The Allergist

This was the big week. My son had an appointment with an allergist to determine if he has asthma or if he has allergies. The doctor stated he was not diagnosing him with asthma. In his opinion, doctors are making that diagnosis a little too quickly.

He checked my son's eczema spots and noted there were dermatitis and eczema. He also said that while my son's breathing was a bit labored, it was the result of bronchitis. So, he gave him a nebulizer treatment in the office and prescribed a different brand of medicine for the nebulizer we already have. The new one is suppose to dry up the mucous in his lungs quicker.

All in all, the doctor thinks my son is having allergic reactions to colds due to allergies. On November 5th, we will take him back to the doctor to determine exactly what is causing the allergies. He will undergo a few simple tests and in 48 hours we will know the answer.

I am relieved. I have prayed about this and just knew that my son was not having asthma attacks. I am comforted knowing the allergist feels the same way. This bit confirmation / information gives me great hope. The use of immunotherapy shots to help the body adjust to and/or stop having allergic attacks is awesome!

We will continue to monitor him and the doctor said he will let us know if he recommends pulling him out of the 2 days of pre-school at the church. If that happens, we are okay with that. His sister didn't start school until she was three. In fact, she never had a cold until she started school. Home schooling is sounding real good these days.

Triggers

As I read through the list of things that trigger asthma, I felt helpless. It didn't help that I watched the doomday show on cable last night either. So many books on whether or not there is global warming has really confused me. I am left wondering if our (the world) situation is hopeless or not. We consume too much energy, burn too much coal, drive too many cars, grow too little food, we don't recycle enough and our health and earth are deteriorating because of it all.

How do you reconcile in your mind what to do with all of these issues? How do you determine if doing your part is "enough"? Check out the article below.

Linton, Angela "Things That Trigger Asthma Symptoms in Children." Things That Trigger Asthma Symptoms in Children. 30 Sep. 2009. EzineArticles.com. 4 Oct 2009 .

I recently learned, my then 23 month old, son has been having mild asthma attacks. We recently move to the Carolinas from Florida and never had a problem in Florida. I have two children and both have had eczema (no more than three small spots each). My daughter is 4 has not had any asthma flare ups to date and her eczema is better since the move.

My son's first flare up in our mind was the first week of his first swimming lesson during the summer. At the end of the first week's lesson we notice a slight cold, stuffiness and labored breathing. We gave him Claritin and a stuffy nose medicine thinking it would clear things up and help him through the cold. By Monday morning, the labored breathing was worse and we called the doctor.

The doctor diagnosed him with pneumonia, but also said she thought he should be prescribed Singular to help prevent asthma. I was working during this appointment, but heard the news and immediately said I could not accept that information. Neither of us, as parents, have asthma and we never had this problem with my son until we moved. I believe the swimming lesson caused the pneumonia, but am still puzzled by a diagnosis of mild childhood asthma that requires a pill a day to prevent asthma.

I am left with a lot of questions. Do I put my son on this medicine everyday if I don't believe he has asthma? Should I do this, if it is only mild? Will he grow out of it? Will his body build up a tolerance to this medicine so that he needs it forever?

As a working mother concerned with the overuse of any medication and low tolerance for all medication. I have concerns.