Asthma?

[Miss Peregrine]

DD11 has horrible allergies already but she has started saying that her throat feels clogged and it's hard to breathe during soccer games(she had two this weekend)

 

This makes me pretty nervous. Is there a test for asthma? What type of doctor should I call to get her seen? We do not need referrals so if I should start somewhere other than a ped, I will.

[Mrs Mungo]

There are tests for asthma. The pulmonary function test is the most common. Some allergy offices can do them, otherwise you would see a pulmonologist. Your pediatrician may be able to order a PFT, lung x-rays and other tests without a specialist, so they are probably with consulting.

[Spryte]

Does she already have an allergist? DS's asthma is handled by his allergist (it is an allergy and asthma center). If you think this is allergy induced I think it's a good place to start.

 

Next stop would be a pediatric pulmonologist.

 

Hope you get answers soon!

 

Oh, and yes - there are tests. :)

[Loowit]

My DS was diagnosed by a pediatrician and then was referred to an allergy & asthma doctor who provides care for him.  He was diagnosed due to symptoms and they run lung function tests on his several times a year.  He has environmental allergies that trigger his asthma.

 

My DD was not diagnosed at first.  She has a much milder asthma and mostly it was a problem when she was playing sports.  They ran the lung function test but she did fine because she was doing well that day.  She didn't see her regular doctor for that appointment and the doctor we saw didn't take me seriously.  She was diagnosed a few months later by her regular pediatrician who does her follow up care.  If her regular pediatrician hadn't taken the symptoms seriously then I would have gotten a second opinion from a pediatric doctor who specializes in asthma.

[xxxxxxxx]

Since she has horrible allergies, I would go to an Allergy and Asthma Doc.  My son got tremendous relief from his allergies by going to one and then they could keep an eye on his asthma also.

[Miss Peregrine]

There are tests for asthma. The pulmonary function test is the most common. Some allergy offices can do them, otherwise you would see a pulmonologist. Your pediatrician may be able to order a PFT, lung x-rays and other tests without a specialist, so they are probably with consulting.

 

 

Does she already have an allergist? DS's asthma is handled by his allergist (it is an allergy and asthma center). If you think this is allergy induced I think it's a good place to start.

 

Next stop would be a pediatric pulmonologist.

 

Hope you get answers soon!

 

Oh, and yes - there are tests. :)

 

 

My DS was diagnosed by a pediatrician and then was referred to an allergy & asthma doctor who provides care for him.  He was diagnosed due to symptoms and they run lung function tests on his several times a year.  He has environmental allergies that trigger his asthma.

 

My DD was not diagnosed at first.  She has a much milder asthma and mostly it was a problem when she was playing sports.  They ran the lung function test but she did fine because she was doing well that day.  She didn't see her regular doctor for that appointment and the doctor we saw didn't take me seriously.  She was diagnosed a few months later by her regular pediatrician who does her follow up care.  If her regular pediatrician hadn't taken the symptoms seriously then I would have gotten a second opinion from a pediatric doctor who specializes in asthma.

We did see an allergist last year. She has horrible environmental allergies. I did not follow up with him because he laughed at me when I said I had concerns about side effects from a nasal spray he wanted her to use.  :glare:

 

I don't have a ped for her either because of a similar situation with Gardasil.  See a pattern here?  :laugh:

 

Oops, gotta run. I will be back.

[Joker]

I would go to the allergist. Our pediatrician always messed up the PFT and our allergist said he sees that often. Our allergist has an entire room and certain staff that are only for the function tests and I feel way more confident using them.

[Spryte]

We did see an allergist last year. She has horrible environmental allergies. I did not follow up with him because he laughed at me when I said I had concerns about side effects from a nasal spray he wanted her to use.  :glare:

 

 

 

Try a different allergist.  We had a situation with our first allergist, and switched.  The difference is amazing!

[sbgrace]

I agree that seeing a doctor who specializes in allergies and asthma would be the best choice. Straight up pediatric pulmonology is another option, but my experience is that you want someone who also does allergies when they are a component.

 

Find an allergy and asthma doctor who can do some pulmonary function testing for you. If there is a wait, her pediatrician could probably prescribe an albuterol inhaler. She should take a couple of puffs before she begins play. If it's exercise induced asthma alone, this may be all she needs. The pulmonary tests could sort that out. I would start over the counter zyrtec, if she's not already on an allergy medication.

 

I do understand your hesitation on the nasal sprays. I resisted that with my allergy child. But we recently started his twin on it. The pulmonology/allergist told me some of her patients manage their asthma with just the nasal spray if there is a lot of allergy component. Given we were stepping down from inhaled steroid, I am using the nasal and hoping it works! 

 

[Timberly]

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