Asthma

Rachel - posted on 12/05/2008

Hi Christine~

My son just turned 5 and he is was diagnosed with asthma when he was 1. He also suffers from reflux, allergies and sinus issues. What works for his asthma is Flovent 110 inhaler (1 puff twice daily) and Singulair 4 mg chewable tablet daily and Albuterol inhaler as needed and we also have an Albuterol nebulizer as needed if I should feel the need to give it when he is sleeping. We have never had a problem with the Singulair, but that is just our experience. I have heard people talk about their children being more moody or aggressive on it, but our son is actually pretty laid back on it. I think if anything affects him more, it is the Albuterol. It just kind of makes him more hyper after we give it to him. Overall, we work very closely with his pediatrician, asthma specialist and asthma coordinator (teacher) at his hospital to make sure that he is on the perfect medication program for him. They send home a paper that gives me a guideline to go by that tells me when he needs me to up his medication to more Flovent (I can go up to 2 puffs twice daily when he has a cold) and when to give him Albuterol nebs and when to call the doctor. They were actually able to have him blow on that machine to test his lung function and get a baseline when he was 4, so if they do that it might be something to check into at your hospital. I go back to see the asthma coordinator every six months to stay on top of the asthma because his lungs are constantly growing and they add or take away medication as needed. It just sounds like they do not have your daughter's medication under control and a asthma doctor is usually best suited to help you if they have one at your hospital. Also, our asthma specialist said if it was going to be below like 40° outside, we were to give him a puff of his Albuterol before he went outside to play, so that may do your daughter some good before she heads out to school in the morning. I am also working with my son's school to make sure he has the proper medications at school if he should need it. Asthma is a uphill battle always. Just be an advocate for your daughter since she is too little to speak for herself. The best thing, though, for you to do is make sure you have the proper doctor for her and get the proper medication that she needs and it will make your life and hers much easier to live with the asthma. Good luck to you and your daughter! I would love to know how it turns out for you.

Carolyn - posted on 12/03/2008

This is the site that I found with the info on singulair, the new warning is right in the FDA website as well. http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.as... g=20829&name=SINGULAIR.

My son was on it for 2.5 years and his moods and aggression have just been getting worse, so it isn't necessarily true for all kids that it will stabilize over time. Definately find a pediatrician who specializes in asthma though, that is what I am trying to do right now!

Rhonda - posted on 12/03/2008

My 3-year old son and I both have asthma. The best thing for him was to be on a daily preventative medication called Pulmicort Respules. You use it with a nebulizer. He was on it once a day because it seemed like every time he got even remotely sick, it went right to his lungs and he couldn't breathe. This helped him tremendously. Our pediatrician said that when you use a nebulizer, it helps to get more of the medication to their lungs. I noticed a huge difference when using that from when he was just on an inhaler. He also had the albuterol to use with it too when we needed something quick when he first went on his preventative meds. (in liquid form) and it worked great. I highly suggest it.

Christine - posted on 12/03/2008

im lucky it does not cost me for medication or dr visits its free as she under 16 and in uk but i will take on all this advice !:-)

Henriette - posted on 12/03/2008

hi! i understand your frustration- you need to know about reliv-- nourishment for the body-- at any age--- let me know if you want more info about it-- it will help your daughter for much less than all the meds and dr visits.... i urge you to get more info! my kids have no "problems" and have never been sick... many blessings!

Christine - posted on 12/03/2008

thank ypu all so much for your surggestions it nice to know im not being an other protective mother like i get told by my gp!! xx

Dawn - posted on 12/03/2008

ask your doc to send her to a pedatrition at the hospital my boy was like your little girl and we went to or hospital and they changed his tablets and inhaler and he is alot better they all so did allagie tests to find out what set a attack off doc do not like to give kids strounger meds so thats why you are best to go to the hospital my boy is alot better he still has bad days but it is more under control hope you get it sorted soon

Shelley - posted on 12/03/2008

see if your GP will send you to a specialist someone that knows more about asthma and how to control it better.

Neia - posted on 12/03/2008

There is something called Honey Capus, it's a bees wax that they chew on and then sit out once the flavor is gone, it worked for my brother who had very bad asthma.

