I plan on finally taking some action as far as Eric's breathing goes at or next well check, and I'm not sure what to do. I was always told once his reflux is under control his breathing will improve, but even when his reflux isn't an issue his breathing still isn't right. I know the 2 are related, but I just feel that an entire year of his lungs getting invaded has made it so just treating his GERD obviously isn't going to do the trick.

He breathes like he just ran a marathon all the time. He gets wheezy at times and his nose is always stuffy. The constant coughing, and clearing his throat and the bubbling in his chest have all gone away, and he hasn't stopped breathing since around 7 months old. So things have improved for him, but there's still problems.

What kind of breathing treatments have you all used? What do you feel helps your little one best?
I really want to stay away from any steroid treatment if I can, but I'm thinking maybe an antihistamine of some sort. Anyone have good luck with an antihistamine?

I gave Eric cold medicine with an antihistamine in it and saw no difference at all, but then again he was sick and had a cold at the time.

Any advise at all or input would be appreciated.

I'm just trying to decide if I even want to open this can of worms, ya know

Catherine uses Rhinocort Aqua every single day. This is a nose spray used to treat allergic rhinitis. It is a steriod, but since it's topical, it does not get into the bloodstream. It treats the inflammation caused by nasal allergies.

She also gets, via nebulizer, albuterol (bronchodilator) and pulmicort (preventive steroid) as needed.

Singulair, a chewable, is used to treat asthma and nasal allergies in children over 1 year. My son has taken this daily since he was 4. We'll look into this for Catherine once she gets enough teeth to chew it. It's a small pill, about the size of a prevacid solutab, but it doesn't dissolve.

Iain's asthma was under control and not treated for nearly two months this summer, and when I think back to it he was on singulaire at the time. Definately worth giving a try. Our ped allergist said that it was a miracle drug of sorts and not many peds use it. Thanks for this post as I may ask my ped for it now and give it a go.

Iain is on flovent and ventolin. I hate pumping all this crap into him everyday, but find he needs the flovent quite a bit and ventolin as needed only.

My allergist said that control the reflux and you control the asthma, too. I do believe her as he is better than he ever was before. I think it is like anything GERDy, you have to take it as it comes and realize that it is not going to go away. I expected all his asthma problems to disappear (and they really pretty much did for those 2 months) and stay gone, but I was misguided.

Leigh ... we live for July/August here when all the plants die from the drought, lol. No freakin' pollen in the air and no one mowing their lawns!!!

Thanks ladies,
I'm still really confused as to what to do, but hopefully the doc will come up with something that we both agree on and that helps him.

Eric has been having night wake ups and restless sleep for about 2 weeks now. I decided that I would up his reflux med to the max again (was on min) last night and baby Darth Vader disappeared. (I actually had a hard time sleeping and had to keep checking to see if the monitor was on) And disappointingly he slept more soundly too. I was really hoping that his wakes ups were more due from separation anxiety or something. I upped it so I could rule GERD out, not confirm. Bummer.

I only had to wipe his little nose one time today and he woke from his nap with a regular little nose too.

So now I'm not sure what to do. He sure is feeling good today. A little huffy and puffy still, but the snot is way under control.
I'm happy that he is, but why does it have to be from upping his meds again?!
I KNOW quit your whining!

Sorry, Minnie, I don't have any advice. I use the nose spray myself that Lesley spoke about, and it works great for me. It reduces the inflammation, allowing things to move through easier. Nice... I hope Eric's ped can offer some better advice!

You might try some meds, Minnie. I know how much we pump into these kiddos and I hate it, too. The flovent is such a regular thing around here as even Curran gets it when he is chesty. It does work, though. Or ask about singulaire.

Lesley, the weird thing is that Iain had just started his reflux meds when we got a break from the snot pools and horrid breathing. It was still there, but not as bad and we did not medicate. The previous year he was sick all summer long, so I do not think he is triggered by pollen, etc. I guess I will have my answer this summer, eh?

Minnie, Eric sounds just like Parker. His reflux is now under control but he still had this mainly night time coughing. I have been using a preventative steroid and it cleared up straight away- Not what you wanted to hear. They put him on a real strong dose to start and are now weaning him down to what the Dr says is a real low amount- she said if you give them a large amount to start with and then decrease you can actually end up on a lower dose. He is also having less apnea at night now.

My other son has mild asthma and this is treated with probiotics and for most parts is under control (I sometimes have to give inhalers during winter). He has 1 yakult a day ( a iquid probiotic drink)- recommended by the ped. and he hasn't had an ear infection since and his Asthma is very well managed.

Anythings worth a try
Rachel

Hi Minnie,

I agree "once the reflux is under control, the breathing should improve". You say even when Eric's reflux isn't an issue his breathing isn't better. I am wondering how you gauge whether his reflux is better or not. What I am trying to get at is with me, I NEVER had any reflux symptoms, I just knew I must have reflux b/c I was diagnosed with asthma. BUT...I still have not symptoms at all of reflux (Thank God).

For the past year or so I have been on 10 mg Singulair everynight, 40 mg of Protonix morning and night, Advair morning and night and Nasonex in the morning. Every once in awhile the asthma still gets so out of control and I am hospitalized and/or put on steroids which I hate b/c I gain weight. This past hospital stay I was given a different nasal spray called Ipratroplum Bromide - it is suppose to be better if you have asthma.

This time the steriods did not even help...sigh. So now I am also on the nebulizer every 6 hours.

I am getting to the point....
I truly believe (even though I have no reflux symptoms) that this ALL DUE TO REFLUX. Friday night I ran out of Protonix and forget to fill prescription, and I ate supper at 7:30 at night (later than usual). I woke Sat a.m. so bad I could not breathe at all and was on nebulizer AGAIN and stayed in bed all day due to asthma. So, I am just kind of agreeing with your second post ...Eric improved with the increase in reflux meds. I know that sucks and it is not what you wanted to hear.

Good luck with your dr appt., let us know how you make out.

Best wishes
Jean

Thanks a lot everyone.
We (DH and I) decided last night that were going to talk to the doc about getting Eric back on a PPI (on zantac right now), and if that doesn't help, we'll start with some breathing meds. Hopefully the doc agrees or better yet comes up with something even better.

Shae's Grammy,
It really is hard to tell with him when his reflux is "under control" since he doesn't puke or have any other obvious symptoms. I guess I just meant as far as the pain and discomfort he feels. I can usually tell by the way he eats too. He eats really weird sometimes and then I know it's going to be a sleepless day, and restless night.

It scares me a little to try a new med because he did so badly on prilosec, but somethings got to change.

I feel like I'm on a semi wellness fence and we wobble back and forth all the time.
I know I can help him feel better some how. Hopefully the doc agrees.