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Asthma ?

post #1 of 13
5/10/06 at 12:29pm
Thread Starter 
Aidan was in the NICU with pneamonia when he was born, within 2 months - he had RSV and brochilitis. He has had ear infections and chronic coughs... etc.

Last week at 6 1/2 months, he started a bad cough, and was wheezing so badly we could hear him in his crib when we were in another room (without a monitor). I brought him to the dr a couple of times. Then -

Saturday morning when we went back, his dr suspected Ashthma and was pretty convinced it was the case. He said his wheezing was so bad he couldn't hear if there was anything else going on. So he put him on albuterol liquid, and amoxicylln (to treat him for an infection just in case)

Tuesday He had his f/u woth his dr. The wheezing was gone, and this time he could hear bronchitis. He told me to continue with the antibiotic, and stop the albuterol. He let me know if his wheezing comes back, then it IS asthma and he would need a nebulizer and to see a specialist.

Wednesday When I brought Aidan to daycare this morning, the teacher could hear Aidan wheezing again- when I went to check, I could hear it too. Not nearly as bad is it was last week - but it could be getting there. I called his dr to let them know he is wheezing again, he said just continue to give him the albuterol. Should I see a specialst? No. Do you need to se ehim for a nebulizer?? No.

I often feel that I get different answers depending on the day. I am thinking of scheduling an appt with a specialist anyway and go above his dr... but wanted to see if I am overreactting..

Does his guidance seem ok???
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post #2 of 13
5/12/06 at 1:34pm
Thread Starter 
Back to the dr this morning.. and the official diagnosis is asthma ... he is now on an inhaler every 4-6 hours and for coughing/wheezing.

I attempted to give it to him this morning with the spacer and I dont know how to get this thing on him without him batting it away... I guess it takes practice... we see the specialist on June 13
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post #3 of 13
5/12/06 at 2:03pm
How the heck do you give a baby an inhaler???

I have asthma and it hasn't bothered me in years. Probably since b/f I was married. But I am vigilent about going to the doctors if I eventhink somehting is starting (like yesterday with teh coughing and bronchitus). I also stay away from triggers like dogs, cats, dust, etc. AND I take singulair everydaya nd zyrtec to keep my allergies in check which makes the asthma act up.

What I'm thinking is it might be bronchitus related with Aiden. I often get "asthmatic bronchitus" which is exactly what you described. Clear up the bronchitus and the asthma clears up. The asthma is triggered from the upper respritory infection. I think the specialist is a good idea.
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post #4 of 13
5/12/06 at 2:12pm
Sorry I didn't see this earlier. I can't imagine trying to give a baby an inhaler. Kinda like nailing jello to a tree.... KWIM? I would think they would get you a home nebulizer.

As for the specialist, absolutely. If you don't need a referral, I'd just skate right in there and make an appt. But that's me.... and I see you have an appt. now that your ped thinks it's asthma. I would have done it anyway. Keep on that primary ped if you need anything before you get to see the specialist.

Good luck and keep us posted, K?

Singulair.... good stuff from what I've heard!
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post #5 of 13
5/12/06 at 2:15pm
Thread Starter 
Yes thats exactly what the dr said... he said it could be Bronchial Ashtma that comes only when he is sick... but we will only know that if he starts to have a problem when he is NOT sick. I am hoping this is the case. I want to the specialist to check him for allergies too, since we have 2 cats (and I am allergic to them) not sure if they are affecting him ... also with all of the renovations in our house I am sure this dust doesnt help much ...

The inhaler is the regular inhaler, its hooked up to a spacer, and has a mask that goes over his nose and mouth like a breathing treatment. He needs to get 2 puffs, and he needs to breathe at least 6 breathes of each puff, so its gard to keep it on him...
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post #6 of 13
5/12/06 at 2:20pm
You wonder what the heck the Docs are thinking sometimes with these meds. I'm glad my Ped and the Ped GI are elixer men! At Ryan's appt. last week DH and I talked to another couple with a little girl that has similar issues as to what Lauren had, so we were comparing notes. Their ped gave them some dippy med they had to give that was supposed to dissolve in her mouth. At least they were smart enough to pre-dissolve it water and use a med syringe to give it to her. What a STUPID MD.
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post #7 of 13
5/12/06 at 8:10pm
Dee, that sounds near impossible. I couldn't imagine trying to get either of mine to use an inhaler like that. A friend of ours boy had asthma and he had a nebulizer at home and used it with no problems once he got used to it. He'd sit in his high chair and take his treatment.
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post #8 of 13
5/12/06 at 8:37pm
Dina you are repeating what happened to Logan. No NICU but RSV at 4 moths followed by a good 2 years of asthma. When he got sick. No other triggers then a good old fashioned cold. The RSV damages the linings in thier lungs, sinuses, ears ect. The good thing is they do out grow it. Ask for a nebulizer. I need to get Logan switched to an inhaler now with kindy looming in the fall. But inhalers are just not infant friendly. Get right into the specialist. They always knew how to bring Logan under control faster then anyone. Our hosp wpu;d call them and get orders so we didnt have to drive the hour to the hosp they were affliated with. And pay very close attention to his triggers and what helps. I took Logan into the ER one time and told the DR what he needed. The Dr refused. Logan got worse during the night and we ended up taking him to his ped in the am and being admited to the hosp from thier immediatly. If you need any advice or to bounce ideas off of someone let me know!! I have become the quite the pro at RSV related asthma.
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post #9 of 13
5/12/06 at 10:31pm
You know how I feel and what I think about this already.
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post #10 of 13
5/15/06 at 11:14am
Thread Starter 
Thanks guys.... Aidan is now GREAT with his inhaler, sits and smiles... the problem now is it isnt helping... it helps for about 30 minutes and he needs it again, and they said try not to give more than once every 4-6 hours ... so I am bvringing him back in. Me and Scott think it has to be something more ... maybe he has pneamonia again??? His cough is still horrible, he now wont really sleep - he wont drink (but will eat solids?) ... his face is a mess from the excema, he is a mess. I am bringing him AGAIN today... we almost went to the ER last night- but he finally calmed down...
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post #11 of 13
5/15/06 at 11:21am
Yep... I'd be taking him back to the MD. If this one still doesn't do a whole lot, I'd opt for a 2nd opinion.
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post #12 of 13
5/15/06 at 11:25am
Gosh first of all we are going through the same cough stuff and will be at the Dr's office for the 3rd time in less than a month. Will was diagnosed with asthma at 18 months. They would never give him the puffer with a spacer because they say at that age they don't take deep enough breaths to throughly get the meds. I LOVE MY nebulizer we have the puffer but I still give breathing treatments by machine Will had 3 puffer treatments and 2 machine treatments yesterday. Will and Aidan sound exactly the same right now. Will's DR on the phone this am seemed to think it was Asthmatic Bronchitis. The scariest thing is when your child walks up to you and cannot talk and is turning blue that happened to us yesterday. If you need me just let me know.
Just so you know wills meds since diagnosed are singulair, zyrtec, pulmicort, and albuterol. The last two we only take when he is having problems.
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post #13 of 13
5/15/06 at 11:34am
Do they have him on a steroid? oral would be pedia pred and inhaled would be pulmicourt. Logan would get bad enough he needed injections of steroids The albuterol is a quick acting but to really clear up the problem he needs a teroid.
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