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
Posted by Janice
also...we are doing Josh's room this weekend...
carpet is pulled out, floors going down tomorrow.
no curtains, bought blinds.
building toyshelf in closet so there will be no clutter.
ordering mattress covers and pillows
ordered an infered light for AC duct that kills 99% of mold, mildew and dust...
do you guys use a humidifer? I got mixed reviews on the moisture. He can't handle the day after rain at all...but that's mainly due to the ozone. not sure if that matters.
Ds has allergies not asthema but we use an air purifier... One that kills dust mites and mold. We also use AC only in the summer, and try not to open the windows. We also use sythetic bedding, an Elmo set from TRU.... Basically cheap feeling sheets, but they don"t hold the dust mites.
Hope he feels better soon! 
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| Posted 5/1/09 10:30 PM |
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Blissful
Ultimate Expression of LOVE
Member since 6/08 4985 total posts
Name:
Maria
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
Posted by Janice
[
the pulm never wants to see us, he's like the most busy guy in charlotte. I called his office on Tuesday and Wed, spoke with nurses who told me to keep doing treatments till my friday check up.
The pulm hates when I go to the ped with asthma issues...he hates when they try to put me on different meds. pulm seems to know what he's doing. before we went to him, we had 5 hospital visits in 3 months. Now we are 7 months, no hopsital...so he sees that as a huge sucess.
The boy I watch showed up monday with a respiratory infection, I knew that was going to be trouble for Josh. But Monday night, it hit. The last long episode was back in February, so we were doing well.
Josh's attacks come on quick. Last June, he woke from a nap. Belly was pumping, took him to ped. He was in distress and spent 5 days in hospital.
The ped will see me anytime, and I like going...mainly to get the saturated oxygen number...that's worth my 20.00 co-pay.
Pulm feels that unless josh is blue or belly looks like an alien is trying to rip out don't go to ER.
IT took everything in me not to go to ER this week.
Ughhhh.... First off is there ANY way of finding another pulmonologist? You need to be able to work VERY closely with him and you need to be able to bring JOsh in when he is sick.
When you say the Pulmonologist doesn't want to see you until he is blue and REALLY working his abdominal muscles is SCARY to me...... AS a medic if we had a kid not responding to neb treatments and breathing that heavy WITHOUT turning blue we would intubate (breathing tube) the kid RIGHT AWAY..... SO that is HORRENDOUS he said that.
SO here is an option for you to maybe help you out when Josh is Having an attack. I'm not sure if you are aware but you can get a pulse ox to have at home to measure his oxygen saturation. Saves you uneccessary trips to the ped, teh co-pay and can help you to decide when an ER trip is warranted. You can ask your ped for a prescription for one so that insurance will cover it but a lot of times they think it isn't necessary and won't write you a script. So basically you can do a google search for a pediatic Pulse-Oximeter and buy one from a medical supply store.
Here is one I found really quick
Click Here
Close friends of ours got one when they took their premature baby home on oxygen... made them feel a lot more comfortable.
Go BY YOUR INSTINCT.... If you aren't comfortable with how he is breathing take him in!! If the neb treatments aren't working take him in....
As for the humidifier.... If you do one you need one that has a hepa filter on it and minimizes mold. Mold is a HUGE problem with humidifider and also a HUGE flare up for asthmatics.......
Let me know if you have any more questions or if I can help in any other way! I hope Josh feels better soon!
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| Posted 5/1/09 10:33 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
wow!! thanks everyone!
great info. I think I am going to steer clear of humidifier for now.
Maria-that's EXACTLY what I need! I can't wait to show DH. It will take all the guess work out of this. So many hours this week spent on analyzing his belly, trying to copy his breathing...This is great.
The pulm. He's the best in Charlotte, but he is crazy busy. They all are down here. His nurses always take my calls...but they just don't have appts. He was recommended by ped, former ped and hospital ped. We had to be screened before he took us on.
