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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 2:09:10
My son has asthma-like symptoms. I guess they won't officially diagnose him with asthma until he is over two years old. Anyway, I brought him to the ER on Sunday night because he was having difficulty breathing. We have a nebulizer, but it didn't seem to help much. They ended up admitting him after some chest x-rays and said he has pneumonia.
We've been through the breathing difficulties so often that I was debating whether or not I should even bring him in. I didn't hear any wheezing, I could just see him working hard for his breaths. The doctor said the fact that I couldn't hear the wheezing meant it was actually worse than the other times. Like he wasn't even getting breaths deep enough for us to hear the wheezing.
This all makes me so nervous. How am I supposed to know when to treat him at home and when to bring him in? I guess it's always better to err on the side of caution, though. Does anyone here have a child with asthma? I hear a lot of kids grow out of it. I just feel so bad for the little guy. He's feeling better, though, and we're at home.
Well, thanks for listening.
All Done
Posted by Elle2021 on February 17, 2004, at 2:43:24
In reply to My sweetie has pneumonia : (, posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 2:09:10
I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 12 years old, it was the exercise-induced type. Now it's that and also allergy induced. It's really bad in the fall and spring. If it gets too cold during the winter, then it acts up then too. Now I'm really prone to bronchitis and upper respitory infections (I have one right now). All I can say, is that if anyone in your house smokes, ask them to quit as soon as possible. If there is one thing that makes my asthma turn into an URI, it's cigarette smoke. Ugh!
I think you will just have to use you judgement when trying to decide whether to take him to the hospital or not. Now that you know what pneumonia symptoms look like, you can be watching out for them. It might not hurt to research about babies and asthma on the internet.
Elle
Posted by Karen_kay on February 17, 2004, at 7:52:23
In reply to My sweetie has pneumonia : (, posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 2:09:10
I'm sorry :( about your sweetie... I don't know anything about asthma.
But you are SO wonderful to have taken him to the hospital! You sound like such a great mother! Do some research and trust your instincts.
I'm glad he's feeling better. That's the thing with small children, they're able to bounce back rather quickly. It's the parents that take longer to recover. Take are of yourself and your son. It sounds like you're doing a wonderful job thus far!
Posted by Dinah on February 17, 2004, at 8:36:05
In reply to My sweetie has pneumonia : (, posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 2:09:10
I'm glad he's feeling better now.
I understand your feeling nervous. I think there's a lot of parenting areas where you just can't know things for sure. You did your best, you responded based on what you knew, you *did* bring him to the hospital, and he's going to be ok. That's all a parent can do.
Give him lots of extra hugs from me.
Posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 14:52:50
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : (, posted by Elle2021 on February 17, 2004, at 2:43:24
> I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 12 years old, it was the exercise-induced type. Now it's that and also allergy induced. It's really bad in the fall and spring. If it gets too cold during the winter, then it acts up then too. Now I'm really prone to bronchitis and upper respitory infections (I have one right now). All I can say, is that if anyone in your house smokes, ask them to quit as soon as possible. If there is one thing that makes my asthma turn into an URI, it's cigarette smoke. Ugh!
>>No one smokes, thank goodness. No offense to the smokers out there, but my dad smoked most of the years I lived with him and I suffered terribly from URIs. My husband had upper respiratory problems as well and my son's great-grandma and grandma both have asthma.
> I think you will just have to use you judgement when trying to decide whether to take him to the hospital or not. Now that you know what pneumonia symptoms look like, you can be watching out for them. It might not hurt to research about babies and asthma on the internet.
>>Thanks for the advice. I actually haven't done any research yet. Sometimes I get so worried I lose sight of some of the easiest ways to calm myself by gathering information. I'm glad you guys are here to point me in the right direction. Thanks, Elle!
Posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 14:57:12
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : (, posted by Karen_kay on February 17, 2004, at 7:52:23
> I'm sorry :( about your sweetie... I don't know anything about asthma.
>
> But you are SO wonderful to have taken him to the hospital! You sound like such a great mother! Do some research and trust your instincts.
>
> I'm glad he's feeling better. That's the thing with small children, they're able to bounce back rather quickly. It's the parents that take longer to recover. Take are of yourself and your son. It sounds like you're doing a wonderful job thus far!Thanks for the uplifting post, Karen. Sometimes I really need a reminder that I'm doing a good job. Especially when the day after he's in the hospital, I have to drag myself back to work. Fortunately, my husband is with him today, but tomorrow (after an okay from his doctor) he has to go back to daycare. Gosh, I hate that I can't stay with him. It just kills me everyday.
Sorry - didn't mean to start this rant. The whole situation is a bit guilt-inducing for me, though.
Thanks again for your kind words. You are so good to me :).
Posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 15:02:24
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : ( » All Done, posted by Dinah on February 17, 2004, at 8:36:05
> I'm glad he's feeling better now.
>
> I understand your feeling nervous. I think there's a lot of parenting areas where you just can't know things for sure. You did your best, you responded based on what you knew, you *did* bring him to the hospital, and he's going to be ok. That's all a parent can do.
>
> Give him lots of extra hugs from me.
