Frustrated...

christinaa722

So my LO has been struggling with wheezing for months. We've spent numerous visits to the ER and finally the decided that he could have some type of asthma. So, they referred him to a pulmonologist where she indicated that he needed to have several studies done at our local hospital to kind of rule out where the wheezing is coming from. They determined that is aspirating on his milk when he drinks so they used a thickener and that has helped to keep him from aspirating. So we're using rice cereal to thicken up his bottles and it seems to be working, but the doctor told me yesterday that once he starts drinking water and juices we would need to use something like thick-it to make it like honey thick to prevent this aspiration. Sorry this is so long, this has been going on the past few months and honestly, its kind of exhausting. I feel so bad for my little guy, he's had such a rough year...then to top it all off, I fell down the stairs on NYD while carrying him and I fell on his leg and broke his tibia. I'm a little bit of a disaster and this isn't something that any of my siblings or friends have dealt with so no one can really relate to my frustration or my little guy's struggle.

KatFCo

Have they given you an albuterol inhaler to give him? That's usually the first step stopping wheezing.

christinaa722

Yes, we've been doing albuterol and that has worked, but he's also using a steroid inhaler which should regulate his wheezing and breathing and should not have to use the albuterol unless emergent.

christinaa722

wife07mom09:

hugs!

You need to see either GI or speech to determine why he is aspirating.  Hopefully you can get to the root of the problem. How is his weight?

The fall and broken leg was terrible timing, so sorry. 

This. Actually we just did an upper GI study and did a video swallow study which is where we actually saw him taking in the fluid into his lungs...now he did suck it out, but they basically determined that most likely it's happening and not always coming out. His weight certainly isn't a problem...little man was a preemie so he was only 4lbs when he was born...he's now 9months and one week and he's an even 22lbs...He loves food. I think the scariest part was that he is silenty aspirating...he doesn't cough or choke or anything..he's just completely and mostly unphased by it. Sorry to carry on...I just needed a moment to melt...thanks ladies!