taking a nebulizer?

[traej73]

Hi. My dd (16 months) has had two bouts of what the dr.'s are calling asthma caused by upper respiratory virus. She is nearing the end of one right now. It is so new to me and very stressful. We are going down the end of sept. and I asked the dr. if we should be the nebulizer in case and she said yes. I am worried that she will get a cold and thus have another episode of wheezing. Or the change in weather will cause one. We are from PA. Anyone take a nebulizer? How did your child do? I know that I cannot predict the future but I can't imagine dealing with this stress while on vacation. Any advice is welcome. Thanks, Trae

 

[tlbwriter]

I've taken it on trips (not to WDW) when DD was younger. She's 6 and hasn't used it in over a year, but at your child's age she used it at least once every winter. I'd take it - better to be safe than sorry. Different weather, different allergens, tons of germs...

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

We take ours on every vacation. My DS has not needed it the last 2 vacations, but I like knowing I have it if needed.

 

[GillieRose]

We didn't take my sons. But the doctor gave us the syrup in case he started to wheeze. He only has ashtma if he gets a cold. But he didn't need it the whole trip.

 

[RachaelRol]

Hi! My DS4 has Astham that is triggered by dogs, trees, grass, mold, ragweed, etc... We absolutely take his nebulizer on every trip. It doesn't hurt to take and better safe than sorry. Depending on your little one's triggers, the Dr. may be able to prescribe a preventive treatment plan prior to vacation.

Have a healthy trip!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

Depending on your little one's triggers, the Dr. may be able to prescribe a preventive treatment plan prior to vacation.

Correct, this is POSSIBLE. Just please, PLEASE don't press the doctor for a preventative if he/she says it's not possible in your child's case. My wife is a pediatrician, and I can't tell you how many times she's come home frustrated by parents who had gotten irate with her for not being able to guarantee that their children wouldn't have problems just before vacations, Christmas, etc.

I'm also the parent of a 5 year old and almost-3 year old with asthma. We brought our nebulizer and Xopenex with us to WDW in May. We kept it in our room, but if there had been an actual flare-up we could have taken it in our back pack.

You may also want to ask your doctor about using something called an AeroChamber or AeroChamber Plus, available by prescription and manufactured by Forest Pharmaceuticals. It's clear lightweight plastic, about 6 inches long and is designed for small children to be used in conjunction with an inhaler (which little ones can't normally use because they'd be unable to follow the specific directions for one of those pocket-sized inhalers). Your doc may even have an AeroChamber sample he/she can give you for free, if you're lucky.

Talk with your doc, and have a great time at WDW!

-- Eric

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Definitly take it with you........better safe than sorry. I have been to the Celebration Hospital on a few occasions (DS is a speical needs child) and although it is beautiful it is no place to spend a vacation. We took ours on the plane and the 2 times we gave it right to the flight attendant and she stowed it for us. Remember to get an extra perscription for the med (albuterol etc) just in case something happens to the ones you bring. TURNER DRUGS will deliver right to the WDW resorts. Good luck and I hope you dont need it. Just as a little note all 3 of my kids had asthma type problems when they were young...many nights at the E.R. until we got the nebulizer. They have all outgrown it.

 

[angiedora]

We'll be bringing ours for DS8. We always bring it on vacation. Better for my peace of mind!

 

[Manda]

My son (just turned 2 this month) has had similar episodes. His doctors (ENT, allergist, and ped) have told us that asthma is not a diagnosis they give under two - so we don't call it asthma. We don't travel with our nebulizer unless I have reason to (like he has an illness). Although, if I had reason to bring the nebulizer that would probably be reason not to travel and would probably be reason to come home anyway. We do have a prescription for liquid Albuterol that we leave at day care that we pack with us if he seems to have a cough or something.

 

[Laura22]

We had to bring the nebulizer when we went last July becuase my daughter had coughing attacks in the night the whole first year of her life. We ended up not needing to use it in Disney, but we were glad to have it just in case.

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

We always take ours. We've only used it on one trip the past three years, but it was worth it on that one trip!

You never know what is going to trigger the asthma. It takes up so little space for the machine in your suitcase, don't chance it.

