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Diagnosis this & WWYD
The background: So my 4.5yr old DD has a severe peanut allergy (but no other food allergies, no asthma etc) She was diagnosed with peanut allergy at 2.5 after her lip swelled from PB and she's never had it or a reaction since...
She is active, healthy, not having any cold or virus symptoms in anyway and last week I noticed that after her ballet class Wed evening (once back home having some hot cocoa and watching rudolph on the couch and hour or so later) she was breathing irregularly. She would have 4 or 5 normal breaths and then a deep breath in every 30secs or minute. We asked her what she was doing and she said it just felt good to do that and that she felt like couldn't get her air all the way in. Back-peddal to the peanut allergy history- we are always hyper vigilant about anything breathing related so I was really watching her for the rest of the night. Totally fine, great spirits, playing like a little nut with her sister bu doing the "deep breath in" consistently every 30 secs or so. She went to bed doing it as she was dozing but it stops once she is asleep.
Same story Thurs - all day long and all evening so Friday morning we went to the pedi. We didn't see our normal doc but the PA we saw was very thorough and I trust her opinion. She did a full exam, checked her chest, heart, pulse and did a pulse/ox on her and her numbers were text book perfect she said 99/99. She did the weird deep breathing thing all through the exam as well. The PA told me that the fact that it stops when she is asleep tells us alot. She didn't believe it was asthma or allergy related and with her pulse/ox being perfect even when doing the deep breath thing she thinks she is just conscious of it now and doing it just to do it.... Nothing medical behind it all. While that was comforting to here (that all is healthy) I don't believe in my heart that she is just doing it to do it, or for attention etc. The doc recommended completely ignoring it and said it should just drop off.
My problem is it is so unsettling b/c it's a breathing issue and she's only 4and I'm just worried that maybe there is something medical at play and I don't want to mess with that by waiting/ignoring. However, she is the picture of health - bounce party this weekend, running around our house with friends at a party (doing it the whole time but not being phased by it either). Has anyone dealt with anything like this? I'm inclined to ignore for a few more days if I can but if it persists I think I want a 2nd opinion or a referral to a pulmonologist or lung Xray etc.
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Re: Diagnosis this & WWYD
I think I'd agree w/the doc as a casual observer, but you are her mom and have the intuition. My kids do weird stuff sometimes for awhile when they figure out they can do it, even weirdo "health" type stuff, and then knock it off after it gets boring.
But - if you are concerned you could get the 2nd opinion, you know her best.
StepMom to P, Mama to R and E.
SAHM and weekend NICU nurse
If the doctor checked her over and her pulse ox is perfect, I think you can calm down a bit.
DS does weird stuff all the time, including breathing funny. He does it because he can. I agree that it's pretty telling that the behavior stops when she's asleep.
DS - December 2006
DD - December 2008
I started doing the same exact thing during my first pregnancy. It scared DH, but it ended up being nothing. I still do it and now my DS has started doing it ( I think copying me). Sometimes it just feels good to get that extra deep breath.
If you still feel uncomfortable though, get a second opinion.