Asthma

This is by no means medical advice, but just my experience.

I have mild asthma and a few allergies. I occasionally get eczema on my hands. My real problem is "dermatographia" which I think falls under atopic dermatitis. The asthma and skin stuff started in my mid-20s, though I think I had asthma before that and it wasn't diagnosed. My skin is just itchy and sensitive and if I were to gently scratch, say, my name on my arm, a bunch of little red bubbles/bumps would appear (hence the dermatographia) -- sort of like a bizarre temporary tattoo. If I don't take zyrtec on a regular basis it gets absolutely unbearable. Without medication, even lightly bumping into a table will cause this rash to form.

The skin stuff is what led me to get allergy testing. I reacted strongly to cats and dust, among a few other seasonal things. I even got the rash with saline -- not because I reacted to saline but my skin is just so sensitive to scratching. My doctor recommended all of the stuff you mentioned too. Honestly, since I am able to control it with zyrtec, it seemed like a huge time/money investment in sealing up everything in our house. We did have a cat at the time. The poor cat...we started bathing her...that didn't help. I really wanted to stop taking the zyrtec since it wasn't approved for breastfeeding so we found a home for our cat when I was around 5 months pregnant. No change in the allergies! We sprayed this stuff on all the furniture, rugs, bed that is supposed to denature cat proteins (the proteins that you are allergic to). Several times. Didn't help.

I decided to keep taking the zyrtec and breastfeeding. And now three years later without the cat, I still have the same skin stuff going on. Maybe it is the dust in the house? We've had the air vents cleaned, have wood floors (carpet traps more dust, I think), change the furnace filter a few times every winter, etc. I know the allergists swear by the air filters, sealing the bedding, etc....and maybe I should try that too. It just seems like the other suggestions didn't really help much so I'm not convinced that I need to try the other things. And with the zyrtec, I manage pretty well.
The asthma is no big deal with the inhaler. I have a pretty good idea of what triggers it -- cold weather, excercise in cold weather, being sick in cold weather -- and haven't had any problems. I want to emphasize, though, that this is mild asthma easily treated with an albuterol inhaler. Asthma severity can vary greatly.

I would definitely switch doctors and find someone that you are comfortable with. Check with your insurance -- I would hope that they have more than one allergist available to you. Ditto w/ the ped -- they should be able to give you a list of other choices. I saw a pediatric allergist (at 25 yo ) because he is an expert in skin rashes. You should be able to find an allergist who works primarily with kids, I would think.

I thought I read about a study saying that pregnant moms (or nursing?) who ate yogurt were less likely to have kids with eczema, or something like that.

[houseelf]

Unfortunately, yes, we do have experience with all of this. Both DH and the little guy are allergic to cats and dogs. The big guy's reaction is amounts to minor annoyances like sneezes, runny nose, watery eyes, etc. However, the little guy gets big red splotches, eyes swollen shut, and scary breathing attacks which in turn make him more vulnerable to viral infections.

The hardest part is telling our three year old not to play with any puppies or kitties that we come in contact with...they are everywhere and he is drawn to them. When he does sneak in a touch here or there, we wash him thoroughly before he starts touching his face. I have heard that washing a dog with a cap full of downy helps to minimize their dander. (I'm not sure if this is valid or not). My father is a farmer with 200 plus animals which evoke all sorts of allergic reactions-- a huge issue for us when we go home. We bought the Heppa (sp?) furnace filter and this helps somewhat. Unfortunately, cat and dog dander are everywhere.

RE: pediatrician shopping. We are on our Third! We had to "break up" with our previous two pediatricians because I didn't feel like they meshed with our parenting style. I wanted to ask our previous pediatrician if he had ever been around children because he was so militant about weaning from the breast at one year, removing the pacifier cold turkey, forcing our toddler to eat only what we made, etc. Long story short, we finally found the greatest pediatrician who is extremely responsive to our concerns and takes a loving approach in treating children. Don't even think twice about moving on if you are unhappy. A good pediatrician is worth everything.

Good luck, I feel your pain with the whole allergy thing.

Kelly

Just wanted to add that it did take a little while for me to get this whole allergy/asthma thing figured out -- diagnosed, best treatment for me, etc. All the more reason to have a pediatrician and allergist with whom you feel comfortable!

Good luck to you in figuring this out!

Just my experience -- not sure what it's like to treat a young child...

I've had asthma since I was about 12 and take a steriod inhaler twice a day every day for it. I also use Clarinex as needed (when I'm going over to a friend's house who can cats). Over the years I've taken just about every medication you can think of and I'm mostly stable now. I'm allergic to cats, dogs, horses, and a bunch of other things. I do seal my pillows (which are hypoallergenic -- get rid of any down pillows) but not my mattress. We have carpet and I think the air filters in our rental are only changed twice a year. I really like my allergist and that makes all the difference. I think the key is getting the asthma under control and avoiding any triggers -- for me that's cats, cigarette smoke, down pillows, etc.

