Can anyone help me?

[denra]

I have a 22mo. son who has had breathing problems since 6mo. of age.  He has asthma and takes pulmicort 2xday and albuterol for his attacks.  He is constantly sick.  We are lucky if he is illness free for three weeks.  He suffers from colds, sinus infections, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia.  We spent Christmas in the hospital with 105 fever and ear infection.  He is always congested.  He has seen a pulminologist. Since my son was symptom free the day we went in, he did not take him seriously.  He did chromosone testing on him for cystic fibrosis(when having an attack he will vomit mucus).  The test was negative.  I didn't go back to the pulminologist(he would not call back to give me results on the CF testing, I had to go to the hospital myself to the medical records to get the results).  My pediatrician was controlling his asthma, she has since retired, and talked about him seeing some specialists if he continues to get ill.  The new pediatrician doesn't seem to take this seriously and says all kids get sick(even though she had to see him twice in January for two different illness).  He is now sick again with a sinus and ear infection and having wheezing from asthma.  My husband and I are at our wits end.  We are tired of seeing him sick.  He has been developing slower than are other three boys and I believe it is because he is constantly sick.  Is there any suggestions or advice you can give us?  Should we take him to an allergy/immunologist or an otolaryngologist?  Thank you for any input.

[David Sparkman]

My 18 month old boy is sick all the time, had a cough for two months and meds not working. We got rid of it in one week with vitamin C (big improvement after only two days). Please, this is worth looking into.

Go to: www.doctoryourself.com/allergies.html

Read about it. I didn't take my son to his bowel tolerance level, instead I meaured mine, it turned out to be 50,000Mg/day.
I weigh 10 times what my son does, so I divided 50,000 by 10, and thereby gave him 5,000Mg/day (2,500Mg in morning and 2,500Mg
in the eveening).

By the way, I took 70,000 the first day, and and 50,000Mg the second day, which, believe me, cleaned out my system quite thoroughly. That was over the weekend. I took 10,000 Mg/ per day during the week, and 40,000Mg over the next weekend. I continue to take 10,000 Mg/day, and will until I am entirely healed.
Three months ago I got a sinus infection, while irrigating, I got my ears full of saltwater, which was also contaminated by sinus fluid. My eustacian tubes were immediately clogged, and inner ear full of fluid! My ENT performed sinus surgery. My ears remained clogged after surgery, which was contrary to what the ENT said would happen. He tried all the meds to open them. They got inflamed and much worse.

The first weekend I megadosed C, my ears popped and began to open. Now they are about 90% healed, and every day is an improvement. I have had recurrent sinus infections after surgery. I am now on moxifloxin for 21 days and praying. Starting to feel almost normal for the first time in over three months. I am showing everyone I can this article about C. Please, if it helps your son, pass it around to people who need it.

[MTV]

Denra...I see that you live in Ohio.  Have you tried Akron Children's Hospital?  Excellent facility and the nicest, most patient and caring staff that you could hope for.  I am lucky to live near and work for such a fine institution.  I have heard the same things as you about the Cleveland hospitals.  While they are fine for some things, for children, the hospital here in Akron is the best.  I am so sorry that you have had so many problems with your little one.  My daughter was hospitalized last winter with bronchilitis (sp?) and we could not have been treated better.  I urge you to look into both Akron Children's and National Jewish.  Be aggressive and don't let anyone dismiss you or your little boy's symptoms.

[denra]

Thank you for the input. I'm a stay at home mom and no one smokes.

[National Jewish]

This is obviously a significant problem for your child and for you.  There are many possible reasons for all of these problems.  This could be an immune problem, a chronic sinus infection problem, an asthma problem or others.  But listing them is not the answer.  I would recommend calling our LUNG LINE

[Concerned lady]

I completely agree with Starion. Nat'l Jewish diagnosed my husband and myself, when no-one else had a clue as to what we had. In our cases, it was VCD (Vocal Cord Dysfunction).

They are not only knowledgable, they are NICE! I used to be a nurse, and I must tell you, that Nat'l Jewish is the best medical institution I've ever experienced. No hospital is perfect, but Nat'l Jewish is the best one I've ever dealt with.

