3 Yr/old with Asthma, Just Getting Worse

I'm sorry to see people trying to capitalize on your frustrations with information from unreliable sources like Google!
I'm sure your physician has gone over the MOST LIKELY things to be contributing/worsening asthma attacks...pets, dust, pollen, mold, etc. And I'm sure he/she has covered ways to decrease those allergens...keeping bedding clean, keeping pets outdoors/no pets/keeping them out of the bedroom. If these things haven't been covered, make sure they are! If you are concerned about your doctor's ability to care for your child, the doctor needs to take time to explain things to you. Go to the next visit with a list of your questions, and don't leave until they have all been answered--you are paying for the visit, you might as well get what you pay for, or hire another doctor. Another good idea is to talk to your pharmacist about the medications and your concerns.

Hi S.:

I just wanted to respond quickly and tell you it is imperative to get those household chemicals out of your house right away, i.e., clorox, 409, Lysol, Comet, etc... These products have been linked to severe respiratory problems.
I would absolutely love to share with you a company that I have shopped with for a year now, (Melaleuca the Wellness Company). All their products are environmentally safe AND are comparative in prices to Walmart. I have three children, all used to have respiratory problems all the time. We were in the doctor's office at least three times a year. I started buying these products a year ago and haven't been to the doctor with ANY of them for a year!!!! I am so blessed to have found this company and thank God everyday for it!
We are all referred by other customers so if you have any questions, I'll be glad to get you more information.
Their website is: www.melaleuca.com go to the "product store" all the prices we pay as customers are by the PC-preferred customer.

God bless you!!!

T.

I do not have personal experience with asthma, but know a couple people who do. Their children had similar amount of meds and attacks as your son.
I know this sounds out in left field but you need to immediately remove all household cleaners, laundry care, body care products that you are using, unless they are natural based already. Formaldehyde (which is used in most cleaners and body care products) is the number one indoor allergen and causes asthma attacks. Most of the time you will see it as Quaternium 15 or Q 15 on the ingredient list. It is also found in new carpet and furniture etc.
Your son probably has a chemical sensitivity to formaldehyde as well as other chemicals used in cleaning/body care products.

You can buy alternatives that work just as well from the health food store or off the internet. I shop with Melaleuca, they do not use any formaldehyde or toxic chemicals in their products, and you can buy their products directly from them without having to go thru a distributor.

I guarantee if you convert your household to non-toxic products you will see a dramatic result in your son, as my friends did in their children!

I have some articles and studies that back up the information from above if you want to read them, or you can just search the EPA website or google search it and come up with alot of great info.

I know it must be awful to watch your son suffer so much!

Let me know if you want more information about Melaleuca. I've been shopping with them for almost a year and a half. I love their stuff!

S.,
My thought is, if it's getting worse make sure that there is no mold anywhere!!!!! bathroom, bedroom, Landry room, ect. Mold can really be bad more so with asthma. Also make sure no one is smoking around him. If he is somewhere where there is smoking make sure he knows that he can go outside or somewhere safe for him to breath. I’m sure you are doing these anyway. But that is the first thing that pops up for me.
Also like someone else suggested talk to your Dr. and ask these questions. Why does he need to be on so many meds. Are there breathing exercises that he can be doing?
It's hard and to watch, and to think we take breathing for granted it's sad. I know. I'm glad you were able to vent and I hope someone has given you something to help you even if its just hope. Or some insight as to what to expect. You sound like a good mother and are doing the best you can with your hands tied. My thoughts are with you.
J.

Two things that have worked for me in the past 2 months are the Health and Prevention clinic on Hickman www.preventioniowa.com and yesterday I went to an acupuntuist for the FIRST time ever. I have had scarlet fever for 12 days and the itching from the rash was unbareable (already went to my MD twice) so someone recommended I go to Iowa Acupuncture. I woke up this morning and the rash is GONE!!!! I read in their brochure they also do asthma. (and infertility?!)

Both of my boy's have asthma. My oldest is 9 1/2 and my youngest son is 2 1/2. My oldest has suffered with asthma his whole life.

What kind of preventative med's does your son take? Do you have pet's? (I'm sure your Dr has asked you that) I learned with my oldest that it takes some trial and error to find the right fit as far as medicines go. When he was small he took zyrtec for his allergies and asthma. He is now taking singulair with his albuterol inhaler. This seems to be working well for him.

2-6 episodes a day is not good. I would take him to another Dr. just to see if they could offer any other advice. Has he seen a pediatric allergy Dr. yet?

I hope you find the right combo with his meds! Bless his little heart.

You will find what works best eventually. But I would certainly get a second opinion...

