Travel Nebulizer?

[KMZOB]

Hi!
DS3 was just diagnosed with "asthma like" problems. They won't diagnose him fully because they said they can't get an accurate reading at his age. Anyways...we have a home nebulizer since he was hospitalized last month. Because we don't know all the triggers for his breathing problems, I know we will be traveling in September with this thing...of course I am fine with that...but what about in the parks? I've seen online small nebulizers that you can carry with you...has anyone used them? What do you do while traveling?

Thanks so much for any advice!!

 

[MidgeD79]

I posted this very question on the disabilities board. There are battery-operated nebulizers that vary in cost from $99-$179 depending on where you live and what medical supply company you go through. you will a script from the Dr.. Our insurance only pays for 1 every 5 years and we got a plug-in type 2 years ago. We don't know what triggers the asthma attacks and I'm worried about being in the car for extended periods of time. When you call for information, ask about battery-operated types, not just portable. Good luck

 

[KMZOB]

Thank you for the information. We too are still working out what the triggers are...I am fearful that he will have an attack and I won't be prepared! We do know that he has some allergies that trigger attacks. One of his biggest triggers is Tree Pollen. He is severly allergic to it..so I checked a pollen tracker on Zyrtec.com and found that during the fall in Florida there isn't any worry about Tree Pollen allergies, but there is Grass & Ragweed which is also allergic to - but I don't see it being too much of a problem...but we don't know that something else won't give him problems. It's so frustrating, isn't it?!

 

[tink2]

DS6 has had these problems since he was an infant- had lung issues when he was born and they never seemed to stop! Anyway, we have certainly used our share of the nebulizer. I can't be much help on this travel issue though. But, I did want to ask, did your doctor put your son on singular? It is a pill taken every night at bedtime. This has done wonders for my son! He has been on it since he was 2. I usually take him off it in the summer- never had a problem then and doctor said to try it. Then he wanted me to see how he did one fall without it also- ha! He was sick by September and we ended up back on it. Since then, we put him on it in August when school starts back. Anyway, it has certainly helped ds! We didn't even pull the nebulizer out one time this year- that is quite a feat considering we were using it every two hours one year!
Also, when ds started t-ball, I asked for an inhaler in case of emergency. He gave me a perscription for one without any refills to use only in emergency- that might be a thought.
I know it is hard- hopefully you won't have any problems. We take the nebulizer every time we travel between August and June!!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

My wife is a pediatrician, and both of our kids have asthma-like symptoms at times. When we travel, if we don't lug the neb (and Xopenex) with us, we pack a product called Aero Chamber, which is used in conjunction with a metered-dose inhaler.

 

[wrighter]

I, too, wanted to recommend the aerochamber. My DD2 has used it in the past and it is so convenient and easy to use. It took a few times before she was used to it, but after that we had no problem. I highly recommend asking your own pediatriction about it.

Good luck!

 

[wdwaholic]

both my sons have asthma-my 12yo is far worse tho-we never know what will trigger hiis attacks and we have been seeing a pediatric pulmonologist since he was a baby-he is on quite a RX regimen which includes Pulmicort and Albuterol via neb,Maxair and Albuterol inhalers,Singulair and zyrtec, and various rounds of Prednisone.And to llok at him you would'nt even know he has asthma-he plays sports,swims,hikes goes to camp etc. We just had allergy testing done and although it showed he is allergic to something- it was not what they tested for-
We travel with 2 different types of Nebulizers-the first one is called a MADA-it is approx 3lbs and runs on a rechargable battery,wall charge and car charge-it is really great for keeping in the car or flying -have had no problems getting thru security-only drawback is its weight so I researched and then bought another one called an AERONEB this is so lightweight and comes in it's own pouch about the size of a camera bag that can fit on your belt-it runs on 2 AA batteries and is so quiet and great for all around use.Our insurance cevered the MADA but I needed the Aeroneb in a hurry and didn't want to wait for insurance approval so I bought it out of pocket-cost me about $200 and well worht every penny
Sorry this is so long and PM me if you have any other ? HTH!!
Trish

