Saturday, October 17, 2009

Confessions of an Asthma Mom


Earlier this week, I posted about Angry Toddler getting sick in his carseat. On Monday, Angry Husband kept Angry Toddler home from preschool. He said that he was coughing, had a runny nose, and felt "pukey". Angry Husband started our usual protocol. Angry Toddler has had several febrile seizures since he was a little under a year and a half. The kid can't control his temperature and it skyrockets within minutes. We can never predict when his temperature will rise and he show virtually no symptoms.

He went to school on Tuesday, as he felt a little better. Yet, he had a little wheeze and cough. I decided to give him a breathing treatment with his nebulizer. He used to fight the treatments as a baby, but he's ok with them now. On Wednesday, I dropped him off and one of his friends ran up to him. The kid had those dark circles under his eyes, the wet barky cough, and a runny nose. I walked right past the kid's mom on the way in. Umm thanks lady, my kid has allergies and asthma. You're soo awesome for bringing your sick kid into preschool. I gave the teacher "that look". She moved the kid away from Angry Toddler.

On Thursday, he was still a little wheezy so I gave him another breathing treatment in the morning, Of course, the temperature was really hot outside. The drastic change in temperatures also effects his asthma and allergies. Angry Husband picked Angry Toddler up from school. Angry Toddler's teacher advised AH that he had not taken a nap for two days, and that he was not eating, at all. Well, when Angry Toddler doesn't eat, we know that there is a problem. This kid eats like a fourteen year old. He has a huge appetite. Plus, his behavior was downright awful. There's nothing worse than a sick asthmatic kid doped up on steroids from the nebulizer, who also has ADHD. I decided that we needed to take him to the doctor the next morning. The doctor's office was already closed, so I had to wait for it to open on Friday morning.

At 8am, Friday, I called the doctor's office. I'm sure that the receptionist was not too happy when I called for an appointment that minute that they opened. I was able to get him in for a 10:15 appointment. I was at work, but Angy Husband was on his day off. He said that Angry Toddler looked a little better, but was going to get him checked out. They went to the doctor and she said that it appeared that he was just getting over a cold/virus. He had no signs of bronchitis or an ear infection. She said that we need to take him off all fevr medications, because we need to see if he gets a fever. If he had no fever wthin twenty four hours, he was good. She also told us to get him something for post-nasal drip if he had a runny nose.

Where am I going with this all? You are probably thinking that. Well, I know several people around me that have come down with H1N1. Since Angry Toddler has asthma and lung issues, he could potentially have more problems with it. Because he's been sick for almost a week with all of this, we could not given him any type of flu shot. I was waiting for his doctor to get more of the regular flu vaccine in stock. I started panicing on Thursday night, because some of the H1N1 symptoms show an absence of fever, etc. You just never know. Angry Husband and I both felt a lot better by getting him checked out before the weekend started.

Oh, and as for flu shots. I got one on Thursday. I work with some "interesting people", and they sometimes carry germies. I did not want to be the person to bring home something to my son. And the doctor strongly advised me to get the vaccine. The regular flu shot, not the H1N1. I'm still on the fence about the H1N1.

17 comments:

  1. Asthma is a very scary disease. Thank goodness my kids do not have it but my niece and nephews do(although mild). It is so hard to make the H1N1 decision...good luck!

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  2. I just want to hug Angry Toddler he is so cute! We've been sick around here this week. It's that time of year.
    Kas

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  3. Don't you just love the little ones hopped up on the steroids? My soon to be 3yo just got an official asthma diagnosis. Even though I'm asthmatic, I feel lost because I wasn't diagnosed until I was 12. I hate the thought of the cooties my elementary school kid and my husband who teaches college kids bring home every day.

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  4. He is so cute!

    Neither myself or any of my siblings have athsma, so I have no idea about that.

    Just wanted to say I hope he gets better!

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  5. awww I hope he feels better quickly! I am against the H1N1 vaccine for my family but not sure how I'd feel in that situation. :( BTW I am sick of parents bringing kids to school sick!

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  6. AT is such a cutie! I hope he starts feeling better soon.

    OT-what running shoe do you recommend?

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  7. Julie I hope you little one is better now. I know what it is like to have a child that has febrile seizures my son had his first when he was six months old and scared the beep out of me, He was laying on my chest when he had it. Had another set when he was 2 , that time he had 5 before the EMT's got there. I still even though he is now 12 med him up when he has a fever , he has not had one since ! They say they either grow out of them or they will stay with them for life. I would have done the same thing you did to about the parent bringing there sick child to school, I seriously don't get some people. Hope you all have a better weekend!

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  8. I've had asthma since I was a little girl so I feel for you and him Mama!

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  9. I had asthma as a child, and 2 of my 3 sons have it, too. Upsets me to think I passed it onto them, luckily they only get it when they're sick, but still :( I know how you're feeling. I say, no to the vaccine, it's untested and unsafe, and I hear it makes people sicker than sick, too :(

    *hugs* momma

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  10. Hope Angry Toddler is feeling a LOT better. My son has Chronic Lung Disease and takes 6 breathing treatments a day when he is WELL. So when he is sick that can be 10 per day...YIKES!

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  11. Thanks everyone for the support. It sucks because I have asthma also. I was that girl in the 1980's in the oxygen tent in the hospital. I spent every holiday in the hospital. My son is repeating history and it freaks me out.

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  12. Wow, the seizures sound so scary. As for the nebulizer, we are there with you. I have a little guy that has had pediatric asthma for almost a year and a half and I'm hoping he'll grow out of it,
    I didn't realize you had asthma too.
    I hope he starts feeling better!

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  13. Poor little Caden! What a cutie trooper though. He's like a breathing treatment champ ain't he?!

    P.S. Just added your button to my sidebar. You know, to show my love for you and whatever.

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  14. My son has asthma too - and started in with cold symptoms last night. This morning hubby took him to the ER just to make sure we get ahead of what ever this is. Cold symptoms always cause his asthma to flare - so I like to nip it in the butt as fast as possible.
    I hope your little man is feeling better. Asthma is a scary thing. I wish my son didn't inherit that from me, but sadly he did.

    Visiting from SITS.
    www.tuesdaysattonyas.blogspot.com

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  15. He is adorable, I hope he grows out of the asthma. And I hope he feels better.

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  16. Oh gosh I hope he doesn't get any sicker and starts to feel better. I hate when people don't realize their kids are super sick and need to not go to school.

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  17. If it's any consolation, I grew out of asthma as an adult. Best to you.

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