Daughter In ICU At Children's Hospital

Ohh sad story my wishes with your daughter i wish i could help you in anyway !

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the prayers and well wishes.

I'm trying to earn a little extra cash as she has requested pizza and balloons

Tracy

My heart goes out to you. I hope she pulls through. I will also pray for you.

Tracy - asthmatic here. I was asthmatic in the days before inhalers. My parents were warned because of the scope of my allergies and the intensity of my asthma that I probably wouldn't live to see Jr. High. Fortunately I had one awesome set of parents and a strong enough will.

First thing is - I was very ill until I got away from doctors. Always listen to your child. If a medication isn't helping them or is making them sick in other ways, they WILL tell you and you need to listen to them instead of doctors. I was kept ill by doctors for many years because nobody thought a kid is bright enough to know what is going on when meds were concerned -- but a kid KNOWS when something is making them feel sick. So try what the doctor gives you, but listen to your daughter. My parents listened to me about everything but meds. They were scared to not listen to the doctor.

Now as far as immediate relief when symptoms set in....if she gets upset, it will make it worse. Her lungs are already tense, you need to get her to relax so her lungs will relax. Laying down will make it harder to breath. Smoking around her can kill her. Throw out any chemicals you clean with and start using natural products, the fewer chemicals she's exposed to the better - and that means air pollution, too. If you live in a large city, you might want to consider moving to the country. Keep the house free of mold and dust, pet danders, etc.

When an asthmatic has trouble breathing, it is often because they can't EXHALE, rather than can't inhale, despite what it seems. Because they can't exhale there is too much old air in the lungs to let new air in. By helping her practice blowing out until all of the air is out of her lungs, she will be able to use this technique to clear her own lungs. Have her exhale until she feels like there is nothing left, like she would feel if she held her breath too long. She will automatically inhale real fast and hard. Have her repeat that a few times. If she starts coughing up some flem, that is a good thing. She will feel uncomfortable from this exercise for only a minute or two and then will feel a little clearer. Any time she is coughing frequently, you can bet she is uncomfortable and is experiencing some blockage.

Doctors almost killed me suggesting humidifiers - she needs DRY air. I blow a hair dryer in my face if I start to feel clogged. The dry air helps a lot and the warmth relaxes. My mother used to sit me on her lap and let me lean forward against the arm of the chair and rub my back to relax me. Sometimes we'd get in the car with the windows open, dad would drive and mom would have me on her lap looking out the window and we would just drive slow and look at the scenery - it was very relaxing to me and did wonders. The doctors were horrified, but it worked. LOL.

Give her natural foods that help against inflammation - omega 3 oils, foods with ginger, clove, hot peppers, etc. Just google "herbs and foods that fight inflammation" and you will get a list of natural foods that will fight against her lungs becoming inflamed. Orange juice is the bomb. It not only has high levels of vitamin c - which helps tremendously, it also contains a natural antihistimine.

One med that your doctor will insist on is abuterin, however it is spelled. In my opinion it's the most useless crap that they ever scammed the public with. It's highly addictive and actually can cause complications - should be illegal, but they will give it to her. I would keep (against orders) a primatine mist inhaler handy. That stuff will clear up a problem in only a few seconds. Doctors say don't use it - (it's an over the counter drug, no profit potential). I find it safer and more effective. But watch the ads - if you need your emergency inhaler more than twice a week your illness isn't under control, use this twice a day instead?...uh.....Be real careful about that stuff. I tried abuterin a few times and besides the things I just mentioned, it just plain didn't work very well. Your daughter will tell you when something works and when it doesn't - listen to her. If it's legal and it works, use it and to heck if the doctor likes it - it's not him that can't breath and he probably has no clue WHAT that feels like. Your daughter will know straight on what is working best and what is just making some bucks for the pharms.

Never panic around her when she is having trouble breathing - it will make her tense and she'll get sicker. Hide any panic inside - you have to be CALM outside so she doesn't get stressed. Stress or tension will explode an attack.

And good luck.