4yr old - Asthma, adnoid problem, tonsilitis...can anyone help please?

Deeda77

Hi, im hoping someone out there has experienced this and can give me some help on it. Im at my wits end!
Our 4yr old has had problems with his respiratory system for several yrs now. At christmas, the doctors put him on inhalers for asthma. The thing is, im not convinced he has asthma. His symtoms start with very blocked sinus (adnoid prob?). This travels to the throat (sometimes causing tonsilitis) and chest in a matter of days and the incessant cough begins. Once it takes hold, we are up all nite, every nite with a bowl on standby as he will vomit at least 7/10 times during the nite in his sleep. He finds it extremely difficult to breathe and gets a croup sound in his chest, which is very frightening. He also suffers very bad nosebleeds during this time. To say we have tried almost everything is an understatement. We even paid big money to a private clinic but they did very little for him. We have spent thousands on doctors and hospitals but they never help us. Its never ending.
At the moment, my son is only getting 5 days max of no sickness before the cycle starts all over again. We are all exhausted to say the least. He is missing so much school and our jobs are suffering as we are both tired all of the time. He has become so accustomed to the sickness now that he grabs the bowl himself and vomits...while stil fast asleep! Its just not right. Someone somewhere in this country must know something that can help. Please. :-(

CrazyRabbit

Nobody here is qualified to give medical advice and as such the moderators will likely lock this thread. However, the best advice anyone can give you is to go see another doctor to get a second opinion.

Perhaps ask the doctor to book an appointment with a specialist in the hospital.

Deliverance

Definately in need of a specialist. Your sons illness sounds unique by the symptoms that you have put up. Please put these symptoms that you expressed here to the docs and visit the hospital as such.

It sounds like a potential allergy that has yet to be identified. Personally I would move the chap into another room to see how he gets on intially as a tester if you like. See how that goes for you.

Moonbeam

Has he had allergy tests done?

Deeda77

Thanks guys. Believe me when i say, im am not seeking medical advice. Im hoping against hope that somebody has had a child or knows of a child who has experienced this and may be able to tell me where to go.
We have changed our doctors 5 times in 3 yrs, seen numerous paediatricians and have just been to an ENT surgeon, where we came away feeling very down hearted yet again.
As u suggested Deliverance, we have moved our son to different rooms on numerous occasions but nothing changed.
Thank u again for ur input and advice, its all very much appreciated.

cynder

Not permitted to give medical advice.

I suppose you have seen an ENT.

I would presume that anyone who has recurrent tonsillitis would be referred to an ENT to have them removed.

I would also presume that anyone with sinus problems has seen an ENT had had a camera put up their nose.


My 2 boys have been coughing since November and are still coughing after loads of steroids and antibiotics, they have now been put on inhalers and preventative inhalers, its starting to work. my one lad does cough that much he almost vomits (sometimes does). We were also given phenegan in case it was hay fever, but that didnt work.


best of luck.:)

sorry i was typing this and didnt see you last post.

Can you insist that the ENT take the tonsils out? If you didnt like that ENT go to a different one! if you have vhi they have a facility where they can send your sons medical history to a doctor in America who will read it and write back what he thinks, if you have vhi phone them and ask about it. also ask for a second opinion.

Deeda77

Hi Moonbeam, no he hasnt had an allergy test done, it has never been suggested by the physicians we've attended. We are considering homeopathy as we've exhausted all other avenues (or so it feels).

CrazyRabbit

Take a look at this:

http://www.sinuswars.com/Sinusinfection.asp

The symptons seem remarkably similar. Blocked sinus, coughing, vomiting and it's worse at night.

Since it is so persistent, I would guess that there is a fungal infection, or that some foreign object has found its way up into the nasal cavity. (Kids can stick some pretty weird things up their noses).

Deeda77

Crazyrabbit, u may be on to something there. My son stuck a bead up his nose (was lodged up past the bridge) about 2 and a half years ago. He had to have it removed (quite roughly & bloodily) by a paediatrician. I wonder did that trigger this! Thank u, thank u! U may have uncovered the source.
Also Grindelwald, ur vhi idea is fantastic. We are definately gonna look into that this week.
Thanks to u all for ur help. Its great to be able to bounce these things off people who understand, instead of physicians who treat u like a cashcow.
Also, please excuse the text-speak, im typing this on my fone :-)

Deliverance

Deeda77 wrote: »

Hi Moonbeam, no he hasnt had an allergy test done, it has never been suggested by the physicians we've attended. We are considering homeopathy as we've exhausted all other avenues (or so it feels).

I am surprised that allergy testing was not done considering the symptoms that the OP mentioned. My child had an allergy to eggs and it caused unusual symptoms.

Plus coughing at night is a symptom of possible allergy or mild asthma in my family. My own child only coughs when in bed at times during certain weather conditions. On hindsight heavy coughing (as someone mentioned) can lead to vomiting and possible nosebleeds as well due to the nose veins being weak by nature anyway.

Definately see an allergy specialist. I brought my daughter to the doc with her particular allergy and they were excellent and very understanding not to mention v.reassuring, most importantly they were profesional and knew what they were doing.

Hope all goes well with you OP and you guys get to the root of this problem with proper medical assistance. Homeopathy... I won't even start with what I feel about that, it is definately a last resort.

Pixie 98

Morning,
Even though we are not permitted to give medical advice I can relate to your problem. My son is now nearly 8 years old and was diagnosed with asthma when he was 2.. I believed that this was not the case at all even though he had recurrent chest infections which required antibiotics and steroids plus 2 inhalers..
I am not sure how you feel about homepoathy but here is my suggestion.. Take him off all dairy (there are great soya substitutes out there), get him an anti allergy pillow and coversheet for his bed and hoover bedroom every day.. If you have a health store close to you pick up a bottle of Echinacea for kids and give this in his juice 3 times a day.. I am not saying this is a solution but it cannot hurt to try..
This has worked with my son and has not touched and inhaler in over years thankfully.. Best of luck ..x

TargetWidow

Might I just suggest that taking a child off all dairy is a very restrictive move to make to the childs diet at this age without having the medical diagnosis and advice to back it up (no disrespect intended to the poster who posted it, but I have some personal experience here) and it is a recommendation that should only be made by someone qualified which is why we do not give medical advice on boards.

+1 on the VHI nurseline if you have it. Many as the late night phone call has been made to them and they are brilliant.

The Blackrock clinic has the country's foremost allergy specialist. If you have VHI you could push your GP to refer you since it is one avenue you haven't investigated.

My heart goes out to you. I wish you the very best of luck.