Bonnie - posted on 12/03/2008

i read the post about the moods. that is a definate side effect but as the medication adjusts in your body so do the moods cause the frist while i was ready to pull my hair out it made her into a mini tazmanian devil but as she adjusted that went away

Dawn - posted on 12/02/2008

There is a company called Allergan (not sure if this is the right spelling). It sells products that keep dust, mites, etc. from being inhaled at night. I have bought the pillow cases and mattress covers. I think it's good to reduce the risk of irritation which brings on asthma symtoms.

Dawn - posted on 12/02/2008

I have asthma. I had an attack that nearly cost me my life 2.5 years ago. A GP, in my opinion, isn't the best person to access her. I go to a specialist in Beverly Hills. Since seeing him 1.5 years ago, I haven't had ANY problems. Besides adjusting my meds, he has educated me on what to do if an attack were to happen. You need to take your little one to an internist who specializes in this field who can better access her lung function. It may be as simple as an allergy or a dirty air filter. I sleep with a cool mist humidifier every night. It keeps my air passages calm and makes me less likely to get sick. Also, consider getting a flu vaccination. My oldest daughter seems to be showing early signs. Our pediatrician has her on Singular from October-March. There is a chance she will outgrow it.

Feel free to e-mail me anytime. I would be happy to share what I've learned from my experience, my doctor, and my daughter.

Christine - posted on 12/02/2008

omg thanks for the warning where can i find this out on line? is the a wed address ? my daughter has been a lot more aggressive since taking it and tantrems too

Carolyn - posted on 12/02/2008

be very careful with singulair some kids can tolerate it just fine but it can cause some pretty severe mood and behaviour changes in some kids. The FDA just recently had the manufacturer include this warning on the literature.

Bonnie - posted on 12/02/2008

we raised my daughter's to 5 mg and it made a noticible difference good luck

Christine - posted on 12/02/2008

thanks you for all your surrgestions x

Christine - posted on 12/02/2008

i never knew you can get stronger dose i will have to see my gp again shes been on it about 12 weeks now and is on 4MG at night

Bonnie - posted on 12/02/2008

yes that singular is the same, it actully takes 4-6 weeks when from when they first start taking it to fully work, i ended up having to put my daughter on a higher dosage of this, and in combination with her inhalers, she can now run around and tolerate the air changes

Christine - posted on 12/02/2008

handicap sticker ? i dont think think we have these in uk plus i dont drive i live about 10 min walk from school! at the moment i had to resort back to a stroller but she dont like this she likes to walk but it frustration of the coughing and whezzing school are fantastic and try to help as much as they can!

Christine - posted on 12/02/2008

bonnie she does take something called singulair paediatic (montelukast) is this the same ?? im from uk so i think some medication names are diffrent ?

Deanna - posted on 12/02/2008

My son is one and has immature lungs and also has a difficult time breathing outside during the winter. He has started on Pulmicort once a day and Xopenex when wheezing. I'm not excited about all of the drugs, but also know how damaging a bad illness could be to his weak lungs. I try and cover him with a blanket when we're running from the parking lot to doctors appointments. If she cannot qualify for a temporary handicap sticker perhaps you can arrange something with the school to park a little closer for drop off and pick up?

Bonnie - posted on 12/02/2008

i had the same problem when my daughter was in jk, ask ur dr if it's ok to give her inhalers, 10 min before walking in cold, and look into a perscription for singular, thoses two things made a world of difference

Christine - posted on 12/02/2008

my daughter was born at 30 wks and was on a ventilater and in a oxegen tank so thats where they think the asthma has come from as i had to have steriod injections to protact her lungs! i just wished i could help more she gets so scared when she has an attack i feel help less ive also just found out she can get a flu vaccination for free i never knew this till this year which she is having next week! also she has had the phomonia vaccine aswell

Christine - posted on 12/02/2008

she wont wear a scaf over mouth and nose i have tried this! she takes salbutamol which is a blue inhaler and a brown inhaler which i cant remember name and she also takes a chewabel pill on a night to stop the allergic reactions on her lungs and inflamation which she has to take an hour before food .

Nicole - posted on 12/02/2008

TRy wearing a scarf around her mouth and nose so the air temp change is not so acute. Also does she take seravent? which takes 90min to work(a good preventative) or if it is just albuteral try giving it 20 before going out. The scarf should do it and remind her to take slow breaths thru her nose and out thru her mouth. Good luck!!