My Life as an Asthma Mom

    Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) is one of those conditions that can be confused with asthma. Sometimes, when the severe asthma is not controlled on medication, they look at VCD. #2 Son was evaluated for this - and once we were back at the hospital.    He LOVED having a probe stuck up his nose as they watched his vocal chords during speech patterns. Nasal endoscopies are a great way to start the week! Ugh. His vocal folds turned out to be normal, so he just has severe and uncontrolled asthma.    But for some people vocal cord dysfunction is an answer as to why they have symptoms symptoms of asthma, yet not responding to normal asthma medications.    Some people may be taking asthma medication when in reality, it is a problem with their vocal cords.   What is vocal cord dysfunction? It's when your vocal cords close when they are supposed to open. This can cause problems breathing and can be mistaken for asthma.     Symptoms of are: ...

(photo from www.xolair.com ) I'm surprised about how many people have never heard of Xolair . Of course, it's a small percentage of the people with asthma that actually need it.......   Since only 5-10% of people with asthma have severe asthma, many people are unaware of Xolair. Asthma Doc described it this way:  Xolair is an "IgE inhibitor". There are different immunoglobulins in the body, but "E" is associated with allergic responses. There are little 'mast cell' (they look like little prickly balls) in the body that are filled with histamine granules.    When an allergic reaction starts, those mast cells break open and the histamine is released, which starts the allergic response.    We all know what that looks like, swelling, sneezing, coughing, etc. Rather than treating an allergic reaction (with anithistamines), Xolair is supposed to stop that allergic reaction from taking place - way down at the cellular level. With #2 Son's severe asthma,...

    We went to the Old West Festival with the kids this weekend.  Son #1 and daughter Kitty had fun competing in a log sawing competition, followed by carving 'petroglyphs' at the Native American Village.    Surrounding the park were several activities that looked fun, but Kitty rolled her eyes  (apparently she is getting too cool to participate in kiddie activities).    She didn't want to "hunt for the Sheriff", put her in the jail, pan for gold, or participate in the watermelon eating contest. When we saw the "needle in a haystack hunt", we had to turn around and walked the other way. Just walking near the piles of hay with kids clawing through them was enough to make us start sneezing and wheezing.  Then Kitty spied the miniature ponies from across the park. She dragged us over there, but oh, what a shame, the line was too long! What a disappointment! 😉   We also told her that it looked like it was just the little kids who we...

    If there's one thing I've learned over the past 10 years, it's to know asthma terminology.    It helps when I am at the ER to be able to say, "He's he asthma, his peak flow is usually 350 -but right now it's 200." Knowing your kid's peak flow gives them a concrete number, rather than just saying "he's having a hard time breathing". We're also lucky enough to be able to use a friend's oxygen saturation monitor. So I can also say, "their oxygen level is reading at 89 on my sat monitor" (you should be be closer to 100).    They usually admit my kids to the hospital if their oxygen level is at 89 or lower. I tell them not to bother looking for retraction , because my son suffers from air trapping and experiences the 'barrel chest'. Retraction is when they are trying so hard to breath that they use all their accessory muscles, usually sucking in the skin surrounding the chest when they breath.    You can usually...

    It's been really dry lately, I think we've had a trace of rain all month. (Of course just enough to dirty hubby's just-washed-truck) Call me crazy, but when you can "see" the air your breathing - or cut it with a knife - that's not good.   The high pollution levels have made my chest feel tight. And I have a friend who's wheezing can be heard across the room!    Our local news stations list red, yellow, and green air quality days.   It's basic enough. Green is good air quality, yellow means caution - especially for those of us with asthma. And red means the air pollution is dangerous for everyone who lives here.    So we adjust our schedule and avoid being outside in the heat of the day. I exercise in the morning or late evening, when the ozone levels aren't as high. We've also found LOTS of things to do indoors.    In fact, we've seen a lot of movies lately. But hey, it's summer and the kids are out of school. I need to minimize an...

I thought this cartoon was hilarious, it's from my daily calendar. I know how this lady feels, I almost passed out when I went to get Kitty's prescription refilled last week. I had switched to a warehouse pharmacy, hoping they would be less expensive. They weren't. When the pharmacy tech rang up Kitty's prescription, she said "that will be $92". I said "no, no, no, that's not right. It's always $32." I was sure they had made a mistake. She helpfully asked if I had a new deductible or if the new insurance year was just starting for us. DOH! (insert Homer Simpson inflection.) Yes, it was technically a new insurance year (never mind that it's July). Like most normal people, my new year starts in January-silly me. So, it was $96 for a one month supply. Now, all 3 of the kids take multiple medications for allergies and asthma, I haven't needed any other refills yet. I'm cringing thinking of the thought of another $96 refill....

