Hello! Newbie and potential asthma

[LauraBk]

hello everyone! I'm new here and wanted to say hi. I've a feeling I'll be here often!
Ds1 is 3 and has had a history of infections about every4 weeks ( sometimes every 6 sometimes every 3..) for 18 months. Though tbh he has had issues since he had bronchiolitis at 5 months.
The first infections were ear infections, always with high fever, then he had more mucus than anyone his paediatrician knew, in his nose, ears and chest.
He had adenoids out last year and grommits put in. They helped and the infections have mostly left his ears and gone to his chest :( he recenty had His first case of pneumonia :(
Finally got to see lung specialist who suspects asthma, we started meds lat week but already he has another fever.
I hope the meds take time to work and not that he has something more sinister?? It's all so draining and worrying when no docs can say for sure why he is always ill :(

I'll just add that he was better briefly in summer for a few weeks, maybeduring July and august, and that he has a steroid inhaler to use daily for a month for the suspected asthma.

Because he is feverish again today I fear he will beback on antibiotics next week :(

They are also going to test CF since he has so much gloop in him but since ventolin seems to help him when he wheezes they don't think that is his problem. But it is so scary!!!

No one smokes around him and allergy tests negative.

Poor mite cuddling up to me now at 39 degrees once again :(

sorry to hear that, has the doc suggested that you carry on with the daily steriods? if he improved with them after that month last summer, it does seem to suggest asthma, so perhaps he should be on them, and ventolin for the times he is ill with an infection.

what does your gp say?

Hi, sorry maybe I babbled and confused things. He only just started steroid inhaler last week. We did try it once before by maybe only for 3 weeks and I didt notice a difference but it's possible I missed a few doses - the doc didn't mention asthma or ling term use that time.
He improved in the summer without anything. I guess it's the weather or me opening windows etc? Less germs?!

His regular pediatric doctor wad entirely baffled by him hence et sending us to the lung specialist. Really, paediatrician was confused and wondering about CF and other lung diseases.
This lack of any definate answer is really quite terrifying.
The illnesses he has had in the last 18 months always start te same - early evening he starts talking in his sleep and getting fever. By 11pm he is awake and almost delirious and overly chatty. He is fully
Happy but always 39ish degrees. His breathing goes fast ans shallow.
Then he will sleep and sleep talk more. The next day clear
Mucus starts and his eyes are
Red and watery. Afternoons and evenings are feverish. His fever usually pass within 3 days, then it's the 10
Days of antibiotics.

Retelling the tale is so hard, as there have been so many infections and as I said they changed over time - first the ears and then the lungs. And in fact today's fever hasn't been put down to either of them yet.. He is just so hot and sleep talkin etc as usual.

It seems he is only ever fully well for a matter of days until the next sickness... So draining. He gets so tired and messed up from being tired.
Gosh I had hoped that the steroid spray would help... But can it take a long time?

Sorry if my story is confused... I am
Confused, as are medics.. X

Please excuse the typos, flippin iPod!

Hello LauraBk and welcome. Sorry I have to dash off in a minute but just wanted to post a quick reply as it sounds as though you've had such a terrible time. Steroid inhalers or preventers as they're often known take at least 6 weeks to start working properly so stick with it. It might also be that your little one needs a stronger dose. My DS is on Clenil 50 2 puffs twice a day which is a low dose steriod and so far this is working well but many children need a higher dose preventer depending on the severity of their symptoms. Don't give up hope, hang in there.

Hi, thanks for your message. He had axotide 125. But we're in France so I'm not sure if that is the medical word or French brand.
Hr has been told 2 puffs a day for a month.

I just hate all the lack of certainty.

Is it usual or kids with undisclosed or untreated asthma to get so many infections? Or so much mucous? I had his anesthetist when he had his adenoids taken out comment on how much gunk wa in him and how hard it made her job. His regular doc says she sees lots of kids with repeated infections but none with the volume of sputum he has. I don't know much about asthma.

I feel so lost.
Guess I'll be back on phone to the doc tomorrow - it's been 3 days of the afternoons and evenings being 39 degrees (strangely mornings are fine and always have been throughout his infections).

I feel such a wuss taking him back to the doc every 3 weeks but surely I can't mess about with fevers... I don't know? Should I just sit it out??

Feeling so sad for him, frustrated at being lost... And out of my depth, sub grown up decisions to make (I am 34 tho.. Time I accepted being a grown up!?).