asthma

Kerry - posted on 12/24/2008

Thanks for everyones replies we seem to have things under control at the moment. He is currently on 2 puffs Seretide and Ventolin when needed. Hope everyone has a great Christmas.

Tchertut - posted on 12/21/2008

I have asthma myself, this time of year is hard for me because of the cold dry air. I do not approve of steroids I take a more natural approach. I use a humidifier in my bedroom with Vicks drops...I don't eat any dairy, soy, wheat or meats this time of year...they all are mucous forming foods. I use rice milk rice products instead. I also do inhalation therapy once every other week or as needed. I put a large pot of hot water in a tent (you can use a chair and blanket) I put camphor crystals, rosemary, peppermint and eucalyptus herbs in the water and breathe deeply for 20 minutes or so...it's lovely. It has worked for years.

Deanna - posted on 12/21/2008

My 8 yr old used to be on steroids a lot too but now it seems like it's a little more under control with her Flovent inhaler, Zyrtec and Singulair. I've noticed a big difference since I put her back on the Singulair.

Sherri - posted on 12/21/2008

Yes catching the cold at the first sign is a big help in how bad the asthma is going to get we try to catch it real soon too.

Sherri - posted on 12/21/2008

Yes Rachael he has been tested for allergies, he may allergies are everything that grows outside and the colds and flus of course. My son does use the nebulizer when he is really filled up and can't do the puffers we have that medicine always here in the house too. My son uses sympicort 200 twice a day and two puffs each time except with a cold then it is 3 puffs morning and night, also on singuliar chewable at bedtime, previcid for acid reflux that the pediatrician put him on and Bricanyl for his quick reliever. He has also did the pediapred when really filled up bad, when he goes on that they keep him on for a week as he is a severe asthmatic and his flare ups are very hard to control. As I am sure by reading your posts you know that. It sure can keep us on our toes by times but he is doing much better in the last year since the pediatrician has got involved in it. Thanks for replying back. Take care and chat again soon.

Malia - posted on 12/21/2008

Has he tried doing a nebulizer instead of the inhaler? My kids had better luck with a nebulizer for getting the meds in, but still, we seem to be on Advair when a bad bug hits us.

Rachel - posted on 12/20/2008

I also wanted to add that with my experience with our son, if we stayed ahead of the cold with the inhalers then there seemed to be less of a need to use the steroid by mouth (which I hated to use as well because of him gaining weight), such as Prednisone, because the cold never seemed to make him wheeze when he was properly medicated. He had pneumonia three times when he was a little over 1, so he was on plenty of steroid by mouth in his first couple of years and we dealt with plenty of wheezing and crackles in his lungs. I actually haven't heard him "wheeze" since he was probably about 2 years old and I attribute that to a good medication plan and working closely with his allergist, asthma educator and pediatrician. I also agree that allergies play a big part in asthma as well and you didn't mention in your post if he had allergies or not, but if never tested for allergies/triggers, that may be something you might think about as well.

Sherri - posted on 12/20/2008

I totally agree with Rachel Gerke post. I have an 8 year old with severe asthma and the steriods sure do help him thru the colds, and the quick reliever before going out in the cold air. My son has had asthma since he was 23 months old. The asthma clinic/educator are a God send. What a difference it made going there and to the allergist also for my son. At least now I can say we know what his triggers are. We will be starting the shots in mid January to see if they help him even more then the puffers as he has so many allergies. Good luck, I also feel it is probably not the inhalers that are putting weight on your son but remember it is just my opinion I do not know you or him from adam.

Rachel - posted on 12/20/2008

My son is 5 and he has been diagnosed asthmatic since around 1 1/2 years old, so through much tweaking of his meds, we have landed on a pretty good plan that keeps his asthma pretty much under control. He is on Flovent 110 twice a day (can bump it up to 2 puffs twice a day with colds), Singulair chewable tablet at night and Albuterol inhaler as needed and we use the Albuterol nebulizer up to 4 times a day when he has a cough. We up his Flovent to two puffs twice a day at the first signs of a cold because that helps to cut down on the amount of congestion/mucous that gets into his chest/lungs. Then we start Abuterol nebulizers at the first signs of cough. We also live in Wisconsin where it is very cold this time of year, so if he is going to be playing outside and he isn't already on the Albuterol nebulizers from having a cold, we give him a couple puffs off his Albuterol inhaler before he goes out as well just for preventative and I have him keep a scarf over his face while outside. You may want to ask a professional, but I don't think your son shouldn't gain weight from the the inhalers, being Flovent or Albuterol, because those are just inhaled into the lungs, not going directly into the bloodstream like what happens when he takes steroids by mouth (such as Prednisone). My thought on this is if you stay ahead of the cold and start giving the inhalers/nebulizers right away at the first signs of the cold, it seems to really cut how much the cold goes to the chest. This doesn't mean that it keeps the cold away, it just means that it can help to reduce the severity of the cold on your childs asthma. Also, when my son has sinus issues, so we do sinus flushes on him with colds and that seems to really help with the amount of congestion that is in his head or that goes to his chest. I don't know if you have a Asthma Coordinator/Educator at your hospital, but I truly believe that they are the best source of information for parents like us that have children with asthma. Hope this info helps! Good luck to you.

Michelle - posted on 12/20/2008

My 11 yr old had the same problem, for years...until I asked the Dr about allergy shots/testing. She had this problem every year since she was just under 4yrs old, yet the Dr never suggested she get tested. With my request, she was referred to an allergist. The allergist confirmed that she could have been sent over much younger, which is why I suggest this to you. She has been under treatment for 6months, and this is the first year in 7 that she has not had an asthma attack (knock on wood) and no steroids.

Shawna - posted on 12/20/2008

My two year old son also has asthma as well!! He is on flovent twice a day until at least March!!! He seem fine with it too!! The three of have gotten colds before him!!! It seems to be doing something!!!

Kristyn - posted on 12/20/2008

Hi Kerry,



My daughter also has asthma. We use to have a hard time during the winter months, but after speaking with my Asthma Educator we put her on a plan.

She is on Singulair daily, before bed, and her Flovent twice a day, of course we use her Ventolin if needed, but the Singulair works wonderfully.