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would also encourage you to do allergey test and consider allergy shots. Our DS has some asthma and trachomashia which is kind of like ashtma of the trachia. We have had a horrible time getting him under control but the best thing we did was to go to the allergy shots. Most dr's hate to go this rounte and often hesitate to do shots unless the allergen reaction is prerry high. With DS though the allergen reaction was not too high, the reaction to the allergen was very strong!!! The allergy shots have been a God-send. He also takes Sigular, as well as asthmacourt, pullmacourt, Astelin, Zirtec and there might be a few more! Preventing the attack is much easier than having to deal with it in the aftermath. DS was premature and has some damage from the NICU experence.

MsSandra

 

[KMZOB]

DS6 has had these problems since he was an infant- had lung issues when he was born and they never seemed to stop! Anyway, we have certainly used our share of the nebulizer. I can't be much help on this travel issue though. But, I did want to ask, did your doctor put your son on singular? It is a pill taken every night at bedtime. This has done wonders for my son! He has been on it since he was 2. I usually take him off it in the summer- never had a problem then and doctor said to try it. Then he wanted me to see how he did one fall without it also- ha! He was sick by September and we ended up back on it. Since then, we put him on it in August when school starts back. Anyway, it has certainly helped ds! We didn't even pull the nebulizer out one time this year- that is quite a feat considering we were using it every two hours one year!
Also, when ds started t-ball, I asked for an inhaler in case of emergency. He gave me a perscription for one without any refills to use only in emergency- that might be a thought.
I know it is hard- hopefully you won't have any problems. We take the nebulizer every time we travel between August and June!!!!

Funny you should ask. He isn't on Singulair right now. He is taking Pulmicort via nebulizer and Zyrtec at night. But the specialist did say that come end of winter he may put him on zyrtec and singulair. He is just waiting to see how he does the rest of this year and then we have to evaluate his meds before spring comes.

 

[KMZOB]

both my sons have asthma-my 12yo is far worse tho-we never know what will trigger hiis attacks and we have been seeing a pediatric pulmonologist since he was a baby-he is on quite a RX regimen which includes Pulmicort and Albuterol via neb,Maxair and Albuterol inhalers,Singulair and zyrtec, and various rounds of Prednisone.And to llok at him you would'nt even know he has asthma-he plays sports,swims,hikes goes to camp etc. We just had allergy testing done and although it showed he is allergic to something- it was not what they tested for-
We travel with 2 different types of Nebulizers-the first one is called a MADA-it is approx 3lbs and runs on a rechargable battery,wall charge and car charge-it is really great for keeping in the car or flying -have had no problems getting thru security-only drawback is its weight so I researched and then bought another one called an AERONEB this is so lightweight and comes in it's own pouch about the size of a camera bag that can fit on your belt-it runs on 2 AA batteries and is so quiet and great for all around use.Our insurance cevered the MADA but I needed the Aeroneb in a hurry and didn't want to wait for insurance approval so I bought it out of pocket-cost me about $200 and well worht every penny
Sorry this is so long and PM me if you have any other ? HTH!!
Trish

Thank you Trish. DS has all the same meds as your DS except the singulair. We luckily haven't had to do any albuterol treatments in the last week. and we have prednisone in the house in case of emergency...it was prescribed last week...
Anyways...Thank you for the names of the nebs...I will look into them!

 

[KMZOB]

I would also encourage you to do allergey test and consider allergy shots. Our DS has some asthma and trachomashia which is kind of like ashtma of the trachia. We have had a horrible time getting him under control but the best thing we did was to go to the allergy shots. Most dr's hate to go this rounte and often hesitate to do shots unless the allergen reaction is prerry high. With DS though the allergen reaction was not too high, the reaction to the allergen was very strong!!! The allergy shots have been a God-send. He also takes Sigular, as well as asthmacourt, pullmacourt, Astelin, Zirtec and there might be a few more! Preventing the attack is much easier than having to deal with it in the aftermath. DS was premature and has some damage from the NICU experence.