Looking back I wish I had taken allergy shots years ago. It's still an option for me but I haven't been able to commit yet.

Did either doc give you any meds for your son? I don't have kids but I agree with everyone about finding someone you are comfortable with.

Good luck, I hope your little guy feels better soon!

P.S. I also wanted to add that when I first went to this allergist he gave me a catalog of all allergy-friendly products -- filters, covers, bedding, all sorts of things -- which I ignored. Everything was ridiculously expensive and like you said -- maybe too much protection is a bad thing...

[SueC]

I am pretty sure both of the girls have asthma, though they haven't been technically diagnosed yet. Our youngest is pre-disposed since she had RSV as an infant, pneumonia at birth, etc. Also, my husband has asthma and is VERY allergic to cats. Both of the girls have wheezing episodes every few months or so. My oldest use to wheeze everytime we went to my parent's house (they have wall to wall carpeting vs. our hard wood floors), and both of them wheeze whenever they get a bad cold. I have a nebulizer as well as an inhaler that I use with a spacer and every time they wheeze I give them a treatment. It is my understanding that the actual "attack" can cause irreversible damage to the lungs so it is very important to address each episode. We did take our oldest to an allergist when she turned 3. They didn't test her for any allergies, and sort of recommended a daily medication, but then said they didn't really think she needed it. I left more confused then before. I think that as long as we're providing relief during the "asthma attacks" we are OK, though when they get older I plan to pursue the allergy route a little more thoroughly. I have read that exposure to things such as pet dander actually make a child less allergic, and so far neither of the girls has shown any allergic tendencies towards animals (we have a very large, hairy dog so they get plenty of exposure). I do think it sounds like you do need to find a pediatrician and allergist that you feel more comfortable with. Good luck!

Looking back I wish I had taken allergy shots years ago. It's still an option for me but I haven't been able to commit yet.

Did either doc give you any meds for your son? I don't have kids but I agree with everyone about finding someone you are comfortable with.

Good luck, I hope your little guy feels better soon!

P.S. I also wanted to add that when I first went to this allergist he gave me a catalog of all allergy-friendly products -- filters, covers, bedding, all sorts of things -- which I ignored. Everything was ridiculously expensive and like you said -- maybe too much protection is a bad thing...

I also got the catalog with the expensive items! That is where I purchased the cat protein denaturing spray. I decided to start with that since it sounded like the most effective and efficient thing to do. After that didn't work, I was much less interested in the other expensive items! But if down is a trigger, as it is for Jill, I think it would certainly be worth it to switch pillows and cover the ones you have. It really just depends on what triggers it for your child.

I also wish that I had considered the allergy shots, especially when my life was a little less complicatd. I live just down the street from one of the best allergy/immunology hospitals in the country....you'd think I could make it over there a few times a week! Once you find an allergist you like, it might be worth getting more information.

[DCJenn]

Just wanted to give you all the "light at the end of the tunnel" story. My room-mate from college was severely asthmatic as a child, you know scary driving to the er at 3am kind of asthmatic. She used inhalers and various other meds throughout her life. She's allergic to cats, molds, smoke, etc. However, she also started to exercise, first very, very slowly (like five minutes and would add a minute every week or so) and eventually built up her lungs to the point that she will be competing in her first ultra marathon (yup, that would be 50 miles of running) next weekend, after doing many 'regular' marathons and completing the Chesapeake Bay Swim five times. (That would be swimming across the Bay. Ick)

Jenn

A funny aside about finding a pediatrican. Someone my DH works with is pregnant (due in January) and she told him she's ALREADY interviewing pediatricans! Maybe this is the norm (before even having the baby)? Apparently it is hard to find a good fit!

[SueC]

That's amazing Jennifer! One of my good friends who is an asthmatic is a marathoner (though I don't think hers is as severe as your friends!), but ultra marathoners especially amaze me!!!

[Meenah]

I have asthma, and I'm married to a Pulmonologist. I would go to a Pediatric Pulmonologist if it were me. Just my opinion.
Luanne

Being married to a pediatrician who works in a dedicated children's hopsital, I would suggest a pediatric allergist/pulmonologist/cardiologist/ any-ologist when dealing with children. That is what they are trained for, specifically kids. There is literally a world of difference between someone that works only with children and someone who sees adult patients.

That said, I would also suggest "shopping" around for the peditrician that fits your needs as well as your child's. It is wonderful to have a doc that can relate well with your children, but at the same time you need to know how/what to do to help make your child better in terms that you understand. It should be practice for the pediatrician to a have a "meet & greet" visit that lasts about 10min or so, as they are just as busy as other docs....there should be no charge. When we moved here a couple years ago we were looking for docs for our son. We looked at several offices, granted we had an inside scoop from others at Children's Mercy, but it took us three different docs....and then we still changed again! A couple wanted to charge us for that visit with no kid involved...'a consultation'. I understand that everyone's time is important, but when it comes to me possibly bringing them future revenues, I wasn't about to pay for 10min of 'this is how I practice speech'.