 

[minkydog]

Take the nebulizer!! Hopefully you won't need it,but if you do it'll be worth it's weight in gold

I escorted a bunch of kids on a choir tour from Atlanta, Georgia to Omaha, Nebraska last summer. We had one little boy who has lots of allergies & asthma, but had been doing so well all year. Of course, his mom left the nebulizer at home and wouldn't you know, on the last day of the trip this boy had a major asthma attack. None of his inhalers were helping, and we were about to go to the hospital. One of the parishioners went to their home and resurrected their own nebs and saved the day!

Needless to say, that boy took his nebulizer on tour with us this summer.

 

[Me&Mic]

Taking the nebulizer with you will give you peace of mind. My DS (4) is allergic to just about everything and it doesn't take much to bring on an asthma attack. We take the nebulizer on every overnight trip. We all feel more comfortable knowing that it is close by if we need it. And it certainly beats hanging out in the emergency room for hours on end...a trip we often make in the middle of the night during this time of year until the first frost!!

Can't wait for him to outgrow this! ~~pray, pray, pray~~

 

[Whosemom]

Our little nebby friend goes everywhere with us. And I mean everywhere. If my daughter isn't currently engaged in an "episode", it lives under the seat in the car. We haven't taken a plane since she's started having problems, but the nebulizer would surely be in my carry-on.

 

[rt2dz]

We always take our neb. Never know when DS19months asmatha will act up. I generally have medication on hand, which I bring, but our Pedi. will just call in a perscription to the local Walgreens (or whereever we want--Turner Drugs delivers if you don't have a car) if we need something else.

 

[BkrsLoveDis!]

We absolutely always take our nebulizer with us - I'm so used to packing it now that I don't even think about it - I guess because of the peace of mind knowing that if we need it, it's right there!

We have 2 kids and both have used it on a regular basis - I can't imagine a trip without it - come to think of it, my hubbie (with asthma) has actually used it a time or two so the small space it takes up is well worth the trouble.

Take your nebbie and some extra meds - you'll relax more knowing it's there.

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

My dd(4) has had asthma since birth essentially. We went to Disney when she was 2 and although she hadn't had any problems for like 6 months she had 2 attacks whie we were down there. Both times at AK. Needless to say we are definitely bringing it down in Nov. Better safe than sorry. Good luck and have FUN!!!!!!

 

[dlrhine]

To the OP

I live in PA and we found out on our Sept. 2004 trip to Disney that my youngest DD had asthma. We landed at MCO and within 3-4 hours she couldn't breath. We were taken by Ambulance (Reddy Creek) to Celebrations and stayed there the night. We had to get RX filled and also had to find a nebulizer. Now we travel with it everywhere. This Dec. will be our first trip back to WDW with her and will be taking it with us. Besides having Asthma she also has a fatal peanut allergy so we have to take her Epipens.

I take it for peace of mind since change in temp seems to trigger her.

 

[dijid]

Take the nebby. If you're concerned about the size, you can look into a portable one. We bought an Omron CompAir Elite for travel. (Make sure you get the extension tubing and mask for your child - they're extra.) My DS (4) has had asthma since under a year old. We have taken our nebulizer to WDW and we travel with an inhaler and spacer in my purse.

If your child's asthma is not well under control, you should definitely consult with a pediatric asthma/allergy doctor. Better yet, a pulmonologist if you can swing it. Asthma is a chronic condition that doesn't go away in between flares. Perhaps the poster that mentioned the "preventative" was actually talking about maintenance medication. My DS takes several medications daily to "treat" his asthma (Pulmicort, Singulair, Nasonex) in addition to the albuterol and atrovent used to treat flares or attacks. The maintenance medications have made him much more responsive to the rescue medications and we're hoping to go the whole year without a trip to the ER or a bout with steroids.

And the reason they don't call it asthma under 2 years old is based on the stigma of old health insurance policies. If they diagnosed you with asthma at a young age - instead of calling it RAD (Reactive Airway Disease) your child would have a "pre-existing condition". Most asthma/allergy doctors these days think the old way is hogwash. I believe my DS was undertreated for those first two years as he was denied the "asthma" label and thus proper medication. Asthma is serious. Don't take risks with it.

 

[isla bonita]

Take it and you will never have to use it. We took our and as long as you have it you will never have to use it. Thats my theory. Its the stuff we forget that we always need. You know Murphys Law.