Since last year starting kindergarten he has had croup, or RAD every 2-3 weeks. Whenever he catches a cold or gets a runny nose we know he will end up at pediatrician or ER eventially, and be prescribed predisolone (along with his usual mediacations singulair, pulmicort, and xopenex). He always ends up on predisolone, or decadron, even at the ER ephedrine (neb).
He has had his tonsils and adenoids removed. The ENT ordered a CT of the throat to rule out narrowing of the epiglottic region, which apparently was fine. He has also had x-rays of the sinuses. He has been to pulminologist in, who left us thinking he may have Cystic Fibrosis. He was test once with the sweat test, and once dna (508 First), both negative. The ENT said that he could not do anymore at this point. He tested positive dog/ cat dander, dust ect. we have done all we can to control being exposed to allergies. (Even gave our dog away).
On 12/07/07 he ended up at ER with what we thought was croup again, but this time the x-ray showed pnemonia in left lung. He had not been sick but 2 days, and this caught me off guard. Also while in ER all around his eyes he devolped hives. (this was not from antibiotic b/c he had not had any at that point). Now last Sunday he began wheezing with no other symptom at all, to be followed Wednesday to another trip to the doctor. Now prescribed decadron (4 day dose). He has coughing spells even on all meds that can last for hours, and hours. Wednesday he coughed from 3am until around 3pm thursday. He does seem to be getting better quicker, but the wheeze seems worst. His heart races on all these medications, and we wonder long term what this can do to his little body.
I was just wondering if you could make any reccomendations on what the next step we should take is. I plan on getting his pediatrician to reccommend another pulminologist, and we have a followup appointment with the asthma/ allergist . However he wanted him to start advair, which I have decided to avoid it until next winter (and only if he gets worse) due to the negative side effects it has.
I just hope that I am doing all that should be done, and would love to know if you have any ideas on what could be going on here. The lung specialist was not very thorough, and seems to be too unsure at this point . She (Dr. Sotomayor) wants to see him again, but my instinct is telling me to try another doctor. She has even said she might need to do a bronnchisope (spelled wrong) a possible biopsy?? She also has said there was scaring on the lower left lung only to later say she meant his condition could lead to that. One other thing to mention last year at same time his blood test showed positive for mycoplasma pnuemonia.
Also, do you think it would help if he was homeschooled. This is something I would rather not do, but I want him to quit catching the sniffles that lead to croup, wheezing ect. I would love to hear of any lung specialist you would reccomend, and any other advice you may have.