Any LOs out there have asthma?

Re: Any LOs out there have asthma?

• KatFCo member

  October 2012

  If they suspect asthma, they likely will have her breathe into a machine that will say how much oxygen she's taking in/breathing out each breath. At least, that's what they did with me at a recent visit. I don't see why it would be different for a child.

  FYI, if she is diagnosed with asthma, at this young age, an inhaler might come with a spacer, which has a mask and can look scary for a young child. We taught DD to get comfortable with hers by using a favorite stuffed animal. First it would be the toy's turn, and I would make the toy breathe in and out, and then it would be her turn.

  GL!

  

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• jc&cat member

  October 2012

  DS was diagnosed at 18 months but he was too young to do the breathing test described above. The age is about 5 years on the breathing test (lung function test) however that is not a hard and fast rule. We just saw the pulmonologist last week for a quarterly check up and he said to schedule the lung function test to take place before our next visit. DS has not had any allergy testing (we suspect only seasonal allergies) so I can't speak to that aspect of your visit. The pulmonologist basically asked us many questions about breathing, sleeping, and any breathing issues with increased activity. The exam was basic for DS just listening to heart and lungs and do some deep breaths.

  DS has a daily inhaler (flovent) that is used with a mask and chamber as also described by the previous post. It's become so routine that we don't even think twice about it. It is essential to have your child brush her teeth after using flovent. We add it to the morning and evening teeth brushing routine. DS has a ventolin inhaler for times when he has any cough due to a respiratory virus, cold, etc OR for use if he is having trouble breathing after playing or during a flare. Thankfully we have NEVER had to use it for anything but extra help during a cold.

  Good luck today!

  Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml

  Report0 Reply
• Angela814 member

  October 2012

  We took DD1 in to an allergist over the summer. We found out at 3 years that she's extremely allergic to dogs. We actually had to go to the ER to get her a nebulizer treatment after we spent the day at a family member's house who has dogs. Since then she gets wheezy running around, swimming, or when she spends time indoors with dogs. She was also clearing her throat a lot in the mornings. Our doctor gave us a prescription for Singulair based on her symptoms. Also, I have asthma that I was diagnosed with at 6-7 years old, so we have a family history. They didn't do any breathing tests. They did do an allergy test (environmental) - the skin prick test on her back. After doing it, we found out that it's not very accurate in kids. (It came up negative for dogs for instance.) In hind sight I would have declined the test. We ended up paying $400 out of pocket for a test that gave us no additional information. The Singulair has been helping, so we'll continue to do that.
  

  Annalise Marie 05.29.06
  Charlotte Ella 07.16.10
  Emmeline Grace 03.27.13
  

  Report0 Reply