whitleybay
member
Reged: 09/08/2008
Posts: 540
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I touched on this in a post yesterday. All advice gratefully recieved.
My son is 14. Excema as a baby, hayfever for ever, this year we were told he has asthma.Fit young guy who loves his sport, does not smoke but is now using 2 inhalers.It started suddenly one night and must admit it frightened the life out of me to see him gasping for breath.
I have hoovered, dusted, bought him a new bed, anti-allergenic covers and pillows. We have 2 cats, always banned from his bedroom.
The GP advised staying away from dairy products, so yesterday I bought some soya milk for him to try--it was not a hit!
Why the trying everything we can think of I hear you ask, well my OH is terrified of the asthma diagnosis. His father died at a young age,and had bad asthma.When my son starts wheezing my OH is out of the room in a flash.
Any other things you can suggest we try?
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annemari
member
Reged: 07/03/2008
Posts: 2104
Loc: Gloucestershire.
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Hi whitleybay 
My GS has asthma and hayfever,he is on three different types of inhaler,two for the morning and evening and one for during the day.
Like you and your OH we have taken the precautions that you have in respect of his bedroom,however,in addition to that,we have removed his carpet and replaced it with 'warm to the touch'vinyl flooring and also I purchased de-humidifers to hang on his radiator. If the heating is on during the day,the one contains pure water and at night I swap it for a 'lavender'scented one,it is not in the least bit strong,but it is relaxing. If the heating is off,I always make sure that his window is open so as to keep the air circulating.
Finally,twice a day,I 'damp' dust his bedroom,food is forbidden,and everything is put away at the end of the day,either in the cupboards or in the plastic storage boxes. we all know that clutter creates dust in a very quick space of time.
There is only so much you can do. Good Luck,
Best Wishes
Annemari x
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Annemari xx
 "A new little friend has come to play,O the joy of the forum,Thank-you".love Eric xx
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shanti
member
Reged: 25/03/2008
Posts: 214
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Hi Whitleybay and annemari,
My husband has suffered from asthma all his life, he's now 57. He had taken two inhalers for years and had suffered some really bad asthma attacks which I agree can be very frightening. He had tried almost everything and thought it would be something he would just have to live with. A couple of years ago he enrolled in a Buteyko asthma management workshop which concentrates on one's breathing...seems we all overbreath. He also cut down on his intake of coffee and stopped eating some dairy produce which helped. Its quite expensive but it may be worth looking at the website. The technique also helps with hay fever, allergies, snoring and anxiety symptoms etc. He now rarely uses his brown inhaler and has not used is blue one for ages. Hope this helps but please pm me if you wish.
Shanti
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tsn
member
Reged: 04/05/2008
Posts: 90
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To be brutally honest, get rid of the cats.
I suffer from asthma and I only have to enter the front door of a house with cats and they set me off. I think the fact that they are in the house, although not in your son's room, doesn't matter.
Have you thought about investing in a nebuliser which will put your OH's fear at bay (hopefully) that your son can get some instant relief to his breathing if he gets that bad. Even if you get one and never need it, it surprising how much better it can make everyone feel just knowing it is in the house.
tsn.
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Daisycat
member
Reged: 09/06/2006
Posts: 654
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All my immediate family have asthma,one with hayfever, two of us have eczema as well. We all treat out symptons differently.
I am sorry your husband is so distressed when your son has an attack. However, what your husband must remember is that medicine has come on so much with regards to treating asthma and by the sound of it your son and the doctors are managing very well. Does your husband go with him when he has his regular asthma clinic checks? He could ask about anything that is concerning him and perhaps be reassured.
Like your son, my son is very into his sport which I actively encourage as it is very important that he keeps fit and uses his lungs properly. I stressed from a very early age that smoking was not an option for him, not if he wanted to keep his lungs fit.
With regards to dairy, my son stopped drinking milk and now only has skimmed on cereal, I noticed his eczema started to clear up so perhaps his body was telling him something. Have you thought of trying rice milk?