>
>Thanks, Dinah. You can bet I will give him as many hugs as I can get in tonight and I will earmark a bunch from Auntie Dinah.
Posted by Karen_kay on February 17, 2004, at 15:17:49
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : ( » Karen_kay, posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 14:57:12
They'll take extra special care of him at the day care place. I'll see to it. I'm on my phone right now!!! :)
Don't feel guilty about going back to work and having him in daycare. If the Dr says it's ok, it's OK! Besides, he'd miss his nap time and snack time and friends if he didn't go back, wouldn't he? Even if he is young, he still knows!
BTW, YOU'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB!!! YOU'RE ONE OF THE BEST MOTHERS IN THE WORLD!!!
Posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 15:44:53
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : ( » All Done, posted by Karen_kay on February 17, 2004, at 15:17:49
Thank you so much, Karen! You don't even know how much I needed to be reminded about his snack time and friends. You know, sometimes they give him Goldfish Crackers and he tells me he had Nemo for a snack. Cute, but in an odd way, kind of sad. (Sorry, a little mommy rambling...)
BTW, I heard you're one of the best doggie mommies in the whole world!!! (Well, really, I heard you *are* the best, cuz I know how you like to be the best. Just don't tell the other doggie mommy Babblers, k?)
Posted by antigua on February 17, 2004, at 17:08:33
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : ( » Karen_kay, posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 15:44:53
All three of my kids went through asthma. My older son had his first asthma attack at 4, but is pretty much over it at 15 (occasionally still has exercise-induced asthma) while the other two had asthma as babies. My daughter grew right out of it by 6 or 7 and I think my other son will do the same.
My husband and I always argue about when to take them to the doctor/ER. I'm usually right (I had a brother who had very bad asthma) and like you, I've been surprised at when it has been the worst and I didn't know.
Take him if you feel you need to. Especially a little guy like that. I have all the stuff at home now, though, so I give my son the breathing treatments myself and if he isn't better after a couple of treatments I take him right in.
good luck,
antigua
Posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 23:44:23
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : (, posted by antigua on February 17, 2004, at 17:08:33
> All three of my kids went through asthma. My older son had his first asthma attack at 4, but is pretty much over it at 15 (occasionally still has exercise-induced asthma) while the other two had asthma as babies. My daughter grew right out of it by 6 or 7 and I think my other son will do the same.
>>I'm hoping he'll grow out of it, too. Until then, though, we'll just keep a close eye on him when he gets a cold. Were your kids able to participate in sports and other physical activities at school?
> Take him if you feel you need to. Especially a little guy like that. I have all the stuff at home now, though, so I give my son the breathing treatments myself and if he isn't better after a couple of treatments I take him right in.
>>We have a nebulizer at home, but after this time, I'm definitely going to play it safe rather than sorry.
Thanks for sharing your story. I really appreciate it!
Posted by Karen_kay on February 18, 2004, at 8:54:54
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : ( » Karen_kay, posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 15:44:53
Ahhhh.... Shucks... So, my doggie does have thumbs? Does he get online a visit here while I'm away? Is that how you heard? Thank you! I know my doggie loves me. I jsut have a problem punishing him.... Problem being, I don't! And so now he's rude. I mean he jumps on people (and he's a rather large dog). And he sticks his nose EVERYWHERE!! And he gets in the trash, and I'll take him outside for 15 minutes, and come in and he'll poop on my floor! And I give him a treat.... Oh, I'd have the worst kids ever! They'd be rude and spoiled... I love it! If I ever have kids, you better believe I'm going to spoil their butts! Isn't that what kids are for? That and washing dishes, that is :)
Posted by antigua on February 18, 2004, at 13:07:13
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : ( » antigua, posted by All Done on February 17, 2004, at 23:44:23
Do you have the machine or a hand-held nebulizer?
Yes, my older son was able to participate in sports, quite nicely I might add. During elementary school I just made sure all his teachers and coaches knew about it and to watch out for it. Never had a real problem--we focused on prevention and had a good doctor. (He did start allergy shots at 4 though, but gave them up by 10 maybe?)
antigua
Posted by All Done on February 18, 2004, at 22:44:04
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : (All Done, posted by antigua on February 18, 2004, at 13:07:13
> Do you have the machine or a hand-held nebulizer?
>
> Yes, my older son was able to participate in sports, quite nicely I might add. During elementary school I just made sure all his teachers and coaches knew about it and to watch out for it. Never had a real problem--we focused on prevention and had a good doctor. (He did start allergy shots at 4 though, but gave them up by 10 maybe?)
> antiguaThe last time he got sick, the doctor got us the machine nebulizer.
I'm glad to hear your son was able to participate in sports. I don't want to push my son to do anything he doesn't want to do, but I want him to at least have the option to participate. So much worrying about the future and he's not even two, yet!
Thanks for the response, antigua!
Posted by antigua on February 18, 2004, at 23:10:59
In reply to Re: My sweetie has pneumonia : (All Done » antigua, posted by All Done on February 18, 2004, at 22:44:04
Save some of that worrying for when he's a teenager!
antigua
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