Mild Asthma

[YourMajesty]

Anyone have a kiddo that has asthma but does not wheeze? DS(8) will cough or stop to catch his breath when he is having trouble. However, sometimes it's hard for me to know how much trouble he's having since it's mild asthma (mostly in the small airways). I hate to see him taking deep breaths often even when he is sitting (not running or playing). My question is...can they get in a habit of taking deep breaths even when they don't need too? I have plans for his peak flow but he can have a significant cough and trouble exercising and still blow a decent peak flow number. Any experts available on this topic?

 

[Aidensmom]

I have cough-variant asthma that is categorized as mild. I know that I do take deep breaths as a matter of habit rather than need at times.

 

[YourMajesty]

I have cough-variant asthma that is categorized as mild. I know that I do take deep breaths as a matter of habit rather than need at times.

Thanks Aidensmom for chiming in. It just recently occured to me that these deep breaths might be a habit (especially after coughing for several days). I try to stay on top of things but I dont' want to be "over the top" either.

 

[golfgal]

Anyone have a kiddo that has asthma but does not wheeze? DS(8) will cough or stop to catch his breath when he is having trouble. However, sometimes it's hard for me to know how much trouble he's having since it's mild asthma (mostly in the small airways). I hate to see him taking deep breaths often even when he is sitting (not running or playing). My question is...can they get in a habit of taking deep breaths even when they don't need too? I have plans for his peak flow but he can have a significant cough and trouble exercising and still blow a decent peak flow number. Any experts available on this topic?

Sounds just like DD. She gets worse in the winter months. If she catches a cold we have to put her on Advair and do nebs with her but otherwise she is off meds after being on them for a couple years. She does carry an inhaler and if they do some extra strenuous exercise in gym class, like run a mile, she will take her inhaler before that. That keeps her asthma under control. DS13 has to take daily meds-he also has the cough variant but is more severe. He has had one attack since going on meds 5 years ago.

Is he on meds? Do you see and asthma specialist? How are his numbers when he goes for his check ups? If he is having to catch his breath a lot, he might need more meds. DD could always blow out a good peak flow even during an attack. We couldn't use that as a measure for her at all. I just got familiar with what set her off and how her cough sounded when she was having issues.

 

[floridafam]

Has he had a Pulmonary Function Test. I would at least get one of these. Most likely, he will have 2. He should have one, take medication and then have another one.

My DS would constantly clear his throat before he was diagnosed with asthma. I never thought it was that serious. He looked and acted fine the day of his test. Come to find out, he was having major trouble that day.

He usually has good peak flow numbers.

I hope this helps.

 

[YourMajesty]

Sounds just like DD. She gets worse in the winter months. If she catches a cold we have to put her on Advair and do nebs with her but otherwise she is off meds after being on them for a couple years. She does carry an inhaler and if they do some extra strenuous exercise in gym class, like run a mile, she will take her inhaler before that. That keeps her asthma under control. DS13 has to take daily meds-he also has the cough variant but is more severe. He has had one attack since going on meds 5 years ago.

Is he on meds? Do you see and asthma specialist? How are his numbers when he goes for his check ups? If he is having to catch his breath a lot, he might need more meds. DD could always blow out a good peak flow even during an attack. We couldn't use that as a measure for her at all. I just got familiar with what set her off and how her cough sounded when she was having issues.

DS (8)has trouble with cold air. He has had reoccurent coughs since he was about 7 months old but since he does not wheeze and asthma was never mentioned. He was put on 3 days of steriods once or twice a year for "croup" (now I realize it was just an asthma flare). Last year he palyed basketball for the first time and it was very obvious (very cold outside) that something was wrong. One practice I thought he was going to collapse. I took him to the Ped about three different times and he thought my DS was making it up (his chest hurt, pale, racing heart, rapid breathing...when he practiced basketball)?

Fastforward to right now. He has an allergy/asthma Dr. He takes flovent 220mg(1 puff 2x per/d) singulair at night and albuterul as needed. I've got his numbers too. Both lung function test his small airways (FEF25-75%) were low with a 30 and 33 % change after the albuterol. The large airways(FEV1) were normal in the second and boderline (11% change after albuterol)in the first. I'm reading that in mild asthma only the small airways are affected? We just established the peak flow plan but so far I'm finding I really can't go by those numbers as he can get a good burst of air out even if he is having moderate trouble (for him). I think he sounds simliar to DD but right now he is on daily meds as we are trying to get the numbers where his asthma Dr wants them. We have oral steriods to give but the peak flow numbers may not be a good guide for him (darn...that would have been easy).

Thanks for sharing your experiences with me. I'm sure I'll get it figured out but it helps to talk with others especially when you don't nicely fit in the box with all the obvious symptoms.

 

[YourMajesty]

Has he had a Pulmonary Function Test. I would at least get one of these. Most likely, he will have 2. He should have one, take medication and then have another one.

My DS would constantly clear his throat before he was diagnosed with asthma. I never thought it was that serious. He looked and acted fine the day of his test. Come to find out, he was having major trouble that day.

He usually has good peak flow numbers.

I hope this helps.