Although your son is only 14 mine is now at the stage of trying out beers. What he has discovered is that some effect his asthma/eczema. So he now sticks to ales or nothing if they don't have what he wants (which is what I prefer). Makes him sound as if he is drinking all the time, that certainly isn't the case, but he is aware of what suits his body and what doesn't.
We have a cat and he is okay with her. However, some cats I react to and my son has one friend with dogs that he can't stroke as they make him itch. Everyone is different but from my experience you have to learn as you go along.
Have you got a spacer, best bit of equipment. We use these when we feel symptons are changing e.g colds. Help you get the proper dose of inhaler when you are having difficultes. These can be got on prescription.
Good luck, hope this was a bit of help.
ps you probably already belong but the Asthma Society very helpful.
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whitleybay
member
Reged: 09/08/2008
Posts: 540
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Thanks everyone.
My husband will not go with my son unless it is only to the GP Daisycat. Yes he does have a spacer and uses it, but only occasionally.
I had not thought of getting a nebuliser to keep at home tsn, so far he has only had to have one once, that was the first time he started gasping/ wheezing.He has managed with the inhalers since then. I must admit I would have a problem getting rid of the cats as we have had them for years, but I will definately suggest his carpet goes.
I have just looked up Buteyko on the web and I may suggest he looks at that some more.
Thanks to all for the advice.
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Splash123
member
Reged: 04/05/2008
Posts: 962
Loc: South Glamorgan
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My son has suffered with asthma since he was three years old....he is now 40!
His asthma has been very bad and very scarey at times in the past. However he played hockey for Wales and did Sports Science in Loughburough University
He now lives in Sydney Australia and enjoys many outdoor sports. He still uses inhalers regularly but he is living a full and active life. You are doing all the things you should but sadly i think you will have to get rid of the cats
Good luck and try not to worry
Grace x
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Chickadee
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 3322
Loc: South Wales
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My YS was very severely asthmatic from the age of 18 months until he was about 10 - every cold would trigger an attack and he was admitted to hospital several times. Things that helped were:
1) A nebuliser - makes the inhalation so much more effective and easier to do. YS used it daily for his steroid treatment and when he needed it for the ventolin.
2) My GP explained to me how to use steroids - prednisolone -then trusted me and gave me a standing prescription for them, As soon as an attack became acute I would give YS a tablet and the effect was very very quick. We then had to carry on with them for a couple of days, then cut back gradually. That kept him out of hospital.
3) Swimming, because of the breathing control.
4) Taking control of his own medication regime as soon as he was old enough to understand and manage it. (I still kept the steroids, but I let him judge when he needed something).
I would have liked him to give up dairy produce - he was so allergic to it as a small baby that when I was nursing him, I had to cut it out of my diet and he had soya milk until he was three or four, but he preferred cow's milk.
Try to reassure your OH - asthma treatment has improved a lot. But also, your son needs you both to stay calm and reassuring, however frightened you may be. I hope that your son soon learns to manage the asthma for himself - I think that will give him more confidence. Good wishes to you and to him.
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xxxSummerxxx
member
Reged: 29/03/2008
Posts: 4382
Loc: Essex
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Hello,
My mother has cronic Asthma which comes under the umbrella term of C.O.P.D
Mother is 83 and when she becomes really poorly she can call the Asthma nurse for specialist help when they will often provide her witna Nebuliser(SP?)
There are very good organisations that can give you support.
Im really tired now and off to bed,please pm me tomorrow and i will sort out the websites for you :-)
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Verite
member
Reged: 19/08/2008
Posts: 394
Loc: HONG KONG
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I have just read your post an I am sorry to hear about your son. I did put up a way of using Soya milk by adding it to either a smoothie for breakfast or as a milkshake with plenty of fresh fruit to hide the taste.
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As I am a nanny out here in Hong Kong I know a lot about asthma, excema as many children out here have it due to the high pollution rate that we have.
The youngest girl I look after has excema and after trying the western medicine way, we went to see a homeopathic dr who gave us a cream and drops and even though my boss laughed at the idea it has all gone and we just use the cream now after swimming.