Anyway, (this post got a little longer than I anticipated!), I agree with the others, look for someone that clicks with your parenting and can still relay the important information in a manner that isn't condescending.

Considering that I am a Pediatric/neonatal respiratory Care Specialist of over 10 years and have a son 15 who has been an Asthmatic since the age of 6 months, here's my take.

I have seen many physicians jump the gun and label a child with asthma after only one episode, only to have this diagnosis be a permanent entry on their insurance providers file. Wheezing (brochospasm) can be caused by a multitude of triggers. Go into a burning building and I'm pretty sure you would come out wheezing. Does that mean you have asthma? No. Children are exposed to so many environmental triggers and internal triggers that can cause them to wheeze. In your child's case it could be simply the allergies. Eliminate the allergens, and viola no wheezing.

I don't mean to sound mean, and your child may truly be an asthmatic in the end, but I hate when people jump the gun and tie their kids down to nebulizers, steroids, and make them carry inhalers around on the slight chance they could wheeze because 1 or 2 years earlier they had an "attack".

I would address the allergies first and foremost. Unfortunately the trial and error of finding the right medications that work for your child could take some time and can be frustrating. Wheezing does not damage the lungs progressively in children, however secretions trapped by closed airways can possibly result in pneumonia that can lead to scar tissue in the lungs.

I would also ask your Pediatrician not to label your child as an asthmatic until they are 100% sure. When you change insurance companies you may be labeled as having a pre-existing condition and they could put a rider on your policy.

I'm not certain that this has helped you at all. Bottom line is that 1 episode of wheezing does not an asthmatic make. May you be fortunate just to have a child with alleries that can be treated quickly and effectively.

[peggyfromwastate]

My son Steven has been diagnosed with asthma. What helped make this diagnosis was the fact that I have asthma (I have to take Advair religiously or I really deteriorate), I have tons of allergies, and my older daughter has asthma (she is responding great to steroid maintenance inhalers, but we may switch her to Singulair to try to minimize steroids-- we confirmed her asthma after years of wondering when she had a series of major asthma attacks. At one point her oxygen sat went down to 91 or so, and they were ready to admit her, but we managed to stabilize her with nebulization. After that attack, she was placed on the steroid which has helped immensely. She lost her inhaler during our move over here, and after not taking it for about 10 days, she had another attack, albeit mild. She didn't start treatment for asthma until age 6, and she has lately developed more allergies than were apparent when she was younger, such as allergies to grass, pollen, etc.)

Steven was diagnosed by an allergie/asthma specialist at a very young age for asthma diagnoses. He was only about 20 months old. He was skin tested for various allergies but really only reacted mildly to pollens and such, but violently allergic to mustard. So, he's an allergic kid who especially from 12 months to 24 got hives very easily from things as simple as scratching his face to brushing up on a bush. The asthma diagnosis came because he had such trouble sleeping at night or for naps, and he would wake up coughing after about 45 minutes. Part of his problem was chronic sinusitis, and once he got ear tubes put in that helped him a lot. But, before the ear tubes, we put him on a steroid nebulizer each night, and he finally could sleep for about 4-5 hours at a time. Many docs have heard his wheezing, confirmed that it is asthma, and we are pretty confident in this diagnosis. Another sign for us that it is asthma is that we tried to take him off the nebulized steroid about 5 moths after he had started (this was after the ear tubes), and he did ok for about 1 week, then started coughing and having little attacks. His asthma attacks show themself by coughing until he vomits, after which he can breathe again... Anyway, we just switched him to Singulair chewable tablets (these are so great! They are like a flinstones vitamin, so he'll take it with no problem). He switched about 3 weeks ago, and so far no asthma attacks. But I'm not willing to stop the maintenance treatment for him. Too many docs have confirmed that he has asthma...

Sorry for such a long post! By the way, I didn't go in for any of the asthma products. In fact, we tried the Ionic Breeze air purifier in the twins' room, and Steven started coughing b/c of the ozone emitted from that machine! So I just vacuum their room a lot, we have no pets, and I wash their sheets frequently in hot water to kill off the dust mites... Other than that and crib protectors, no fancy allergy products...

Good luck! Asthma is no fun but there are neat ways of controlling it now that make it so much easier to live with than when I was a kid!

[DCJenn]

Peggy-

an FYI as to why the kids allergies might be worse here- my brother used to work at a golf course and was once told by the manager that if you can grow grass here you're lucky (the nice kind of golf course grass) because the ground here is full of tons of different molds and mildews plus a boatload of native weeds and grasses. We get all of the stuff from the north and all of the stuff from the south. Lucky Mid-Atlantic!!

Jenn

[peggyfromwastate]

I read about all those nasty molds Jenn! We'll see how it goes later on. With allergies it seems to take a "sensitization" time before you get affected, but we'll see... So far the kids seem ok with their allergies, but we've only been here 3.5 months!