If your kid has asthma...

[Brie]

Do you notice immediate improvement after a nebulizer treatment?

I have asthma myself and always feel better immediately after. We took C to the pedi on Friday and have been doing regular neb treatments at home since with Xoponex (albuterol makes him insane). He's also doing Prednisone, Qvar, Singulair and Zyrtec. I'm not noticing any difference in his breathing before and after treatments--tonight he had a treatment around 6:15 pm and at 6:45 pm he coughed so hard he gagged himself. I don't see retractions or hear a ton of wheezing but he's breathing really fast and heavy (and has been all day).

Obviously with Christmas this week pedi access will be limited so I'd like to get him seen Monday or Tuesday if necessary. H thinks we should give the meds more time to work. WDYT?

[karinothing]

Normally yes. The one time we didn't we went to the ER. He was not retracting but was breathing fast and using his whole chest to breathe. They were able to help him. Sorry i know that is not the answer you want.

[Brie]

Dec 21, 2014 20:08:55 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Normally yes. The one time we didn't we went to the ER. He was not retracting but was breathing fast and using his whole chest to breathe. They were able to help him. Sorry i know that is not the answer you want.

Ugh, I hate this argument with H. He always thinks I'm overreacting and he's all, "we need to give it time to work." I don't think he understands that nebulizers aren't really a long-term, needs to build up in your system kind of thing.

[karinothing]

Dec 21, 2014 20:18:50 GMT -5 Brie said:

Dec 21, 2014 20:08:55 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Normally yes. The one time we didn't we went to the ER. He was not retracting but was breathing fast and using his whole chest to breathe. They were able to help him. Sorry i know that is not the answer you want.

Ugh, I hate this argument with H. He always thinks I'm overreacting and he's all, "we need to give it time to work." I don't think he understands that nebulizers aren't really a long-term, needs to build up in your system kind of thing.

Yeah they work right away. And if he is breathing with his whole chest it means he is working hard to breathe and the meds aren't helping him. I would take him in. Sorry. It just sucks that this always happens at night

[mannah]

Yes you're right, a nebulizer should work right away. I'm sorry, I hope he feels better soon.

[Brie]

Went and creeped on him in bed and he sounds fine now. He was running around before bed which I'm sure aggravated it. Will see how he is in the morning.

[thejackpot]

Dec 21, 2014 20:42:14 GMT -5 Brie said:

Went and creeped on him in bed and he sounds fine now. He was running around before bed which I'm sure aggravated it. Will see how he is in the morning.

Do you have an asthma action plan? 

[Brie]

Dec 21, 2014 22:20:46 GMT -5 thejackpot said:

Dec 21, 2014 20:42:14 GMT -5 Brie said:

Went and creeped on him in bed and he sounds fine now. He was running around before bed which I'm sure aggravated it. Will see how he is in the morning.

Do you have an asthma action plan? 

Not yet. Just got the diagnosis within the last 2 weeks. Going to get a referral for a specialist after the holidays.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I'd take him in. It'll be so much easier to be seen early this week.

What is an asthma action plan (she asks with trepidation since her kid has an inhaler but no official asthma diagnosis yet)?

[thejackpot]

An asthma action plan outlines how to treat certain conditions (spelled out pretty clearly)...ours is red,yellow or green level and how we should respond to behaviors in those levels. It's not perfect but it helps me to determine what course to take and when I lo needs to go in. When in doubt though always err on the side of getting medical attention.
My ds is 6 and he is generally able to tell me what he needs to be ok. Hope this helps.

@brie DarcyLongfellow

[cinco]

Yes. DS is older so if he doesn't sound better after one he gets another treatment. If he still sounds really bad we take him to urgent care. This has only happened once though. He seems to be getting better now that he's older, but it seems DD2 has it now too.