Today we had another follow up with the pediatrician to deal with Samantha's chronic bronchitis. He feels as helpless as I do. He was looking over her chart and recognized that there is a pattern as to when the bronchitis shows up: Spring through Summer.

She's been allergy tested and we've been released by the gastroenterologist but they're is still something wrong.

Last night Samantha started to giggle and then she couldn't breathe. We ran to the nebulizer and started Xoponex and saline. Her eyes looked panicked as she gasped for air. I talked her through it--I don't think either of us blinked the entire time. And when she started to cry I told her that she couldn't.

So today, when she fell asleep on the pediatrician's exam table I got some time where she wasn't listening to tell him how exasperated I felt. I said to him, "I told her she couldn't cry last night because when she cries the breathing is labored and difficult. I hate telling her that she can't cry and tough it out, but I don't know what to do."

He feels as lost as I do and wants us to look into some alternative medicine to help: biofeedback, acupuncture, as well as our allergist.


Our non-CH child, Alyssa, has terrible food allergies that we have yet to determine. She's allergic to strawberries and the non-organic wreak havoc on her face. And dairy--she's been tested for casein and a general panel but has shown no problems. There is something in milk that is an issue as she becomes very ill when she has milk. She's been getting huge water blisters in her mouth every couple of days from something that she's eating.

So with Samantha's chronic bronchitis and Alyssa's allergies we're going to explore a completely organic and non-processed diet. We're worried and desperate and praying that this helps with both.

We're also getting Samantha re-tested this week in preparation for our next thyroid check with pediatrician. Sometimes her illnesses and her inability to get over an illness signal a high TSH.

Lungs and reflux

July 2013


Bug had a follow up with her pediatrician today to see how clear her lungs were. After a week on prednisone, doubled-up inhalers, and antibiotics she is still producing a lot of phlegm. Her nose lining was red too, which is indicative of either sinus problems or reflux. Since she's not had a runny or stuffy one, we can conclude reflux. It's difficult, however, because typically she'll tell me when she's refluxing. She'll said that it burns or tastes bad, but this time it's less noticeable. The doctor called it "non-acid reflux." I've yet to research it.

But since Bug has not improved with the prednisone dosage, we're scheduling an appointment with her pediatric gastroenterologist. Bug last saw him in 2009, when we thought the adult dose of the Prevacid would keep the reflux under control.

I did find in my medical log (I keep very detailed notes for Bug) that she's had a lung infection every year the week after she has swim lessons. It doesn't matter the pool, it's the same cycle every year.

She's over it as was indicated by the rolling her eyes at the doctor. And I'd like to get her off all these meds.

Unfortunately we've done this enough to know when to give her which medicine so it doesn't interact or interfere with her synthroid or reflux medicine.