Respiratory Problems~

All the advice you have already gotten is great! There is just one more thing that I would suggest, because of my son. Go to the children's hospital and have an immune deffiency test done on him. If he does have something wrong with his immune system, then each time he goes on antibodics they need to change what they give. They can't use the same thing twice no matter how long it's been since the last. You would have to keep up with what medicines he took last time each time.

Did you breastfeed? That's the best way to boost your child's immune system from the beginning. Keep him away from secondhand smoke... Even the lingering smell from someone smoking when he's not around can harm his respiratory function. Make sure he's eating lots of fruits and veggies. Also, there are supplements, like Vitamin C and Echinacea that help boost the immune system. Here's a link to some for children. http://www.herbalremedies.com/imsyssupinsm.html You can find varieties of these at local health food or drug stores. Even WalMart has supplements, but I'm not sure what they have in the way of ones dosed for children. Fresh garlic has infection-fighting properties as well.

Hi M.,
I just wanted to respond to your question. I feel like you just need to give him lots of hugs and kisses. Oh and he needs to see his aunt more often!!! I am glad to see you on here and I hope you get lots of good advice on this. I know you are worried about it.
Your sister,
T.

HAS YOUR SON BEEN TESTED FOR LUNG DISORDERS? SUCH AS ASTHMA. HE WAS BORN 5 WEEKS EARLY, BUT I AM SURE HIS LUNGS WERE CLOSE TO MATURE IF NOT MATURED. ALSO YOU MAY WANT HIM TESTED FOR CF(CYSTIC FIBROSIS). IT WILL CAUSE HAVIC ON A CHILDS LUNGS AND BREATHING. THE CAN DO THE TEST FOR IT BY EITHER A SWEAT TEST OR BLOOD. THERE IS DIFFERENT DEGREES OF THIS. HE MAY HAVE A MILD CASE. I MYSELF HAVE ASTHMA AND FROM WHAT MOM HAS TOLD ME WHEN I WAS BORN-2YEARS OLD I BASICALLY LIVED IN THE HOSPITAL. IF YOUR CHILD IS AROUND CIGARETTE SMAOKE THAT WILL CAUSE THE EAR INFECTIONS, PLUS ALL THE RESPIRATIORY PROBLEMS. I MYSELF SMOKE AND I TRY TO DO IT OUTSIDE. I HAVE A CHILD WITH ASTHMA AND HE DOES NOT TOLERATE IT. HE ALSO KEPT EAR INFECTIONS WHEN WE SMOKED AROUND HIM. BUT IF YOU ARE A NON SMOKER THAT IS GREAT.
THE ONLY THING I CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF IS TRY NOT TO LET A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND HIM YET. EVEN THOUGH HE IS 10 MONTHS OLD, HIS BODY FOR SOME REASON IS NOT FIGHTING THE BUGS. ALSO I AM SURE YOU DO ALREADY IS TRY A HUMIDIFER. IT WORKS WONDERS WITH MY KIDS. CHECK ABOUT THE FLU SHOT, IT ALSO HELPS A LOT WITH MY KIDS.
HOPE THIS HELPED SOME.

Have you thought about a second opinion or seeing a pulminologist? My son had a lot of breathing problems when he was a baby, would cough up large amounts of mucos, had been hospitalized for pneumonia, the whole nine yards...I love his pediatrician and understood his delay in diagnosing asthma. At visits he only had a noticible wheeze every once in awhile, and the doctor was reluctant to put him on inhaled steriods with out first having solid proof there was an actual pulimanary issue at hand. Obviously you don't want to do that to anyone without knowing they have a real problem.
When my son Matthew went in for his second set of ear tubes, they were to remove his adnoids as well but could not intibate due to the wheeze he had that day. Two days later we were outside playing ball when I saw how out of breath he was from playing just for a few minutes. I called the doctor and basically told him he was gonna give me a diagnoses od asthma and put him on some medication or I was seeking treatment elsewhere. I gently reminded him that I understood his relutcance, but I'm his mother and I live with kid, this IS NOT right, he's sick!
A couple years later he's on a Singulair tablet and 2 puffs twice a day of Flovent and in relatively good shape. The infections have ceased, and though he still gets winded after rough play occasionally, it's very seldom and he's a much healthier, happier kid.
I wish you the best of luck in finding out what's wrong. I know how hard it is to have a baby that is sick non stop, in and out of doctors offices, and being a sleepless mommy! I would try a second opinion and just see what another doc has to say. Understand the reluctance and how dangerous it is to put a kid on drugs they don't need, but also maintain that your his mom and you know there is something more going on.

Hi M.,

My son kept getting colds and ear infections along with the occasional bout of pneumonia. I've done a lot of reading up on nutrition. Dairy products create mucus, so I took him off dairy and gave him soy milk instead. It really worked with the mucus issues. Maybe it's a step you could take or try out. Good luck!

J. W.

M.-
Yes, there is something more you can do. Most people are not aware of the side effects that chemicals can have on our health that are used in our own homes. Get rid of those dangerous cleaning products! We assume that products we buy at the grocery store are safe, yet there are no regulations on what is put on the grocery store shelves. Most consumers do not read labels and do not realize the exposure of toxic products on a cumulative basis. If you walk down the aisle at the grocery store containing the cleaning products you will notice the strong smell. This is called outgassing. These products emit the same chemicals into the air in our own homes and can affect our breathing.
Children and adults with asthma and other respiratory issues are extremely sensitive to these chemicals and will improve and even eliminate their symptoms completely by simply switching to products that are safe for your home, your health, your family,and the environment. Even detergents that our clothes are washed in and other products applied to the skin such as lotions, shampoo and soaps can have an effect on our respiratory status as well as other skin irritations such as eczema and psoriasis.
Please feel free to e-mail me at ____@____.com if you would like to know more, as it is not possible to include all of the information in a response. There are solutions and preventative measures you can take to improve the health of your child as well as your family.
S. G.

Hello M.:

I wanted to give you information that may have not even been thought of. My husband and I have custody of our twin grandchildren. They are currently 17 mos old. We have had the same problem that you are going through with both of them since birth. When Corbin was 11 mos old we had tubes put in his ears. Now Mackenzie has taken a bit longer to find out the culprit with her. She is getting her tonsils and adnoise taken out on November 10, they are enlarged. It has taken this long to get the doctors to get this figured out. Mackenzie had a sleep study done and she has mild apnea because of the tonsils and adnoise being enlarged. I don't mean to scare you I just don't want to see anyone go as long as these two had to before getting them well. Good Luck and God Bless

My son has had numerous respirtory problems as well and the doc said when he is a year he can be tested for asthma. Maybe you should ask your ped if that is a possibility!