Both DS1 (6) and DS2 (nearly 4) have asthma. DS2 was diagnosed at 13 months, he has had four doses of steroids so far this year. He was on ventolin from 13 months, fairly regularly. Fortunately the doctors and I have been able to identify what sets off his asthma (illness, certain pollens, hayfever etc). He is fairly easy to manage now that we have identified what the general causes are. He was a full termer, but has had 4 bouts of croup in his little life! He doesn't have an audible wheeze when he has asthma.
DS1 gets asthma associated with chest infections and bronchiolitis - he was also 6w prem, had pneumonia at 8 months and was hospitalised. He regularly gets bronchiolitis, and has an audible wheeze associated with asthma.
So each child is different - I'm also an asthmatic, so know how to administer the medication and what to look out for.
Now just to convince XH that he should abide by the doctor's recommendations and give ventolin when the doctor prescribes it - not just when XH thinks he might need it... Why would you follow a doctor's orders when you used to be a nurse??!?!?!?
Thankyou all for your posts and answering my questions.
BR, we were thinking that teething could have had something to do with it as when she had croup each bout was followed by her first and second teeth, but it wasnt to be with the bronchiolitis, so we aren't sure if there is a connectin there or not, and I can't feel anymore teeth coming at all - DD has four two top and bottom centrally.
DD we are getting breaks from the wheezing with the ventolin and I have noticed that the coughing has reduced since we started the ventolin. I am not sure how much of an impact we are to expect from it, whether it is supposed to be instantaneously or not. We are noticing that when she is due for another does, that the coughing and the wheezing increases quite significantly.
How did you go yesterday, are they going to do a sleep study? I would be interested in see what happens 02 wise overnight with DD, to see what happens when she does have these coughing fits, she had a couple overnight, but we didn't administer the Ventolin as she did eventually recover by herself and it didn't wake her up completely, so wasn't hugely distressed.
I am hoping that it helps get rid fo this nasty sounding cough, every doctor that has heard it recently has gone, "oh that doesn't sound good" I think they have been expecting it to be somthing viral or bacterial but the look of suprise on their faces when they listen to her lungs has shown that it wasn't a typical infection, but none were forthcoming with trying to resolve it until this week.
Thankyou Divvy, how did DS2 cope with the steroids, DD has had them twice and she got extremely hungry and was quite clingy - but she also had Croup at the time so I am not sure whther the clingyness was just related to that or the steroids as well.
Each child is sooo different as well, it is not suprising that the Dr's all have different views on what may or may not be asthma. I have had exercise induced asthma, but havn't had problems with it for quite a while now, mostly as I tended to focus more on weight training than lots of running
We have noticed that when we are playing with DD, and she is moving a lot, laughing a lot, she starts to struggle with her breathing and her wheezing is becoming more pronounced, so I am wondering whether this is an indicator as well...
Thankyou all once again will keep you updated on how we go
xxoo
My DD1 had 6 chest infections in about 4 months & they triggered her asthma. I took her in for yet another dose of abs, but they timed her breathing & put her on ventolin instead. She was closer to 2.
Its a scary thing to go through. I hope it has a positive out come for you.
My sister was quite young when she was started on ventolin. Only a few months old. She was full of mucous & mum actually slept her on her belly as she would've drowned in her own fluids. She used to have the nebuliser at least 4 times a day.
If it helps her, hopefully she can have a preventative to have twice a day, instead of the constant ventolin. Good luck
Well we went to the Dr's this afternoon and as a result of our test and his review we have a diagnosis, Small Airways Disease, it has been really difficult trying to find a decent description on Google, as a majority of the references are to severe cases (Cystic fibrosis, or as a result of smoking), but she fits more in the category of Chronic neonatal lung disease, which in most cases relating to preterm birth requires the use of low flow supplemental oxygen facilitates, and home oxygen.
She had improved enough to not require 02 at present which is a huge relief, she still has the wheeze and cough, but the rattle in her lungs had improved. She will have the wheeze and cough for sometime, he is hopeful that by the age of about 6 she will have grown out of the disease. During the interim any little cold or sniffle will make it worse, "goes straight to her lungs", which is why she has been hit so badly, as what may be minor for other bubs quickly turns into Croup or Bronchiolitis for DD.
So the plan is... When she starts to develop a respiratory type infection, like each time she has developed croup or the bronchiolitis we are to administer 3 courses of Predmix, they usually appear in the evening so that night, the following morning and the morning after that. If she doesn't show improvement ie. becomes distressed, is drawing in her ribs, struggling to breath straight to the Drs of Hosy depending on the time of day/severity, and they will then have to administer 02.
So I am glad we know what we are dealing with and what the plan is, we are to keep the ventolin as that may be of assistance down the track a bit, when she will be reassessed for asthma, but as the ventolin had a minimal effect, it is too early for a diagnosis now.
Thankyou for all of your messages and information
xxoo
I am glad to hear that you are getting closer to finding out the cause. At least the cold weather will be over soon so hopefully she won't get so sick. I hate this time of year with DD1 she gets so sick, I upset some friends last year as they kept bringing over their girls when they were sick and couldn't understand when I finally went nuts. Our Dr had advised us to stay away from kids with snotty noses, being a prem and with her weezing we wanted to try and avoid any colds or viruses becasue like you know it makes it worse. She is the kind of mum who knows everything and figured it would be good for DD to build up her immune system grrr!!!
My 19 month old has had a bout of croup, and broncholitis for the 2nd time. Last night we saw the doc and he said poor DS is starting to get asthma, so they put him on the ventilator machine. I was told to buy a ventilator and spacer.
My hubby wants to get a 2nd opinion re the asthma. I can hear his chest is like 'noisy'. I have no idea if and when he would be having an asthma attack. Tho' hubby is asthmatic and he is telling me the more I use the Ventolin spray, the more prone he will be to it.
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