Asthma - Info Please
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Re: Asthma - Info Please
Just to be clear, MM, it is the parent who might end up in need of respite care, not the child, who is happily in la-la land, bouncing off the walls like a banshee (do banshees bounce off walls?) and unable to sit still for more than 7 seconds.
Happily our DC is not as severely affected as Paula's, though we have had some scary nights, - but I taught a child once whose father died of asthma.
Happily our DC is not as severely affected as Paula's, though we have had some scary nights, - but I taught a child once whose father died of asthma.
Re: Asthma - Info Please
Although my DS does not have asthma, he has a number of related conditions: eczema, hayfever, food allergies and was treated with anti-histamines, steroid creams etc basically from birth.
Always appeared to be a desperately unhappy baby/toddler/child. Between the ages of 7 and 9 his dark moods worsened and he ended up under the care of CAMHS due to a number of suicide attempts, hearing voices, hunger strikes, self-harm etc.
Eventually it was me (not the doctors) who linked this to his use of a particular anti-histamine. Since swapping to the simply marvellous Montelukast (Singulaire) two years ago, he is a totally changed child. Happy at his GS, lots of friends, enthusiastic about life etc.
So drugs are great when they work, but it's really, really important to keep an eye out for any side-effects. Only a small % of the population will suffer side-effects to any drug, but it can be totally devastating when they do.
Always appeared to be a desperately unhappy baby/toddler/child. Between the ages of 7 and 9 his dark moods worsened and he ended up under the care of CAMHS due to a number of suicide attempts, hearing voices, hunger strikes, self-harm etc.
Eventually it was me (not the doctors) who linked this to his use of a particular anti-histamine. Since swapping to the simply marvellous Montelukast (Singulaire) two years ago, he is a totally changed child. Happy at his GS, lots of friends, enthusiastic about life etc.
So drugs are great when they work, but it's really, really important to keep an eye out for any side-effects. Only a small % of the population will suffer side-effects to any drug, but it can be totally devastating when they do.
Re: Asthma - Info Please
What an awful story, lmd.
For us, the Montelukast was worse than the steroids- DC was put on it at the beginning of the winter in order to try and prevent the awful episodes which precipitated the use of steroids, but after 5 days, and, more importantly, nights [without sleep] we gave up on it. We now manage with a seretide (purple) inhaler which seems to work for our child. I think the message is that different people react differently to different drugs - as a family we have a history of all kinds of funny reactions. I know I would have been a rotten junkie, as morphine, which in a slightly different form is aka heroin, sends me into a nightmare series of hallucinations and unpleasant sensations, followed by violent vomiting. For the life of me I cannot see why anyone would pay for that, so I can only assume I am reacting unusually.
For us, the Montelukast was worse than the steroids- DC was put on it at the beginning of the winter in order to try and prevent the awful episodes which precipitated the use of steroids, but after 5 days, and, more importantly, nights [without sleep] we gave up on it. We now manage with a seretide (purple) inhaler which seems to work for our child. I think the message is that different people react differently to different drugs - as a family we have a history of all kinds of funny reactions. I know I would have been a rotten junkie, as morphine, which in a slightly different form is aka heroin, sends me into a nightmare series of hallucinations and unpleasant sensations, followed by violent vomiting. For the life of me I cannot see why anyone would pay for that, so I can only assume I am reacting unusually.
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Re: Asthma - Info Please
My daughter had nightmares while taking Singulair (though it was very effective in easing her asthma), but is doing fine now with a Serevent (green!) inhaler. She also takes a Flixotide (orange!) inhaler, and is very well on it.
As Amber says, you have to be alert to side effects (we were too slow to pick up on the nightmare/Singulair problem), but everybody reacts differently. I feel that often people are more afraid of the potential side effects of the remedy than they are of the disease, which can be dangerous with asthma.
I had morphine after an operation and thought it was lovely, so have obviously missed my vocation as a junkie.
As Amber says, you have to be alert to side effects (we were too slow to pick up on the nightmare/Singulair problem), but everybody reacts differently. I feel that often people are more afraid of the potential side effects of the remedy than they are of the disease, which can be dangerous with asthma.
I had morphine after an operation and thought it was lovely, so have obviously missed my vocation as a junkie.
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Re: Asthma - Info Please
agreed - would you like the steroids or the steroids????paula wrote:Midget Man - please remember that a truly awful side effect of asthma can be death. Asthma in my son's case is not just a bit of a wheeze or being slightly chesty. It is a truly frightening and life threatening condition. Yes the side effects of prednisalone are horrible but, speaking as a Mum who has come close to losing her son to asthma twice, they are preferable to not taking them.
Re: Asthma - Info Please
I've had asthma since childhood and use ventolin most days, less so the brown steroid inhaler since a friend developed glaucoma in her late 30's which she was told could be a result of it. My doctor didn't totally agree, but noted a link to steroids and glaucoma.
I've found the last 3 winters dreadful, and ended up on antibiotics and having 2 chest x-rays each Jan/Feb. The first time it happened the doctor gave me steroid tablets which made me really unwell, and after 3 days I stopped them, going through a dreadful night of withdrawal.
This year I've been taking 400iu vitamin e daily (I wouldn't suggest that dose for a child!) and it seems to help, as on the odd day I've forgotten it I've felt more 'chesty'. In my 20's I also found evening primrose oil helped as it dampens down allergies. Swimming is also good if you can do it weekly: my mother was told to take me swimming as a child by our elderly, very traditional doctor:)
I've found the last 3 winters dreadful, and ended up on antibiotics and having 2 chest x-rays each Jan/Feb. The first time it happened the doctor gave me steroid tablets which made me really unwell, and after 3 days I stopped them, going through a dreadful night of withdrawal.
This year I've been taking 400iu vitamin e daily (I wouldn't suggest that dose for a child!) and it seems to help, as on the odd day I've forgotten it I've felt more 'chesty'. In my 20's I also found evening primrose oil helped as it dampens down allergies. Swimming is also good if you can do it weekly: my mother was told to take me swimming as a child by our elderly, very traditional doctor:)