           I needed to add a little to last weeks' Flash Back Friday.    Writing about #2's ICU admission took awhile, but wait! There's more! When Son #2 was in ICU in pediatrics, it was my hubby's turn to stay at the hospital and I was at home with #1 son and Kitty. We had a bad night when someone tried to break into the house. Kitty was crying, so I got up to check on her during the night and heard a distinctive slam of the front screen door.    Our clergy leader had warned all of the neighbors of several attempted house break-ins and to be aware. So my heart was racing as I grabbed Kitty out of her crib and ran across the house to check on Son #1 son - who was sound asleep.    I heard some rustling in the lilac bushes by his window, so I called 911. I was crying so hard the dispatcher could hardly understand me, but I did manage to get out that one son was at the hospital, and I was home alone with the other two kids. When ...

    So what do BIG tonsils have to do with asthma?    Well, a lot if you can't get much air past the tonsils to get to your lungs. Kitty and Son #2 both have big tonsils. In fact, the doctor said, "those things are huge! You could go bowling with them!" Son #2 had his tonsils out a few years ago during Christmas break. It's really fun when you run out of liquid Lortab and have to drive around on Christmas day trying to find liquid Advil and Tylenol.    We did manage to find one 24 hour drug store open on Christmas day. The rest of the customers in there were rushing around trying to find last minute presents! Back to Kitty   Her tonsils are so big that they were almost touching. That causes her to snore VERY loudly. Sometimes we have to get up during the night and roll her over so she stops snoring. She was sick again this Spring and she kept all of us up during our vacation.    In fact, she snored so loudly, she woke up her half-deaf grandpa...

      Well, an early morning departure for a scout camp out for my hubby, Son #1 and Son #2.    I stayed up late worrying about the logistics, such as where can they use the nebulizer?    If they leave the truck at the dock, does the boat have a cigarette lighter that they can use to plug in the nebulizer?    I packed #2's inhaler, but his asthma is so severe, that only a nebulizer will provide relief. He simply can't breath deep enough to use the inhaler when he starts coughing. My husband called from the dock, he knew I was worrying about if there was a medical clinic close by, luckily there is.    I hope they don't need it. (Unfortunately, the worst case scenario has come true many times for us!)    They have enough supplies to take care of any first aid accident, I firmly believe that if I pack it, they won't need it!    It's the one time I forget to pack a medication that they suddenly need it. It's Murphy's...

    4th of July always makes me a little jumpy. I have PTSD from my son's traumatic hospitalization. About 8 years ago, the "fun" started with Son #2 when the neighborhood started to fill up with smoke from a forest fire.    My son was 5 years old at the time, and had been outside playing with friends. I didn't notice the smoke filling up the valley and brought him inside and gave him a breathing treatment. Later, he wanted to go out that night and watch fireworks so we reluctantly let him watch a few neighborhood fireworks.    The coughing was persistent, so we did another breathing treatment and watched him throughout the night. The next morning, after giving him another treatment, I went into the kitchen to wash out the nebulizer. When I walked back into the living room, I saw a side view of him laying on the couch - his stomach was sucking in dramatically and his lips were turning blue. I called my next door neighbor and said, "Come quick! I need to t...

      Wow! Is anyone else having a hard time with allergies?!    Grass is in the "extra high" category right now - and I can tell!    Anytime I go outside, my nose stuffs up, I sneeze uncontrollably, my chest tightens up and I start coughing. Now the recurrent nose bleeds are starting thanks for nonstop sneezing. It's driving me crazy!    My yard is so pretty this time of year, my stress relief is to go outside and putter around in my flower bed. Pull a few weeds, water or trim.    The backyard has strings of lights going across the yard and it's beautiful to sit back there at night.    But the longer I sit outside, the worse I feel. I finally had to take my own advice and start showering at night. Our asthma and allergy specialist has always recommended this, and the kids shower every night.    Of course, their allergies are so bad that they're doing immunotherapy (allergy shots). If they don't shower at night, ...

        No posting on Monday, I was having fun on another 4th of July weekend!    My heart still feels like it's going to burst when I watch the parade-with the American flag and all the servicemen. There's nothing like a good BBQ, watermelon, corn on the cob and ice cream. Of course we have to top that off with fireworks, but the smoke always makes me nervous. In fact, whenever I hear one of the kids cough, I say "Who's coughing? Who's coughing?!!"    Sometimes my worry is warranted, other times one of my teenagers will say, "Mom, chill. I just swallowed wrong!" I think the thing with asthma is that you never stop worrying.    Of course many days go off without a hitch, but other days you get blind-sided by something you didn't anticipate. Like smoke from fireworks.    Can't we be a normal family and just light fireworks on the 4th of July without me hovering and making sure the kids don't get too close to the smoke?! It also...

          Hmm, my first flash-back Friday post.    I guess I should start with the first time one of the kids was diagnosed with asthma. Son #2 was 5 years old, and was sick and coughing (as usual). I had previously taken him to the pediatrician with an article from a parenting magazine about asthma. He seemed to be sick quit often, and when he was sick, his cough was horrible and would last for weeks.    The pediatrician assured me nothing was wrong with him. This time, along with the cough, sore throat, and weakness, he was quite pale and I felt like something was wrong. When I got to the pediatrician's office , I explained that I was supposed to be on strict bed rest, (I was 8 months pregnant) and could they quickly take a look at him?    I thought they would give him a prescription for an antibiotic and send us on our way. But, they took one look at him and suddenly the room was full of people working on him. They gave him ...