Well, I have been thinking about the results of my sons ph probe and all of his symptoms past and present and I think I have a theory on what is going on. Bare with me as I am thinking out loud, or thinking in writing....or whatever! =)

I understand that he has reflux, that has been confirmed but I have been thinking about the asthma and how that relates, and what this new information may say about what is really going on.

The ph probe results showed that my son was having reflux episodes mostly while he was being active, playing, running around. Well, I thought about his athma and how he would begin coughing and have asthma issues when he was being active, particularly while on the trampoline or running. Then I began reading about asthma, and reflux and activity and found that one theory on how asthma and reflux are related is that they reflux and for some the reflux is swept up into the back of the throat, reswallowed and then inadvertantly ends up in the lungs, irritating the airways, causing the coughing, inflammation, asthma symptoms!

Well with my son being off of the meds for 2 weeks now I can see him hourly, choking a bit on fluid in the back of his throat, reswallowing, making a grimace as he does this and his voice has been "wet".

So, it all makes sense that this is what has been going on!

Another asthma symptom my son would have was vomitting mucous, and coughing so hard that it sounded like he was having a laryngo-spasm. Well, again that would make sense if he had acid in his throat and airway.

I just feel so bad that if we had just known about the reflux we could have possibly been heading off the asthma before it ever started!

Anyway, how many others here have asthma/reflux related issues? Just curious. Thanks for baring with me, all of this may be common knowledge, but I am just rying to get it all figured out now, and seeing the big picture!

We have asthma/reflux related issues. On my sons first pH probe he was 14 months and it showed half the episodes as reflux and half as asthma, they could tell from it and what happenned first the cough or the reflux as wo which it was.

Getting him on puffers mainly in the winter has alleviated all of his cough, this helps when he coughs and he refluxes because of it. He is also on a PPI, which stops the refluxing and acid so that stops the reflux and the cough that procedes it.

I am so sorry that it has taken so long to get him properly diagnosed, it took me so long to get to the bottom of all my sons symptoms, but now I know what is going on and when it is a lot easier. Parker is 3 too, so I always thought in the beginning that this was something all kids grow out of, but it isn't for some.

There is a definate connection between asthma and reflux. In fact there are studies out there that show that 98% of people who have asthma also have a compodent of reflux. I personally have severe reflux and when mine acts up in the middle of the night, I have to use my rescue inhaler... (also being a respiratory therapist) I have seen a lot of reflux patients have asthma.

If your son is having a lot of asthma problems it sounds like the reflux is not under control, I would push for increases in the reflux med doses, and maybe another med to be added to the combination...
the acid going into his airways is what is making the loud noise, its causing a bronchospasm... which can sound very scary.... I would make sure that i have rescue meds like albuterol or xopenex handy for that situation

If he is aspirating any reflux into his lungs it can cause infections, bronchitis, pnemonia....

I would also suggest that you find a pediatric pulmonologist to treat him for his asthma, they do a great job in controling the asthma symptoms.

It sounds like you are on to something. I hope that getting the reflux meds right will also help with the Asthma symptoms.

Julie~
That sounds similar to Lilly too. I wish that reflux didn't have any side affects, but at least people are seeing that they are related. Lilly's too small to do too much about it yet (we still have the big bulky nebulizer), but I'm keeping my eye on the issue for when she can be diagnosed.

Definitely an AHA moment. :smt041 Isn't it great when you have one of these?!

We had it put together by our allergist who was the one to diagnose my then severely FTT and immune suppressed toddler a couple of years ago with GERD and GERD with the asthma connection. She was so right when she told me that his asthma would clear up/become more manageable once his reflux was more controlled. His asthma always flares when his reflux flares. Prior to meeting up with her when he was 14 months old and still undiagnosed, we had him diagnosed as asthmatic at the age of 7 months in a city where they refuse to label a child as asthmatic until they are over 2 years of age. (he is my only silent refluxer, so diagnosis took a LOOOOOONG time.)

Also, my middle son has reflux and has been called asthmatic several times, but I knew something was different with him as he did not always suffer from asthma-like symptoms. Again, when his reflux flares, he goes "chesty" and takes the path of asthma, still to this day. He has had bouts of recurrent pneumonia and last year was good for pneumonia, but we are starting up poorly so far this fall and again he is much more refluxy. A recent trip to the allergist for him pretty much has him on the path to asthma again. Drat.

So, you are not crazy in the slightest and have made a very important connection. My only advice is to watch the reflux as it worsens, so will the asthma. Control the reflux and asthma will subside.