MsSandra

We actually had an allergy test done this past monday. The specialist said he has an "Extremely Severe" Tree and Cat allergy and then minor allergies to grass and ragweed. He mentioned doing shots, but wants to wait until we see if the other meds can get him through. He feels his is too young to start them if we don't have to. Also, this was a weird thing...he never had any allergy problems until this year. He has had eczema from when he was an infant, and I've recently been told that is sometimes how Asthma shows it self early on. but, he was suffering so bad this year and then the day after he finally gets on allergy meds he went into respiratory distress. It was crazy! I had childhood asthma so I recognized right away what was happening, but it definetly does not take the fear away! I definetly want to avoid that experience whatever it takes!

I'm so sorry for everyone in this similiar situation. It's awful!! for everyone!!

 

[Aristomommy]

My wife is a pediatrician, and both of our kids have asthma-like symptoms at times. When we travel, if we don't lug the neb (and Xopenex) with us, we pack a product called Aero Chamber, which is used in conjunction with a metered-dose inhaler.

We tried the aerochamber when DD was 3. She couldn't get enough medication through it and it was difficult for us to see if she got the full dose or only partial dose. Her symptoms were out of control so I decided to go back to the nebulizer. This is a good option for her now at 8, but the severity of her symptoms when she was younger prevented the use for us.

 

[dijid]

{{{Hugs}}} to you. My DS has had asthma since he was an infant. We travel a lot and purchased an Omron CompAir Elite nebulizer. We had to get an Rx for it (because it is a medical device) but had to buy it out of pocket as our insurance would not cover it. Still, it was worth it to get the portable unit and even be able to run it off a car battery if necessary. (We have used that feature btw).

We bought this particular unit because it was compatible with pulmicort (not all micronebulizers are) and because it could be used with a mask. Many of the portable units have to be held directly to the mouth. A 3yo may not be able to do this correctly and/or be bothered by all the vibration. While the aerochamber as a spacer is nice, you can only use it to dose albuterol from an inhaler. In our experience, (and echoed by our dr's experience) you just don't get the same results from that as you do from albuterol in the nebulizer.

I don't like being a traveling pharmacy (DS has reduced his daily meds to 3, and has 4 others for "as needed" basis), but I feel it's better safe than sorry.

 

[KMZOB]

{{{Hugs}}} to you. My DS has had asthma since he was an infant. We travel a lot and purchased an Omron CompAir Elite nebulizer. We had to get an Rx for it (because it is a medical device) but had to buy it out of pocket as our insurance would not cover it. Still, it was worth it to get the portable unit and even be able to run it off a car battery if necessary. (We have used that feature btw).

We bought this particular unit because it was compatible with pulmicort (not all micronebulizers are) and because it could be used with a mask. Many of the portable units have to be held directly to the mouth. A 3yo may not be able to do this correctly and/or be bothered by all the vibration. While the aerochamber as a spacer is nice, you can only use it to dose albuterol from an inhaler. In our experience, (and echoed by our dr's experience) you just don't get the same results from that as you do from albuterol in the nebulizer.

I don't like being a traveling pharmacy (DS has reduced his daily meds to 3, and has 4 others for "as needed" basis), but I feel it's better safe than sorry.

I'm really glad you posted this. In my search I saw this company Omron and was going to ask if anyone has used their nebulizers. It was in that search I also realized some nebulizers are not compatible with Pulmicort...I would have never thought that a medicine used with a nebulizer couldn't be used in all nebulizers...I guess I have so much go learn!! My son also won't take the treatments unless he has a mask. When he was in the hospital they tried having him use a mouthpiece...but he just wasn't consistent with it. We got one of the dinosaur masks and he loves it.

Thank you so much for everyone's posts. It's amazing to see how common asthma and allergies are!