croup,asthma,vomiting, reflux..... anyone got a clue whats going with ds coz dr is clueless

[LargeLatte]

Afternoon all... warning do not read while eating...

DS2 is 2.5 yrs and been in and out of hospital whole life with ear infections, throat infections, croup and asthma - usually not able to distinguish between last 2 and drs generally have been labelling it as breathing problems without being specific.

He now has blue and brown puffers used regularly.

A week ago he had a d&v bug - it lasted 24 hours. A few days later he started to get a bit wheezy. Friday he vomited only liquid contents of his stomach smiled then picked up cheese on toast and contunued munching - def not d&v bug and not first time this has happened.
Saturday night we had to call an ambulance as out of nowhere he started choking, was floppy, unresponsive and in serious trouble. Paramedic gave him neb at home. Trip to hosital. Dr declared it croup and it had swollen his windpipe so he couldn't breath. Sent home yesterday as he was well. By evening his breathing worsened so he had 1.5ml dexamethansone given to us by hospital.

Today he seemed fine. But again threw up liquid contents of his stomach, then croupy cough has started again.

This has been happening about 4 times a year for 2 years with this pattern of coughing, emergency dashes to hospital and random vomiting. It is awful - cant take him anywhere because of random puking, but he's full of energy coz of steroids. Too scared to leave him with anyone in case they don't spot the respiratory distress in time.

GP has just shrugged collection of symptoms off as a virus and said he doesn't need antibiotics - which i hadn't asked for anyway.

Got paed appointment 25th november but would like to have a clue before i get there as don't want to be fobbed off with the 'hell grow out of it' or 'have you tried steaming his room'.

Answers on a postcard to 'fed up of cleaning up vomit, tired-on-sea, essex'.

[suiledonne]

Hi largelatte, my dd1 is 3.5 and has been in and out of hospital with asthma which is triggered by having a cold which then develops into a chest infection. She does sometimes vomit during an attack but it is due to the ferocity of the cough she gets when she can't clear her lungs.

Apart from on D&V bug this summer she has never vomited apart from during coughing fits.

My friend's DS has croup and as far as I know is not prone to vomiting.

I think you are doing the right thing in investigating further. I think that coughing can be caused by excess acid which might explain the vomiting too.

Hope you get some answers.

[missingtheaction]

As western medicine is drawing a bit of a blank you could consider alernative therapists: talk to someone at a holistic centre where they offer lots of different stuff and they will recommend the right kind of practitioner to help you diagnose what's going on.

[mumonthenet]

I really can't help but sending moral support. Must be awful for you.

the only other thing that occurred me is some kind of allergy. Of course asthma is often triggered by allergy. Do you have pets? Food allergy?
Could you have some allergy tests while waiting for the paed appointment?

I hope you get some answers.

[LargeLatte]

we've got a chinese medicine practice up the road - does it matter if i don't actually know what's the cause just have a collection of symptoms.
we really need help. I had to give up my job to look after him and now we don't have enough money every month. The sleep deprivation is torture, my nerves are shot with fear of repeat performances. Thankfully ds is totally oblivious and happily running round high as a kite coz of the steroids.

[mumonthenet]

Definately check out the chinese place.

No, you do not have to know the cause, it's like mainstream medicine....they look at the symptoms and try to find the cause. There are also allergy tests...which usually include taking blood, though I once went to an alternative practicioner who used some kind of machine to measure biorhythms.

Your paed appointment isn't for a month so you have nothing to lose by seeing what alternative/complementary medicine there is.

[LargeLatte]

good idea - i hadn't really given alternative medicine much thought.

I'm finding 'normal' drs are only interested in patching him up s he's well enough to go home - not at all interested in his overall quality of life.

[LargeLatte]

hmmmm this keeps happening where i can't post a new message - it just keeps putting my old one up

[aWitchForLifeNotJustHalloween]

my ds1 had symptoms like you describe - and had an allergy to dairy products. Worth keeping a food diary imho.

[ScaryFucker]

well, hard to diagnose over net

but could be

1. spasmodic croup
   
   
2. atypical asthma
   
   
3. gastro-oesophageal reflux
   
   
4. subtle anatomical anomaly
   
   The vomiting I think is a red herring. Many small children vomit when ill/having difficulty breathing. It is like a purging reflex. Is the vomit any mucousy? Again, young kids cannot reliably cough up phlegm and this is how they get rid of it.
   
   If you do not get answers from the general paediatrician, I would asking for a referral to a respiratory specialist.
   
   Good luck.

[andlipsticktoo]

It sounds like gastro-oesophageal reflux as the stomach acid can cause a croup like cough and also wheezy chest.
I would deffo ask for a referral to a paediatrician.

[LteMadrid]

It sounds like a more severe form of what we went through with DS2 his first year before diagnosis of allergy to milk proteins.

He now has a susceptibility to asthma and chest infections and when that happens I notice his allergy gets more sensitive and he is sick. Vomit usually just liquid and he isnt distressed or anything.

Gastroenterology is the best specialist place to go as they can test for gastro problems and allergies. Respiratory may ignore the option of allergy.

Really hope you have some anwers soon as not fun for anyone in the family, I remmeber that not daring go anywhere all too well.