My little brother is seven, and I've been noticing for awhile that he appears to have asthma. Actually, I'm pretty much certain. I've always had minor asthma, but his appears to be somewhat worse. For instance, whenever he laughs a lot he goes into a coughing fit for a few minutes, and has wheezes for a bit. We were playing a game and running around today, and we had to take a break numerous times because he would start coughing and wheezing fairly bad.
I'll admit it has me worried. This is what I told my mother today:
"I think Sean has asthma..."
And she replied:
"Yeah, I've been noticing it for awhile. I'll keep an eye on it."
I just left it at that, but it's been bothering me. He's had these symptoms for a long time, and I'm thinking that the best thing to do is to take him to a doctor, so he can be diagnosed and the family can know what to do to help him. And to prevent it from getting worse! He's never had an "attack" but I can't assume it getting any better. And if it's rooted in allergies or something we could find the source and try to help that way.
What should I do? I disagree with how my mom is handling this situation, because I know from personal experience that that kind of response means that an action isn't going to take place until something serious happens. I don't want it to get to that point, and I want my brother to be able to be healthy growing up and not have struggles with even minor exertion. On the one hand, I respect my mother and it might not be my place to try and convince her otherwise in this matter. But on the other hand I don't want to just sit by and let this happen!
My mother doesn't always take kindly to suggestions...does anybody have any advice on how I can approach this subject and tell her that I feel he should be taken to a doctor, without making it seem like I'm supplanting her authority?
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I don't know, but her authority can't be nearly as imporant as your brother's health. Asthma can be pretty bad if it's not treated and there are triggers to consider like cold weather, dust, pollen... I have asthma and if I get a cold I'll have a month or longer of coughing fits and trouble breathing. So a doctor giving him an inhaler might be a good thing.
Would it work if he had a school nurse he could go to? At least someone who could give him an inhaler before it gets bad.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Are there any adults in your life who know your mother and might be able to advise on how best to approach her (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc)? That person might also be willing to help intervene directly and offer his or her own concerns to your mother. Also, the next time you see a doctor yourself, yo could mention that you are worried about your brother, if it hasn't been taken care of yet.
I'm afraid I haven't enough information about or experience with the adults in your life to give you advice more specific than that. Best wishes and good luck.
[ August 16, 2008, 07:12 PM: Message edited by: ClaudiaTherese ]
Posted by Elmer's Glue (Member # 9313) on :
Just tell her to take him to the doctor. Problem solved, yes?
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
Don't phrase it as a suggestion.
Approach her again, and say that you want to talk about your worries with him. It is very possible that she can comfort you about that. Tell her that you're worried that he might have a worse attack, that a simple cold could get him really sick. Listen to what she has to say to those valid concerns. Ask her what you should look for that would concern her enough to take him to the doctor.
That sounds manipulative, except that your worries are sincere and you would feel better knowing more than "I'm keeping an eye on it."
If that doesn't work, I think CT's advice is really good.
Is it a matter of how expensive it is to go?
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
send her a fake spam email from a fake adress(prankmail.org) that sais untreated asthma can cause serious medical problems. hope she reads it Posted by aragorn64 (Member # 4204) on :
Thanks for the advice, everyone.
Synesthesia: Yeah, that's a really good point. My brother's health is the most important aspect here.
Claudia: That's a good suggestion, but I don't think I know anybody else in the family that might be able to approach her better.
Amka: I really like that advice. It wouldn't sound like I'm attacking her, but it would be stronger than a suggestion. I think I'll try that!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
When you talk to her about those valid concerns, bring some research along. Untreated asthma in children can cause a host of problems long-term, including sleep problems, growth retardation, loss of function to the point where it can look like ADHD in some severe cases, etc.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by Amka: Don't phrase it as a suggestion.
Approach her again, and say that you want to talk about your worries with him. It is very possible that she can comfort you about that. Tell her that you're worried that he might have a worse attack, that a simple cold could get him really sick. Listen to what she has to say to those valid concerns. Ask her what you should look for that would concern her enough to take him to the doctor.
In the days before zithromax packs, I was hospitalized twice for pnuemonia as a complication of asthma. It can be very very serious for young children, because their breathing can be restricted slowly over time, causing severe infections. Generally a person should not be walking around wheezing all day, to say the least.
Edit: And I should add as ammo for your talk with your mom, that these infections, allergies, and ongoing respiratory problems have led to severe upper-GI conditions for which I have had to take several types of meds for many years. I also continue to depend on inhaled steroids and albuterol. Be careful to note if your brother complains of indigestion or chest pain of any kind as well- I remember having severe upper-gi irritation from asthma as early as 12 years.
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