Hi S., I have a 4 year old son with mild asthma but his main problem is an immune disorder. When he was younger, before we knew of his immune problems, we saw a group of pulmonologists in Omaha. Dr Columbo did a bronchoscopy and some other tests.. sweat test for CF and so on. We then saw Dr Judy, who has since moved out of state, from the same practice. I believe they are out of Children's hospital. We were always very happy with them. We still see Allergy and Asthma here in Lincoln and Immunology in Omaha and are pleased with them as well, but like you said.. my son takes so much medicine in a day that it is unreal as well. Neb machines and inhalers, antihisamines and decongestants.. we just added singulair, sometimes I wonder how any of it is effective and not working agaist eachother.

Best of luck to you and your son.
A.

I agree with the chemicals. Also, one thing that has gotten off breathing treatments is regular chiropractic care. We go to an amazing lady who specializes in children's chiropractic care. Couldn't hurt to try? It worked for us.

i would go to the specialist. My dad has been oxegen full time for almost three years, due to asthma. Now, when he found out he had cancer on one of his kidneys the doc sent him to a specialist. He treated my dad with a special antibiotic and dad is now off the Oxegen during the day. He no longer needs the advair and no longer takes the prednisone. He was told it was just a deep seated infection. Dad does still need it for night because of sleep apnea.
Try that and see what happens. Good Luck!!!!

Hi Sara! I actually have lived with asthma since I was I think around 1 or 2 years of age! I also have a 1 year old who has it along with Cystic Fibrosis! We have a specialist that we see for both. He is in Omaha and his name is Dr. John Colombo. He is one of the top pulmonologists in the state and I even think in the country. As for your son being on 8 medications, I do think that is very excessive. As I said I suffer from asthma and now that I am older I do a lot better, but when I was 3 I had a extremely hard time with it and I was never on that much medication for it. I know for me after I was put on the combination of singulair and advair I hardly ever have any problems with it. My son is on albuterol and pulmicort respules twice a day and that is it. I would maybe see about going to another doctor, a specialist perhaps, and get another opinion.

My oldest son has really bad allergies and my youngest son has skin problems. I started using natural, non toxic products from Melaleuca nad have noticed a huge difference in how my kids health is, Brayden is not nearly as sick as he once was. I use the laundry soap and noticed that he doesn't sneeze or itch. I use the bodywash for kids on Bryce and he doesn't get irrated skin anymore and I use the renew lotin and their skin is really soft. I don't have to buy the prescription kind that cost alot anymore. So I have been very happy with their products, they have cleaning products that are great but don't stink up the house and give me a headache when I clean. I know that the products are approved by posion control. So if you want safer and natural products for your family let me know and I'll help you set up your account. ###-###-#### S. Sattler
Also I was told that Tide laundry soap has fiberglass in it, I just heard it so don't know how true it is but you should try these products and see if you see a difference.

Dear S.

I would sugest that you take him to a specialist that is in that field.Regular doctors do not know how to trat asthma.I went thure that with mine.I finally took him to a specialist.I finally got the right treatment and now he is fine.There are so many treatments out there , but not all of them work.Diffrent medications has diffrent reactions.It can also be a factor where you live ,on what type of medication they put him on.I hope this helps.

I know exactly what your going thru. My son was diagnosed w/ asthma when he was 1 1/2, 2 yrs. old. He was on a butt load of meds (neb, inhaler, liquid med, tablet med.) Thankfully he's not doing too bad right now. It's under control now. I'd talk to your childs doctor & see about putting your child on singular (sp?). Who's your doctor?? My son is now 7 yrs. old.

I have a son that will be 6 this friday... and he has lived with asthma since he was born... was inherited from us. He ws constantly at the Dr. office and hospital... with asthma attacks...when our son was about 4 years old... he was having attacks very frequently... 3-4 a day... he was on Singulair, Zyrtec, and also Xopenex, Atrovent and Pulmacort. They didnt seem to be helping and we were at wits end... not sure what was going on... his asthma and allergy specialist reccommended ax x-ray and ct of his head... come to find out he was having so much trouble breathing because his adenoids we grossly enlarged... they had swollen so bad and were causing him to have trouble breathing because they were starting to block off his airway... we were then refered to an awesome ENT dr. who had us in his office one day and surgery the next.. when he came out to tell us that the suregery went great.. he also told us good thing we caught it when we did... they were the largest he has ever taken out in a child and adult... just a suggestion... have a ENT look into this option... it just might do the trick

Get the CHEMICALS out of your home. They are in your cleaning products and laundry detergent. I use Melaleuca products from my Home Based Business. Email me at ____@____.com or call me at ###-###-#### for more information. It doesn't hurt to listen.

A. R.