I haven’t posted anything here for the past week because I’ve just been through a very scary period in my life as a mother.
My kids have never been sickly, they just have these occasional coughs and colds or tonsillitis or tummy aches, so, I wasn’t really prepared when this scary asthma attack happened to my son.
My son had recurring asthma attacks since Saturday last week, and when he had his first attack, we didn’t even know that it was already an asthma attack! He had no asthma, although he has allergic rhinitis and we were told that it could lead to asthma if not properly managed. He had coughs and colds since the last week of June, and he was given antibiotics by the first pulmonologist that we consulted. The antibiotics worked, but then after just two days, the coughs were back, and it was at that time that he had the asthma attack. He couldn’t breathe, and was coughing uncontrollably! It was so scary to see his contorted face trying to catch his breath. After his first attack, which was an early Sunday morning, we let him rest and sleep until the middle of the day in an airconditioned room. He didn’t have another attack after that, and the following day he still went to school, then after his school, I brought him to a pulmonologist. The doctor suspected asthma, and asked him to undergo a spirometry test. The result was positive, so it was confirmed that he has asthma. He was given an inhaler which he will take for 3 months. But after this consultation, he still had several attacks in a span of one week, and the worst was last Monday at 1:00 in the morning. It lasted longer than the previous attacks, and I was really scared! Until now, everytime I think of those attacks, I still cringed in fear.
We then decided to bring him to another pulmonologist. I filed for two days family leave just to monitor his condition. I was very hesitant to leave him while still sleeping because the attacks happen when he wakes up due to coughing, after which he will have difficulty breathing. In finding another pulmonologist, I kept on praying that I’ll be able to find one who is very good and could really help him and give him the right medicine. I called up several hospitals, and then finally decided on the doctor referred by my sister-in-law, because her daughter had the same case as my son, although she was negative in the spirometry test.
Our prayers were answered because the doctor was very good, and was able to diagnose him properly. He also gave the right medicine which stopped my son’s wheezing. He even wanted my son to be confined in the hospital just so he can monitor him, and for easier administration of medicines in IV. But then, he said, he thinks my son can still handle it, and just gave me his mobile number in case my son’s condition worsens or I’ll get worried and sees it fit to have him admitted in the hospital. Thank God, his condition improved the next day and although he still has coughs, I think the worst part is over, and when he had his follow-up check up yesterday, the doctor allowed him to go back to school, but told him to use mask during his laboratory subject, to avoid inhaling the chemicals that they use.
I told him to really be very careful and to take care of himself, so that it wouldn’t happen again. Prevention is the key. I had his room totally cleaned to get rid of dust in which he is allergic to. Dust is really very difficult to avoid especially in a tropical country like the Philippines, so, it’s going to be a real challenge, and with him commuting to school, he’s always exposed to dust and smoke from vehicles. But then, of course, another weapon that he can have is to regularly take Vitamin C and multivitamins.
I hope and pray that his attacks will not happen again. It was just so heartbreaking to hear your son say, “Mommy, I’m getting scared of going back to sleep again”, because that was when he had his attacks, when he wakes up from continuous coughing. I’m just thankful that our prayers were answered and that God led us to the right and compassionate doctor.
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