You definitely should call the LUNG LINE, and speak with a LUNG LINE nurse, at 1-800-222-LUNG(5864). Then, the LUNG LINE nurse can transfer your call to the person who sets up appointments, if you want to make an appointment.

Hang in there, and don't give up!

Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[denra]

Thank you everyone for the input.  We really appreciate it.  We do have forced heat.  The house was checked for mold-none.  We put hepa filters in and we ripped out half the carpet and put in Pergo.  It sounds like National Jewish is a very reputable hospital.  We live in a suburb 30 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio.  We are suppose to have two of the best hospitals-Cleveland Clinic Foundation and University, Rainbow Babies and Children.  But in the majority of people that live around here, they are not that great.  My father-in-law goes to the Clinic for cancer, and my father goes to University for cancer and heart problems.  We have had awful experiences at both places.  If you think it would be worth it to come out to National Jewish, please post comment.  Thank you very much.

[starion]

Hi!  My hubby & I have both been to National Jewish as outpatients.  They were able to do more for me in 6 business days than the other 3 pulmonologists I had seen for 6 months!  The other 3 pulmos were unable to come up with either a clear diagnosis OR an effective treatment plan; their course of my treatment still troubles me (in hindsight).  I am convinced NJewish has kept me out of the hospital and functioning extremely well in light of my numerous serious health conditions.  I highly recommend them.  They are especially good with difficult cases.

When I saw them again for a recheck in May 2002, they were able to do for me in 4 days what I couldn't have done in the YEARS before, seeing multiple allergists.  They have been excellent at following up with me and my home doctors, so I have continuing care.  They have evaluated and treated me for my severe asthma, severe emphysema, and signficant allergies.  They also diagnosed and treated my significant silent GERD.  We are scheduling to have my two children evaluated by them this August for their asthma and signficant allergies as well.

There is a Ronald McDonald House in Denver, but you can only call the day you are to arrive for treatment to see if they have availability.  NJewish will send you a list of lodgings that give their patients special rates--we love the Hampton Inn at Cherry Creek--in room frige & microwave, continental breakfast & free parking, conveniently located beside Barnes & Noble & a gourmet market with take-out.  It's a short drive from NJewish.

Best of luck!
Aloha,
Starion

[Concerned lady]

I agree 100% with Starion! If you can, take your son to Nat'l Jewish, where he would get correctly diagnosed. My husband and I know firsthand how excellent Nat'l Jewish is!

Also, might your son possibly have Pediatric GERD? (Gastro-Esophageal-Reflux Disease). If yes, this can cause or aggravate respiratory problems.

Call the LUNG LINE (at Nat'l Jewish), and speak with a nurse, on Monday, about your son's problems. If you want your son to be seen at Nat'l Jewish, the LUNG LINE nurse can transfer your call, so you could set up an appointment. Call 1-800-222-LUNG(5864) to speak with a LUNG LINE nurse, &/or, to make an appointment at Nat'l Jewish.

Good luck to you.

Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

[nurse12hr]

Does he go to day care?  And does anyone in the household smoke?  Even if you go outside to smoke?

Just wondering.  Those are two big triggers for frequent respiratory/ear infections in infants/toddlers.

[ozark]

it may be allergies and could be something in your house causing it.......do you have force hot air? or any mold anywhere?  check out if he feels better when out of the house....some people are severly allergic to dust etc....good luck

[starion]

If it were my child, I would definitely take him to either or both allergist and ENT (Ear Nose Throat) specialists.  Another option I would seriously consider is having him get a COMPLETE evaluation at a good teaching hospital such as National Jewish.  Since it doesn't appear that he only has respiratory ailments, it might be best to consider having him well evaluated at a good children's teaching hospital.

US News has an annual list of Best Hospitals sorted under various catagories at: www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/health/hosptl/tophosp.htm When one gets to that site click on "respiratory disorders" (or the category of your choice).

Best of luck & post what you learn.  Additionally, it may help to have him evaluated by a pediatric pulmonologist, who would have additional training in working with children's lungs.

Aloha,
Starion