Child Asthma*

Lisa Liessmann

At first I didn't know my daughter had child asthma, or that anything was wrong. I did know we took her to the doctor a lot. She went to her regular check-ups at first, and then I noticed we were taking her to the doctor about every month because she was coughing, and then the intervals between the visits became even more frequent, every 2-4 weeks. We assumed the coughing was a cold or bronchitis or an ear infection, something she might need antibiotics for. Sometimes she did have an ear infection, but sometimes they would just say she had a cold and give me cough medicine. One time the doctor commented that they had tried every cough medicine available because none of them had really worked. They didn't know what to write a prescription for. I remember trying to think of which one had worked the best for her.

And then the vomiting started. When she was almost 2 1/2 years old she started coughing. She coughed so much that she would puke. It started about once a day at first, usually after meals or after she'd run around a lot, or during her nap, or during the middle of the night. Then it increased more and more often. It started in August and then by December she was vomiting very frequently during the day, almost like it was just a normal part of her day. One day she puked 10 times.

January 1, 2007 we were in the emergency room. We had had a particularly horrible night with her coughing and vomiting. They took X-rays, blood samples, etc. and could find nothing wrong with her. We finally decided to switch doctors, and that doctor immediately put her on all the medications for asthma, saying that if they worked she probably had asthma. Asthma, she said, is simply restricted airways, and her allergies were probably causing her to have asthma. I was confused at first. When I pictured a child with asthma, I pictured a child bent over wheezing, fighting for air to breathe, so I didn't think she had child asthma, but then I figured maybe there are different symptoms for each child who has child asthma.

She was prescribed Flovent, Nasonex, Prevacid, Xopenex, Zyrtec, Ipratropium and Singulair. All these medications were very confusing and we didn't understand how they were supposed to work at first. It was a very frustrating time for us. For example, we were administering the Xopenex and Ipratropium every 4 hours, and we didn't know that they are "as needed" medicines, such as times when she's about to have higher activities, or seems to be coughing more, whereas all the other medications are regulated. Another frustrating aspect was that the Xopenex was in liquid form because she was so young and scared to use the inhaler, so she had to use a nebulizer to make it in gas form, and then she inhaled it with a mask.

It was also frustrating and confusing about the acid reflux. The doctor said that kids with asthma will also have acid reflux, but if they have acid reflux, they may or may not have asthma. She said that asthma and acid reflux go hand in hand. We went to the hospital to have a Barium Swallow test done to determine if she had acid reflux, but nothing was conclusive from this test, at least not for her. She was scared when we were there, so we told her we were taking pictures of her belly which seemed to help, although every time after that when we went to the doctor she'd say "no pictures." The Prevacid she takes is for the acid reflux. She gets that medication before breakfast and lunch.

Now our goal is to give her as little medication as possible for her to function normally, which is why I wish I would have realized that the Xopenex and Ipratropium were "as needed" medications. We actually had to wean her down very slowly off of those, because she was getting them every 4 hours during the day and then right before she went to bed, and right when she woke up in the morning. It took about 6-8 months before we finally got her weaned down to about one to two times per day because her body had become dependent upon them. The doctor said to wean her very slowly off of those, which we are still trying to do.

If I've learned anything from this experience, it's that you need to be involved in your own health care. Ask lots of questions, especially if you don't understand something or you need something clarified. Be proactively involved. Look up information on the internet. Try to understand what you're dealing with. Also, have a pen and paper available with you when you go to the doctor's office so you can write information down if you need to, such as when and how to take these medicines and if they're "as needed" medicines or if they have to be taken at a certain time, such as before bed or before meals. That way you will be able to refer back to your notes later.

And I guess one more thing I'd like to share with you if you've read this far: it does get easier with time as it becomes a normal part of your daily routine. Your child will be a lot happier once she feels better and things are no longer so out of control.

*These submissions represent the author's opinion. Tunguska Time does not claim responsibility for the content. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Always consult a doctor for medical advice.