Today my son had a bad asthma attack. The school nurse calls me occasionally to say she's giving him the inhaler, and it always clears up immediately. Same as at home. We're talking maybe twice a week year-round, or daily during spring pollen season. He's getting allergy shots, on daily Singulair, Benadryl as needed, nebulizer occasionally. Everything we're supposed to do. Except get rid of the cats, which would crush him, and they haven't even hinted at. He's technically "pre-asthma" and doesn't actually "have" asthma, just seasonal wheezing/coughing, and always carry a drug bag.
Today, the school nurse called to say she was giving him the inhaler. Typical, no worries. He and I chatted for awhile, and he was going back to class. Five minutes later, she called back, saying he wanted to go home, and he was crouping, barking, wheezing, out-of-control, already sent back from class.
I called the allergy doctor, made an appointment, and rushed over. NEVER has he had an episode that didn't respond to the inhaler, especially after 2 doses. The nurse mentioned giving him the Epi-Pen, which I poo-pooed. Yes, he was bark coughing, but I already felt I was overreacting by taking him to the allergy doctor.
By the time we walked to the car, a short distance, he was coughing and gasping so hard that I seriously considered the Epi-Pen, which we have never before used. It's really only in case the next accidental peanut ingestion (always just a face rash so far) turns ugly. And to make daycare realize I'm serious about NO FUCKING PEANUTS!!!
He's only had one serious attack previously, when he was 2, before we had the nebulizer and inhaler. I freaked out then, because he was took freaked out to get Benadryl inside him, and the next day, we got both. No major problems since then, just watchful.
Instead, I administered a third dose of the inhaler and announced that we were rushing to the appointment. He tells me "but don't go speedy or you'll get arrested." (My mental conversation: "I'm going fucking speedy, and don't try to stop me" as I'm watching in the rear view mirror to make sure he's conscious, no blue lips, coherent, asking questions about itchy throat, etc.)
Of course, by the time we got to the doctor 10 minutes later, he was fine. I did the right thing by taking him there, but I'm sure they thought I was a helicopter mom and overreacting. They kept talking about him having a cold exacerbated by the allergies, but he was fine this morning! He doesn't have a damned cold!! Spent 75 minutes there with the nebulizer treatment, peak flow testing, etc., and left after a $30 co-pay and another $90+ in med recommendations/ prescriptions.
He was still barking at home, another nebulizer treatment, another inhaler, and listening at the door all night. Now my husband is pissed, again, that we signed up for spring soccer. We had 2 games snowed out, but they've been rescheduled, and now we missed practice because of this.
So I'm not all just freaking out about things like school testing. I have real concerns as well, like making sure my kid doesn't die.
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fireeyes24
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Comments
Have you tried bioflavonoids and Vit. C during the pollen season? It really helped me when I was a kid. I was allergic to everything when I was born, including peanuts, walnuts, milk , eggs...
I've outgrown a lot of them, but there's plenty I've not. Nuts will never be my friend. But eggs and milk are my friends and have been since I was a about seven or eight.
Don't ever apologize for watching out for your kid. Breathing is as fundamental to life as it gets and I can tell you from first hand experience that having an asthma/allergy attack is the most terrifying thing you can imagine.
Be vigilant, rip out any wall to wall carpet you have and evaluate your hvac system. And next time he starts getting a little wheezy, try giving him some powdered (1/2 teaspoon) pure vitamin c powder dissolved in some plain water. Just try it. Keep the inhaler handy.
You're a good mom. Take solace in the fact that he'll probably grow out of this, but if he doesn't it is manageable and he can have a great life despite this condition.
Rated.
Joblessville: a helicopter mom is one that hovers. Does everything for them, rushes them to the doctor at the first runny nose, caters to them, basically lives their lives around making sure everything is perfect, doesn't let them make their own mistakes, control freak. Or that's my take on it. Definitely the "hover" part, anyway. And yes, I meet some of those defintions. :-)
A lot of empathy for you and your son, here. rated.
You proably already know what I am about to say but I rather say it and you not need it than not say it and it would have helped.
change your air conditioning filter every 3 months.
If you have animals vaccum daily.
Keep the animal OUT of his or her bedroom.
If he is allergic to dust mites there is sprays to kill them and keep their numbers low in your house. (every house has these even the one that are clean.)
I am allergic to peanuts too. This is very hard to control sometimes.
During times of attacks make sure he get a bath before bed. (so he not sleeping in stuff he maybe allergic too)
Change bedding regular.
Molds are very high at this time of year so he may have mold allergies. (if so cheese and mayo are not good for him or her)
Bananas are in the rageweed family and if he is allergic to rage weed you may not want to give him this fruit.
Asthma can go in just a moment from mild to intensive care time. You did the right thing getting him to the doctor ASAP. MY daughters did this once and she went from 90 percent O2 sat to 86 which can cause brain damage in 30 second. She was rushed to ICU and she had a really hard time but is okay.
If he has trouble beathing at night try some Vick vapor rub. It helps me and my doctor told me don't tell your grand mom I said to use it. She will think all her home remedies will work.
God bless you and I will pray that his allergy treatment works. Thanks for sharing.
Totzaon