My son is a beatiful 3 year old who has just been diagnosed with asthma and allergies in Jan. 2005. HE has been hospitalized 4 times in the last 4 months. Each time has been for asthma attacks and bronchitis or bronchlitis. Any words of comfort for my family.

By Alberobello on Friday, June 3, 2005 - 07:10 pm:

Darling, give your beautiful son a kiss and a hug. I'll say a prayer for health for your son. And hugs to you too.

By Missmudd on Friday, June 3, 2005 - 07:46 pm:

Sorry to hear about your little guy, hopefully you and your dr will be able to get a handle on his attacks. Sometimes it takes a while to zero in on the right method of controlling them. Hugs to you and your son, prayers too.

By Imamommyx4 on Friday, June 3, 2005 - 08:41 pm:

BTDT. Being diagnosed with asthma was tramatic for me. But later it almost seemed a relief. Because at least I knew how to treat it finally. I am a pharmacist but always thought asthma was wheezing and shortness of breath. My dd just coughs herself to death and I did not recognize it for what it was. So at 18 months I took her to the dr after a week of a cold and 2 days of non-stop coughing that no medicine would touch. The dr walked in to the room, looked at dd, stepped back out of the room and ordered a nurse to get a breathing maching and treatment stat, stepped back in the room to me and said "she's having an asthma attack." I was so shocked that I had NOT recognized what was going on. But now she takes Singulair and Zyrtec every night. We keep prednisone (Orapred brand bc it has less taste than the others), M-clear, and breathing maching and albuterol for treatments when needed. Now if she starts to cough in the middle of the night I know what to do. For her the Singulair and Zyrtec keep hers down such that now we have only given her 4 breathing treatments in the past 6 months. I hope you can discover quickly what works for him.
I ache for you and I'll pray for you and your family.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, June 4, 2005 - 07:57 am:

I have asthma, so I know how scary it is. Oldest DS and youngest DD also suffered with it as young children, but have no symptoms now.

Do you have a good pulmonologist?? That is the key to managing the asthma. There are so many new asthma meds available today, hopefully you will find one quickly that keeps your DS as symptom free as possible.

By Kernkate on Saturday, June 4, 2005 - 08:34 am:

Cheryl, I have BTDT since DS was very young. So I know how you are feeling. It seemed to take forever when Brett was young to get his Asthmas and allergies under control, but now he is 10 and is doing alot better! He is on Flovent 2x a day, allegra 2x a day and singulair at bedtime. Albuterol when needed, which isn't to often.
Sometimes what works for one child won't for another so when you find the meds that work hopefully your DS will show big signs of improvement.
I know how upsetting it is to see little ones going through this, {{{BIG HUGS}}}.
Cheryl, I noticed you are from PA. Where abouts? I am also in PA.

By Trina~moderator on Saturday, June 4, 2005 - 09:16 am:

BTDT with my DS. {{{HUGS}}} He wasn't diagnosed with asthma until he had an attack so severe it landed him in the hospital for 3 days. He was 6 at the time. We almost lost him. Before that he was sick often with colds, what we thought was croup, ear infections and pneumonia. After getting out of the hospital we took him to an Asthma/Allergy specialist. Once pinpointing his triggers, taking precautions and following his Asthma Action Plan he has been MUCH healthier. Although the diagnosis was scary and overwhelming at first it actually was a very good thing! DS takes his peak flow ratings 2x daily and we chart them. If/when his numbers start to drop or if he starts with that distinctive asthma cough, we follow the action plan by adding or upping his meds and we've been able to nip all attacks in the bud.

Lots of asthma info at these sites:

KeepKidsHealthy.com - Asthma Center

AsthmaTrack.org

By Mrsheidi on Saturday, June 4, 2005 - 09:54 am:

Sweetie, we will send a prayer that this will all get better!!!!! Poor little guy!!