These are a few tips in general that I have picked up. These help to reduce toxins and pollutants in our home.
Don't bring your shoes into the house, this is apparently the biggest transporter of lead in to your home. This is mainly from the lead laden tarmac you walk on.
An air purifier or humidifier or ioniser will help to filter the impurities in the air we breathe, but even opening a window at night when you go to bed will stop you breathing in stagnant polluted air for 8 hrs. obviously if you live on a busy road this would not work due to traffic pollution.
Be aware of the detergents you use. Try to use biodegradable as your body can process and eliminate the toxins. This is very important in clothes and bedding as we spend up to 8 hrs in bed or even better environmentally friendly products as these don't have bleaching agents in them which has been related to Asthma.
I hope this helps a little bit.
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Elsie
member
Reged: 05/01/2008
Posts: 2062
Loc: Scotland
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Hi Whitley-bay,
I was reading up on sulphites yesterday on google (getting wheezey drinking white wine, not applicable to your 14-yr old!).
It seems that any foodstuffs containing sulphites (even oven chips can be coated in the stuff!) can be dangerous to asthmatics. Lime cordial being one of the worst culprits, which makes a lot of sense of the fact I did not feel well after drinking Roses Lime Cordial as a kid (and I don't even have asthma!).
I'd also try not to have any aerosol products in the house. My daughter used to have excema, so I just dusted with a wet cloth. Her excema cleared up years ago, but I still just use a damp cloth as it does the job just as well. We use a lot of Ecover products in the house, and think they do just as good a job as the ones containing lots of chemicals.
Medication has come on leaps and bounds. There are many famous sportstars out there who are asthmatic, and manage the symptoms very well.
Good luck with your sons' treatment. I'm sure your OH will relax in time. It's been a big shock for you all.
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acanthus
member
Reged: 12/06/2007
Posts: 1
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My teenage son has had asthma since age 5. One thing I do is wash his bed linen at 60 not the 40 or 30 everything seems to wash at these days. I did this by instinct but my daughter has since found evidence for me which suggests that if you wash at less than 60 it does not kill the dust mites.
We have never been advised to cut out dairy but he has never been one for it anyway - dry cereal as a small boy & now black coffee! Maybe he knew it was best for him!
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Verite
member
Reged: 19/08/2008
Posts: 394
Loc: HONG KONG
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Whitelybay I was just playing on google and found this thought it may help you or not. have a look anyway.
google the food doctor and you should get a web all about the brand. Go to the health advice bit and then go to fact sheets and the click what is Asthma. A whole load of information for you which may help.
Have a good day
Verite
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Tilly2
member
Reged: 15/08/2008
Posts: 22
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I would agree with most of what has already been said. Unfortunately, everyone is different and different things will set off people, eg cats, dogs, etc. I agree with those who have sadi you will need to learn as you go along what affects your son and how to handle it. However, my daughter has gone strictly non-dairy and it has helped eczema, as well as ashtma. Re the asthma, she also has rhinitis. The non-dairy helps the rhinitis, which in turn helps the asthma because she can breathe properly through her nose.
She has also benefitted from a very good asthma nurse. You definitely need someone who has this expertise and understands it. Our new asthma nurse is better than our old doctor because it is her specialist area. Also she has prescribed my daughter a new type of inhaler, a two in one which acts like the brown inhaler (long term) and the blue (short term) all in the one. This has proved very effective and has definitely improved. She now only takes the inhaler occasionally whereas at one time she was using the blue inhaler several times a day. The nurse said this meant that the asthma was out of control. Previous people have said this but medication has improved in leaps and bounds and your sone should be able to lead a normal life with medication as and when he needs it. Keep pressing the doctor/nurse if you don't feel he's getting everything necessary.
Best of luck, I do understand how difficult and frustrating it can be. Just as a by the way, my daughter has ended up in hospital twice, as a result of reaction to aspirin. Apparently (we now know) this ia a common substance which can affect asthmatics - watch our for it in cold reliefs.
Tina
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