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[ducklite]

I'm an adult asthmatic. I've been on Advair for five years now, and about three years ago added Singulair to the mix. Between the two my asthma has been controlled enough that I use a rescue inhaler maybe twice a month!

Of course I also try to avoid my triggers.

I haven't used my nebulizer since April, and then used it prophylactically--I was going to an all day outdoor rock concert--some of my my triggers are heat with direct sun and singing at the top of my lungs. Needless to say...

I agree with the psoter who said that the important thing is to learn the triggers and figure out which preventative meds work best for you.

Anne

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[dvcbnd]

I am so sorry to hear about your cat. It's always a very difficult time when those type of decisions need to be made. Our pets are part of our families and therefore the loss is tremendous. We had to put our dog to sleep when our oldest DS12 was a year old. She was only 5 yrs old but had developed a cancerous brain tumor therefore there was no alternative. She was failing rapidly. My children constantly ask if we can have a pet but do to our allergies/asthma, I'm afraid to take in a new one.
We will be praying for you to get through this time of sorrow and know that we're hear for you whenever you need someone to listen.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[TaraPA]

Hi LuvOrlando, it's Tara. I hadn't checked in for a few days, and I am so sorry to hear about your cat. We have a cat too, I can't imagine how you must feel. We just debated getting another one, DS's friend has 3 kittens to give away, and they are just so darn cute.

The Ragweed that started about a week ago is really bothering me (sneezing, itchy, watery eyes & throat) but fortunately it has not bothered DS at all.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[GraysMom]

LuvOrlando, I'm so sorry to hear about your cat . We lost our first cat very suddenly when we were dealing with infertility issues. She was our "baby" and it was just awful, so I feel for you. Luckily we found our current sweetheart a few weeks later. Maybe when the time is right, you'll be able to offer a loving home to a new kitty.

I can't believe the nurse at your DS's school is not on top of maintainence meds. I taught first grade before DS was born, and I always had a post-it note taped to my desk to remind me about any kids who had meds to take (if the nurse didn't call at the right time, I would call her and check) as well as a note in the sub folder to send so and so to the nurse at x time for meds (a touchy line to walk with all the HIPPA rules, so I usually ask the parents to write a note giving me permission to put it in the folder).

Maybe you could call the school nurse about 15 min past his scheduled meds time to make sure he's gotten it (a pain for you, I know, but at least your DS will get his meds). Also, does his school have one full time nurse? I ask because the school I taught in had a nurse who split her days between our school and another one about 15 min away, leaving the secretary to dispense meds . The whole situation just made me VERY nervous-especially when I had a student who was deathly allergic to bee stings, which left me as the next in line to administer the shot if he got stung! I hope the school gets with the program soon. If they don't, I would take my concerns to the principal, and then to the director of student services if needed.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[TaraPA]

We've been to CHOP a few times too (not for asthma), what a long day that is. There was always a 90 min. wait or longer too. How ironic that your DS also suffers from nose bleeds - my DS10 does, and I had them as a child as well. About 3 years ago our family doctor suggested we have his vessels cauterized, but the specialist did not see the need for it. He still gets nosebleeds about 2-3 times a week, mostly at night.

The ragweed is pretty bad today, I know I am suffering from the sneezing and itchy & watery eyes. And YES we need rain!!!!!!!!!!

 

[outlander]

Luv, sorry to hear about your cat
Do you still have other pets in your home?

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[TaraPA]

Hey LuvOrlando - I was just about to PM you to check out the DIS Meet for this area that I posted in another thread on the C&C Board! Everyone has very different schedules so this will be hard to get everyone together on the 1st try, but it's worth a shot. I'm at The Promenade 4-5 days a week so I can easily meet at different times as well.

How are you & your surviving kitty doing?? I hope every day gets a little better for you.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[LuvOrlando]

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[TaraPA]

Good Morning LuvsOrlando!! I don't know about those 3 meds at all - BUT - when my DS started with Albuterol (or maybe it was the Albuterol/Prednisone combo) they did tell me it can cause behavior changes in children - and it DID! DS was much more aggitated while on the albuterol. I think I even remember using the word "evil" to describe him! I haven't noticed this side effect since he's older (or either used to the meds) but that could very well be what is causing the meltdowns. That plus school starting could be doing it. My little guy, DS7 (non asthma) has been very short fused the last 2 weeks since school started, and he has always been timid & quiet, always listened to me. For the past 2 weeks he has been slamming doors, bawling his head off & throwing things when he doesn't get his way. I'm chalking it up to school starting & the shorter amount of sleep he gets because of this.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[arminnie]

Does anyone out there have a child on Advair or use it themselves? I'm curious if some people switch to less dangerous maintainance meds when Asthma season is over?

I've used Advair for many years now. I don't consider it dangerous for me at all - it has the exact same meds that I took separately for many years before.

For me (and many other asthmatics) there is no asthma season - it is a year round disease that must be kept under control ALWAYS not just seasonally.

Is your son seeing a pulmonary specialist (preferably a pediatric pulmonary specialist)? I know it can mean one more doctor to add to the list, but they really do treat the long-term health of the lung itself - not just the symptoms cause by the allergies. My pulmonary doctor works very closely with my allergist.

Last year I had to use albuterol twice a day for about 6 months because of an infection. But my pulmonary doctors' goal has always been for me NOT to need the rescue inhaler very often.

Good luck with your son's treatment. Having such a caring parent helps him more than any specific doctor.

 

[arminnie]

I just finished reading the rest of the thread - I am so sorry about your pet loss. I can still barely talk about the loss of my first dog 14 years ago.

I am definitely a dog person (2 now), but I had to go with my sister to have a cat put down last year. It was a stray from the neighborhood that had only been around about a year - but I cried and cried over the loss of that cat.

Hugs.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[outlander]

Oh luvs, I wish I would have seen this earlier! YES, YES, YES...I believe Singulair could very well be the problem. My son had the EXACT same sypmtoms when he was on it. He would just by so moody and crying all the time. I thought I was crazy but it was definitely when he was on the Singulair. I was fortunate that my doctor supported me when I mentioned it to him, otherwise I think I would have kept him on it longer and he (we) would have been miserable. He now takes Zyrtec for the seasonal allergies but he is on Flovent (similar to your Advair) YEAR ROUND. It really is important that you keep him on the maintenance meds year round. For a couple of years I would not believe that it was better for my son to be on meds all the time and every time I would try to think I knew best, he would end up in the hospital. It would work for a few months, but really even a few weeks makes a difference and to try to guess the 'seasons' and triggers that are going to effect their reaction with symptoms. It's just not worth it. Especially since you still have constant environmental triggers that are keeping his immune system in a irritated state. When you are having to use the rescue inhaler (albuterol) more than a few times a month, the asthma is not in control.
I've learned the hard way.