I have to be honest and say that God has truely blessed Jeremy and I with very healthy children. We have bascially never had any serious health issues until lately. It all began probably at the begining of Christmas break 2008. Caroline went from having a very bad cough one night to waking up the next morning running a 102 degree fever. When we got her in to see the dr., she was diagnosed with bronchitis on the verge of phenomia. We did breathing treatments (which was new to me) and I have to say I honestly feel sorry for those parents that have to do that to infants. It must be horrible. Caroline's got better rather quickly but her cough never really went away. Then over Easter break we went to Jeremy's parents for the week. The first night we where there Caroline woke up and sounded horrible. She would gasp for air and then cough. Her cough sounded something like a seal barking or croup (for those more experienced parents). The whole ordeal really scared me but she ended up waking up the next morning acting normal.
About two weeks ago, we started her on the Jennings swim team for the summer. About the third day of tryouts, I could tell she was already not feeling well and then they moved her into the big pool. She freaked!! My very mature, reasonable child became very out of control and unresonable. She cried and started with the barking cough again. I sat there and watch my 7 yr old struggle to breath, and I knew something was wrong. The next day we found out Caroline has allergy and exercise induced asthma.
I felt like a horrible parent because now I look back on certain days when Caroline acted aggitated and out of the norm and now realize that she was actually having trouble breathing. Now I feel like I should shout it from the roof tops that every mom, new or old should be well aware of the symptoms of childhood asthma. Sometimes the signs are not as obvious as Caroline's were but they are still there. Asthma is very common and treatable but I feel like someone should have warned me along the way to watch out for the symptoms in any of my children. From one mother to another please get informed!
Don't feel bad. I didn't know that I had asthma until my senior year of high school. I always thought I was just not as good at track as the other kids. It's great that you now know what it is and what she can do for help! XO Meredith
ReplyDeleteRiley had a deep dry cough for a while now, I finally took him into the doc, he said Cough variant asthma and exercise induced asthma, and the he also had mycoplasma, like brohnchitus.....it cleared up with anti biaotics, and breathing treats...and now he has it agian only at night and not always.....the doc is thinking allergies now not asthma......still trying to figure it all out too.....they took blood from Riley this past thurs, should know in a week or so what is up, I was rearranging his room today, and noticed him starting to cough again,. i think the dust triggered it, *note that to tell doc*
ReplyDeleteAll in all im there with ya! A freind of mines little 5 yr old DD has exc asthma too!