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Posted: 21 May 2007 at 12:49pm | IP Logged

Well I've just got back from the docs. If you havent read the 'Coughing' thread - Eds has had a cough, mainly at night, for over 5 months now and has always been a coughy baby. It has been getting worse in the past week or so so I decided to make a GP appt but couldnt get through. Last 2 night have been awful though so I called first thing this morning and made an emergancy appt.

Typically by the time we get to the docs eds has a full blown cold so the doc gave me a strange look when I said he had a cough as I was also blowing his nose etc. I explained that although he was obviously worse at the moment due to the cold it had been present since christmas or before, esspecially at night, and I was concerned. I have to admit I was more than expecting to be fobbed off with its a cold, virus etc.

He listened to his chest and asked about family history of Asthma and Allergies. I said I had hayfever and my bro had childhood asthma. He said its hard to tell with him having a cold at present but he thinks it could be mild asthma and has given us an inhaylor and made an appt in 2 weeks to review.

I know this is going to sound SO selfish but I feel cheated! I did everything right whilst pg, gave up smoking, breastfed for 11 months, weaned onto all home cooked food, so all apart from the extra painkillers I had to take whilst pg I thought I'd protected my baby from these sorts of things. I am truly gutted he has this and I feel like crying.

I've shown him his inhaylor and we had some games with it to get him used to it. Now I'm gonna read all the instructions and give him his first blast after his nap. He has a Ventolin Evohaylor 100 micrograms with a AeroChamber Plus. (I know nothing about Asthma!)

Posted: 21 May 2007 at 1:28pm | IP Logged

It's not your fault hun, I did pretty much everything right with Michael but he's got all kinds of problems.  he's been a sever asthmatic since being a newborn, he's 7 next week but is very slowly growing out of it.

It doesn't mean you have done anything wrong, if it's in the family they have more chance of getting it.  At least now it has been diagnosed and Edward can receive the right treatment to deal with it. 

Asthma is very manageable and is usually worse with colds or bugs.  Just keep an eye out for the usual symptoms of a tight chest or wheezing and treat it accordingly.  I now have 3 with asthma and am a sever asthmatic myself.  If it becomes worse your doctors surgey may run an asthma clinic where they teach you how to better manage the situation.

I hope little Eddie is ok and feeling much better soon.

Posted: 21 May 2007 at 2:03pm | IP Logged

I've just read your other post about coughing  - Ellie had a cough like this for months too - she used to cough like mad every morning before she woke up.. 

I mentioned it a few times to the doctor and they did mention asthma but never said that she did have it..

then we went on holiday so I ended up changing her milk from formula to cows milk and the cough stopped almost immediately..

I'm not saying that the doc is wrong but it might be worth changing something in his diet which might be aggravating it?

Posted: 21 May 2007 at 2:08pm | IP Logged

awww, Madz I know you feel, but I think asthma can be genetic (as well as being caused by smoking).

Look at it this way the doctor said that it was mild....it could have been a whole lot worse if you had not taken such good care of yourself while pg and breastfeeding eds for as long as you did. so in a way you should feel proud of yourself. Asthma is very easy manage once you have his inhalers (don't ever go anywhere with out them).

My sister and brother have asthma and have done since they were kids. they still have it but my mum use to smoke.

My dh had childhood asthma and no longer has it, he had to go for a medical a few years ago and was told he had a huge lung capicity and the doctor would never have guessed that he had asthma when he was young. also he did a huge amount of running when he was younger so it can be very easily managed.

Try not to worry,

martha

p.s. If you have any questions I can ask my dh tonight when he comes home from work.

Posted: 21 May 2007 at 2:12pm | IP Logged

dont blame your self madz its not your fault,

joshua was diagnosed with asthma when he was 3 months old and he gets 3 different inhalers and is managing fine.

like strawberry said you could ask at the surgery if there is a asthma clinic there ans they will be able to explain it better to you.

Posted: 21 May 2007 at 2:41pm | IP Logged

hi madz,hope yr feeling a bit better about it all now,have you used the inhaler yet then,how did it go?

i agree with greedy too,sometimes thngs like milk and dairy products can aggrovate coughts etc so its sometimes a case of finding whats right for eds.

dont blame yourself at all hun,you know you did your best and continue to do so everyday...let us know how it goes xxx

Posted: 21 May 2007 at 2:46pm | IP Logged

Certainly don't blame yourself hunni, it's just one of those things. I can understand how upset you are though. My girls have have something or other wrong with them a lot of the time and did the same as you through pregnancy, stopped smoking, didn't drink at all, eat well etc. At least you know what it is now and hopefully get it sorted with the inhaler

x

Posted: 21 May 2007 at 3:10pm | IP Logged

Thanks everyone.

We have just used his inhaler for the first time and he was really good and did exactly what I told him.

I'm feeling a bit better now and trying not to blame myself. I keep thinking about all the painkillers I had to take though and the fact I had him 2 weeks early by emergency c sec and that hes so small etc. I know I probably couldnt have done anything though. I suppose us mothers always blame ourselves.

Greedy thats really interesting. He is on Cows milk already but i'll have a look at his diet and do a food diary (I do one of me anyway) and see if there is anything that stands out.