SCARED-please help, 3 year old asthma out of control?

[matt's mom]

Kim-

I also use the xopenex. Matt hates the albueterol. Healso hates the neubulizer. He would rather do the inhailer any day but I find the neb. does work much better. I know what you mean about being up every four hours with the treatments. Matt was really sick over Christmas and I had to give the xopenex then wait twety minutes and give the atrovent- no fun.

I think it is wonderful that you are going to become a nurse. My siter is a nurse which helps me ask the right questions. I am a kindergarten teacher. I love kids and enjoy my job as well.

Thanks- Bonny

[BYHOPE1113]

Hey Shelly,

How is Melanie doing these days?

Karly's ears started giving her problems over the weekend and I had some medicines at home so rather than taking her to the Dr, I just started her on Ciprodex ear drops and a new bottle of antibiotic (Vantin). Her ears were bad enough and she was running 102 fever so I didn't have any doubts they were infected. I called the Dr on monday morning and told her what I did. I really thought I was going to get a tounge lashing for not taking her to the ER but I didn't. If fact the dr said, good job and let me know if you need anything else.

I guess she figures we have been around this block enough times, I should be able to figure it out. Karly is doing much better, now.

Hope things are going well. By the way, we now have another mom who we can bounce ideas off of. See we are not alone!

Welcome to our little health chat area Bonny!

Kim

[Ratatosk]

We were told by our doctor and the respiratory therapists that we can mix the albuterol and atrovent together. We neb DS with that for 15-20 minutes while we do CPT (he has CF), then we neb him with an antibiotic 'cuz he's cultured pseudamonas.

I recently heard from some adults with sinus and lung problems about the benefits of using oil of oregano. While I would never try any holistic remedies on DS without a doctor's authorization, and certainly not on such a young child, it is WONDERFUL to hear that people who are trying both the oral and nebulized versions are having fewer infections, increased pfts...

One thing that has been approved recently by the FDA is hypertonic saline and my mom who has sinus problems, has been using the 3% solution and says it works wonders. Cuts thru all that crud, helps her to breathe better, more deeply.

[matt's mom]

I know you can mix albuterol and atrovent but you can't mix it with xopenenx. I am not sure why. What is hypertonic saline? I am just curious. Is that a nasal wash?

Thanks- Bonny

[BYHOPE1113]

That's the first time I've heard you can't mix Xopenex and Atrovent. In fact none have my doctors have ever told us otherwise and they know I do it all the time.

In fact, now that I think about it, they have prescribed it together. When Karly is really bad here's the regiment our specialist prescribed

With Nebulizer
Xopenex - wait 20 minutes
Xopenex + Atrovent - wait 20 minutes
Xopenex

If no significant improvement, take her to the ER immediately.

We've had to do this several times. If anybody else out there has any information on this please let me know. I will definately be calling my doctors office to check what the results of mixing the two might be.

I have been told not to mix her Pulmicort with anything Xopenex/Albuterol or Atrovent.

Kim