The regular asthma attack, I deal it, well...I lose my cool and my mind, but once treatment is given, its done.
ITs these long ones that throw me for a loop. I knew he needed oral steriod and antibiotic, I called tues and wed for it. I guess I have to be more adament about it...and demand that one is called in for me.
going to the ped is a hard thing for me to do....its better that I take my chances and go straight to ER. Ped won't release Josh if he's bad...then they stick him in ambulence and I get hit with a 900.00 bill. If I go to ER, its only 400.00...instead of 1300.00.
So, the 100.00 for the oxygen test is a drop in the bucket. I am so glad I posted this.
The lowest I have ever seen his number was 85. That's when he was hospitalized. ER visits are usually 90-91. I would have loved to know what we were at this week.
thanks again!!!
(our windows are going to remain closed. Even the cost of AC out weighs medical bills. I am excited to have the AC light installed)
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| Posted 5/1/09 11:39 PM |
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MrsFlatbread
Skinny jeans are in my future
Member since 6/06 10258 total posts
Name:
Baby Momma
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
DS has been battling these issues since he was 8 weeks old. He sees a Pulmonologist and was told that at the first sign of a cough he should have the Nebulizer every four hours around the clock. He was able to completey get better the last time with just the Nebulizer...but now two weeks later...he's on the nebulizer again...since the pulmonologist is closed today I will take him to his regular doctor, otherwise I take him to the specialist. I would not hesitate to call the doctor...I did one time b/c my son "looked" fine but was coughing and he was rushed to have a chest xray b/c they thought he had Pneumonia.
Message edited 5/2/2009 7:18:52 AM.
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| Posted 5/2/09 7:17 AM |
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imagin916
LIF Adult
Member since 6/05 1826 total posts
Name:
Valerie
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Re: Asthma people...questions please...thanks!
Posted by Janice
I haven't slept since Sunday night. We are having a horrible week. Went to Pulmonologist this morning.
just want some opinions please, thanks!
1. If asthma is bad and you are giving a treatment every 4 hours...still coughing, wheezing, heavy breathing from stomach...when do you call dr? which dr do you call?
2. How long does it have to be "bad" for before you call dr for anti biotic or predinsone(sp)?
3. Does a bad episode(more then 2 days) ever just disappear without extra meds?
4. When do you go to ER?
thanks!!
I think anytime you think the child is in distress, you should get him to the ER. Children in resp distress take priority in the ER, so the wait should not be long. You know your child best, and what is normal for them, and what is getting worse. Intubation is only done as the worst case scenerio especially in children, and 99% of the time it can be avoided.
If you don't think it warrants a trip to the ER, I would bring a child who is still coughing to the doctor at least for an initial visit, to make sure its not pneumonia or that they don't need to be admitted. You can go to the reg ped or pulmonologist. The pulmo is probably better, but if you can't get in than go to the ped so at least your DC is seen.
The other thing I have to ask is, do you know the difference between the sound of asthma and croup? I am not asking at all in a sarcastic manner or to imply that you personally don't know, but its common for a parent who hasn't had experience with croup to think its asthma. Just because a child has a history of asthma, doesnt mean they can't have an episode of croup either.
The outward appearance is simillar, and its possible if you never heard croup you would think it was asthma. Its a very common thing that parents bring thier children into the ER for.
With croup, they usually wake up in the middle of the night coughing, they seem like they are wheezing but its not in the lungs, its in the throat. Without listening to the lungs, its hard to tell the difference. They have a "barking seal like" cough and have a fever. It has a rapid onset like asthma does, and they appear in distress. Its usually seen in toddlers, but I have seen children as old as 10 with this.
In the case of croup, an asthma nebulizer won't help them, and is caused by a virus so antibiotics wont help. What they do need is special nebs (or in mild cases just a saline neb) given in the ER, steriods and tylenol/motrin to control the fever.
I hope DC is feeling better, and I hope this helps a bit!
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| Posted 5/2/09 4:26 PM |
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