Does Your DD Have Asthma

[SOCALSFTBAL00]

My DD has had a rough season with her asthma just wondering if anyone elses daughter is going through the same thing and if so what are you doing to help her out??????

[9'sDad]

SOCALSOFBALOO, make sure you are doing daily Peak Flow meter readings 3x per day and record each for reference. This will give you a good idea when she is having a bad day and you can head off problems by utilizing beta agonist sympathomimetics (i.e. Albuterol aero tx., Albuterol MDI etc... the quick acting bronchodilators. Make sure she is taking what doctor prescribes as ordered. Hopefully this will include a parasympatholitic drug in conjunction such as ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) which works on the other side of the nervous system to maximize effects of the bronchodilator. The Leukotrein drugs have been showing quite a lot of success here in Georgia, taken on a daily basis to prevent degranulation of the mast cell which short and sweet causes the asthmatic effects. Get in the habit of using the quick acting bronchodilators 5 minutes before participating in athletics as exercised induced bronchospasms are common in asthmatics, even more so in the spring with pollen etc. in the air. Here in GA we live with Yellow EVERYTHING for 3 months or so due to the extremely high pollen count locally. As such Asthmatic athletes really struggle during the spring and late fall. As much as possible, limit the exposure to preventable allergens by going completely dust free in bedroom, and home as possible. Hypoallergenic mattress covers, pillow cases, sheets, etc. and get rid of all dust holding items in her bedroom and home as possible. Hope this helps. Mark

[9'sDad]

Ran out of room but wanted to add, if she has problems with tachycardia (increased heart rate) and/or shakiness with albuterol use, ask doctor for switch to levalbuterol, a racemic version of albuterol without the alpha one effects, which cause the shakiness and tachycardia. My DD has done very well with levalbuterol.(Xopenex is brand name.) Again, good luck, Mark.

[Tucson]

DD has asthma and allergies. Just recently a new allergist gave her an epi pen. That way, if she should ever have a strong reaction to something, we can give her the shot and then get emergency help.

As a middle schooler, DD had to take 3 allergy shots a week. That was IL. We moved to Flagstaff, AZ and she was much better. She still has all of the same allegries, because she was recently tested, but she isn't having any reactions. I must say though, that she thinks it is normal to only breath at 60%.

I was asthmatic. I can sympathize.

[SOCALSFTBAL00]

My DD as had the allergie test taken and she basically allergic to everything in the air and the ground......... but she wasn't this bad unitil this season, righ when January came around and we started to practice she started to have this problem. She also started her unknow what 2 months later so I'm wondering if her body changing has something to do with this. I just feel really bad for her, she love the game but is unable to play it...... We plan on taking her to a respatory specialist have her checked out, hopefully we can find a solution. Thanks for your input.......9'sdad and tucson....

[Tucson]

OK. I would take her to the best pediatric asthma specialist you can find. I had asthma as severe as anyone and I wasn't expected to live past 15, but it was controlled through steroids, an inhalor, breathing treatments, oxygen and allergy shots.

There is help available.

Yes, some people get worse with age. Some, like myself, get better.

A few cases (mine) are brought on by stress.

I guess I don't need to tell you how serious asthma can be. Good luck. Bring her to Tucson and see if she gets better.