First of all thanks for the response. I hope I don't make anyone mad responding to every post. (oops I used a smiley and I can't spell)! I gave his the lung fucntion results in the post above. He has had two so far and his medicine was changed after the second test. We go for a thrid next month. We got our peak flow plan last month. Did you just forget the peak flow numbers and go by symptoms? I wish they wouldn't use it at all if it doesn't predict trouble for his type of asthma. Eveytime we go to the Dr and he blows out a reasonable number... I feel like we (ds or me) look like quacks. Of course his lung function shows what is going on but they do that peak flow just like his wt and ht (like it is very important information). I so hoped he would outgrow all this. (sigh)

 

[justhat]

I can't really help with this question, but it was really interesting to read all of this. My nephew has asthma and constantly gets croup and right now he has pneumonia. My husband (who's a medical student) told his sister how she needs to take him to an asthma doctor cause clearly his ped isn't treating his asthma properly since he always has the croup or some other lung illness. I'm going to relay the into about the tests you guys have mentioned and the medications. He uses a nebulizer everyday, with I think Pulmicort, and he takes Orapred when he gets croup. She never thought of taking him to another dr before and even though my husband did his best to convince her it's necessary, she's still sorta on the fence so hopefully this will push her over. Thanks.

Oh, and I had mild asthma as a kid and I've pretty much outgrown it now. Mine was because my lungs were too small and everytime I'd get the slightest cold it would turn to pneumonia. Once I started taking albuterol every time I had a cold the illnesses stopped. I was pretty young so I don't remember too much before the albuterol, but my mom said I did the heavy breathing a lot too so I think it can be sort of a habit.

 

[golfgal]

First of all thanks for the response. I hope I don't make anyone mad responding to every post. (oops I used a smiley and I can't spell)! I gave his the lung fucntion results in the post above. He has had two so far and his medicine was changed after the second test. We go for a thrid next month. We got our peak flow plan last month. Did you just forget the peak flow numbers and go by symptoms? I wish they wouldn't use it at all if it doesn't predict trouble for his type of asthma. Eveytime we go to the Dr and he blows out a reasonable number... I feel like we (ds or me) look like quacks. Of course his lung function shows what is going on but they do that peak flow just like his wt and ht (like it is very important information). I so hoped he would outgrow all this. (sigh)

My kids are on Advir and have had good luck with it. I know there are some side effects but there are side effects with EVERY medicine you take. Like I said in my earlier post, my DD ALWAYS has good numbers but the first time I took her to the asthma dr and the way she was coughing the dr said "I really don't need to test her, I can her it in her". They did test her, obviously, but some kids just don't present with "normal" symptoms either. It does take a while to get the meds figured out. Did they do allergy testing on him too? That could be part of his problem as well.

 

[YourMajesty]

Did they do allergy testing on him too? That could be part of his problem as well.

We did the allergy testing. He has many allergies in the mild to moderate but nothing off the chart. Unfortunately he had several from every season making them year round. What seems to work for the allergies is the nasal spray (steroid of course). Did your DD test for allergies and how did that go? It just sounds like his astham is very similar. I'm glad to hear you found the meds that worked and now all is under control. I hope we will make it to that point eventually.

 

[Denine]

I have mild asthma. It was diagnosed as an adult.

I have never wheezed, I cough. Sometimes it will feel heavy in my chest and I have to take deep breaths, even if I am not coughing.

I started on Advair about 3 years ago. My 1st PFT was awful. Doc put me on a higher dose of Advair. Took another test a month later, it was much improved. Now, I am on the lowest dose of Advair and have a PFT once a year. They are very good now.

Extreme temp and humidity changes are still bad for me. That is when I need my combivent. Also, if I get bronchitis, I cough forever.

 

[golfgal]

We did the allergy testing. He has many allergies in the mild to moderate but nothing off the chart. Unfortunately he had several from every season making them year round. What seems to work for the allergies is the nasal spray (steroid of course). Did your DD test for allergies and how did that go? It just sounds like his astham is very similar. I'm glad to hear you found the meds that worked and now all is under control. I hope we will make it to that point eventually.

DD doesn't have allergies with her asthma, but the boys both have allergies, seasonal, mostly spring and fall. DS13 has more severe allergies/asthma then the twins and is on meds year round for them.

 

[YourMajesty]

I have mild asthma. It was diagnosed as an adult.

I have never wheezed, I cough. Sometimes it will feel heavy in my chest and I have to take deep breaths, even if I am not coughing.

I started on Advair about 3 years ago. My 1st PFT was awful. Doc put me on a higher dose of Advair. Took another test a month later, it was much improved. Now, I am on the lowest dose of Advair and have a PFT once a year. They are very good now.

Extreme temp and humidity changes are still bad for me. That is when I need my combivent. Also, if I get bronchitis, I cough forever.

Hi Denine

DS is doing the deep breaths right now with this recent flare. It started as a croupy cough he picked up from his brother. The cough is better but it seem like every breath is this deep long production. I'm giving him all his asthma meds plus I did three days of oral steroids. Tonight I gave him some Afrin and told him to try to breath though is nose some. He was so funny when I came to check on him after the Afrin. He said "Mom, this is the best I've ever been able to breath through my nose...I usually just use it for smelling". It sounds like the advair works well for you and others. Thanks for letting me know about your symptoms...I'm learning a bunch!