Need opinion on my DS's coughing

[wiggles02]

We have been dealing with this for about all of his life and he is 5! Every time DS gets a cold, he coughs until he vomits. He is in K and has already missed days of school. He is fine during the day, but at night when he goes to sleep he gets a tickle and can't control the cough and throws up. Same thing first thing in the am when it sort of all settles in his lungs and he needs to cough to loosen it up. Doctor has him on Pulmicort and Albuterol and just put him on Singulair as a preventative. He does not act sick, however. He never runs a fever through all of this and runs around like a crazy man. This will happen periodically from September to late May and he will be fine all summer. It drives me crazy. My husband says that he just has a easy gag reflex and that he will outgrow it, but it still bothers me. Would you seek advice of a specialist? I just feel so bad for him.

 

[imthatgirl]

im not a dr, but, has your dr ever treated him for post nasal drip? where it seems seasonal it sounds like allergies.
i suffered from post nasal drip for amny years before i found that a decongestant before bed would stop the mucus in my nose from running down my thought. for me it caused caughing, choking and morning nausua(i cant spell that).

like i said im not a dr, but maybe something to look into?

 

[momtomatthew]

My first thought was it sounds like asthma, but your son is meds for that. I would press the doctor for a referal to a pediatric pulmonologist. Don't take no for an answer.

 

[bzzymom]

I posted on your other thread in more detail, but also, dust mites in pillows can really set off allergies. I bought DS a really good pillow cover that is supposed to protect against it.

 

[Disney_Angel]

allergies/asthma or a combination of the both with post nasal drip.....it took us several attacks and a visit to an allergist to figure that out.

Guafeinisen (alone) over the counter at Walmart for $2.82 is the equivalent to Mucinex works WONDERS!!! And there will be no drowsy side affects. But I urge you to take him to an allergist because my dd also needed zyrtec/singulair/and flovent (inhaler to heal the lungs).

Guafeinisen thins mucous only.

Good luck....I have been there!

 

[WantToGoNow]

Take him to an allergic who can get him on the right combination of meds to help. My son (age 7) takes Zrytec, Qvar (inhaler 2x a day) and Singulair for his Asthma and allergies. He also takes Prevacid for reflux and a new one (can't think of the name right now) just last week for Migraines. My son had a bad time with Asthma late this summer after we went camping. We had to add Orepred (double dose) and Xoepenex to the mix. A few days later, he started having Migraines. The Neurologist said that Migraines are commen in children that have to take a lot of Asthma medications.

 

[AuroraBeauty]

I've read on 'alternative medicine'/home remedy sites that putting Vicks Vapo Rub on the bottom of the feet helps.

Put Vicks Vapor Rub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks.

Maybe that will help.

Best Wishes!

 

[disneygoof]

With my second "Sneezy" we tried everything for recurring sinus infections (including adenoid removal), finally tried Zyrtec, even though he tested negative for allergies twice. Worked wonders.

Now we periodically take him off, but when he seems uncomfortable (when he starts at his nose) we put him back on.

Now my first (Doc), give him Zyrtec and he has TERRIBLE emotional reactions. Seriously, crying at the drop of a hat, wicked temper tantrums...Zyrtec is not for everyone.

Talk to your doc.

 

[sdoll]

My son had the same problem and was on the same medication. From 12 weeks-2 years he was sick all the time. I had him in day care (which I hated) at his peak he had 46 sick visits in 3 months. I changed Peds because I did not like my Peds approach. Antibiotic for everything( he had a lot of ear infections too). After a few months of treating my son my new Ped asked if we had any options to get him out of daycare. We were lucky enough to get him out and find a new babysitter that came to our house. For 1.5 years he did not have one cold/cough. I felt like a new woman all the worry was gone. He started preschool 3 weeks ago had croup 3 days later an ear infection 1 week later and hasn't stopped coughing since. Our Ped said we just have to make him comfortable (the meds) and hope he out grows it quickly. The only thing I can offer is a from one Mommy to another I now believe my mom when she used to say it hurts me more than it hurts you. Oh by the way ours is completely seasonal too. hang in there I hope it gets better soon. I know how frustrating it is.

 

[Aristomommy]

I have 2 kids with asthma and allergies. DD9 is one that coughs at night. She used to vomit when she was younger, that was the only way the phlegm would come out. She does not have sensitive gag reflex, just a lot of congestion that needs to come out somehow.

Couple of things that helped her with night coughing: 1. giving her an extra pillow so she is propped up. Before she used a pillow, I would put a wedge under the mattress to proper her up. Helped with asthma, nasal drip and vomiting. 2. nasal spray that dried up the mucus 3. humidifier in the winter time 4. vick's vapor rub or vick's chest patches. Both kids have been on the usual asthma/allergy medicines (albuterol, singulair, zyrtec, steroids, nasal sprays) as well as acid reflux meds as needed.

I would go to a pulmonologist or an allergist to find causes for the coughing. I was fortunate to find a double certified asthma/allergy specialist so we save on co-pays and one Dr. does all testing/medication. Missing a lot of school is a "quality of life" issue IMHO and seeking a specialist is not overkill. HTH

 

[Stephres]

I've got one who has a little, nagging cough-like clearing of the throat. His doctor prescribed flonase to be used seasonally. It really sounds like post-nasal drip maybe combined with reflux. I would get him checked out by a specialist. There is no reason for you both to suffer until he outgrows it, in my opinion, and it is affecting school.

Good luck!

 

[TwoRoos]

A few days later, he started having Migraines. The Neurologist said that Migraines are commen in children that have to take a lot of Asthma medications.

Thanks so much for sharing this! It has definitely given me something to think about. My dd (6) struggled with migraines for several months. At the same time that we began seeing a neurologist, we also began seeing an allergist who diagnosed allergies (to mold and dust mites) and mild asthma. For several months she was taking so much medicine, including meds for her migraines. The migraine meds never worked though, so we took her off of them. She eventually quit complaining of any headaches and it seems to have faded. (Only rarely will she say her head hurts and then it's not very much pain at all.) Although the migraines started before she started taking the asthma meds, I wonder if the asthma meds aggravated her migraine condition. Her neurologist knew about her allergies and asthma and knew what meds she was on, but he never mentioned a connection between the two. Anyway, thanks for mentioning that! It's definitely food for thought for me.

 

[Disney_Angel]

The Neurologist said that Migraines are commen in children that have to take a lot of Asthma medications.

WOW...never knew that! This may explain why DD gets headaches. I just thought it was congestion and pressure. Thank you for sharing.

 

[fhirleighinn]

definetly should request a referral to a Pulmonologist. How are his Tonsils?

 

[Disney_Angel]

The Neurologist said that Migraines are commen in children that have to take a lot of Asthma medications.

WOW...never knew that! This may explain why DD gets headaches. I just thought it was congestion and pressure. Thank you for sharing.

 

[badblackpug]

The coughing until they vomit is common with children. It's called post-tussive emesis. Basically it is what your husband said. Their gag reflex is just more sensitive. They cough so hard, they trigger it. The coughing @ night most definately sounds like post nasal drip. My oldest na my son have allergies and they both do this. My oldest takes Zyrtec my son takes Benadryl, they both work great!