Am I Overreacting?

I was listening to a frustrated mom in my Asthma Home Visit Program. Her child had been very sick and had symptoms of an asthma emergency.  She had recorded her child's breathing and rushed him to the ER. By the time she got there, the ER doctor said there was nothing wrong. The mom insisted on showing the video to the ER doctor, who said, “Oh yeah, I guess he was pretty bad – but he’s fine now.” And they sent her home.

Reminds me of when you take your car to the shop because it's not running right and making weird noises. And as soon as you drop it off at the shop, it stops.

This mom was still worried after the ER visit and followed up with her pediatrician. She asked him “Am I overreacting?”

Her doctor said, “There’s no such thing as overreacting when it comes to asthma.”

I feel the same way – that kids with asthma can go from bad to worse very quickly! My kids have been in the hospital many times for asthma. They would start out with a simple cold, and then suddenly get worse.

Hmmm, is it just me? Or am I overreacting?

There were many times when the doctor would treat me like I was overreacting about my children's asthma. With 3 kids with asthma, we were at the pediatrician's office a LOT. In fact, our family chart was one of the thickest on the shelf!

Sadly, when my kids got sick, they would go downhill pretty quickly. They would be coughing, wheezing, listless, and pale. I would give them a breathing treatment,  but they still did not "seem right." So I would bundle them up and take them to the doctor, who would always say “Well, they look fine to me. It’s probably just a virus.”

It was so frustrating because they were VERY sick at home, and once we were at the doctor’s office, they seemed better. Was it because they were walking around? Or breathing in the cold air in the parking lot? Or because they just had a breathing treatment and that masked the symptoms?

Listen to your gut instinct

I learned over time to listen to my gut or my "mom instinct." Sometimes that meant hauling my kids back to the pediatrician or ER twice in one day.

One night, my daughter’s asthma was terrible. I had given her a breathing treatment, but something seemed off - so I took her to the after-hours clinic. They diagnosed her with strep throat and started an antibiotic. Hmmm, strep throat? What about her lungs?!

My husband thought we should let her sleep and see how she was in the morning. I wasn’t so sure. I paced the floors watching her breath and felt something wasn’t right. It was late, but I woke her up and took her to the ER. They diagnosed her with pneumonia and admitted her to the hospital for 3 days. I was SO glad I had listened to my mom instinct!

That happened several times with my kids, where I would be at the doctor that day, and the ER at night (and my kids would be admitted to the hospital again.) Kids with severe asthma have a habit of going from bad to worse very quickly.

I share our stories with parents and other caregivers to let them know that it’s important to listen to your gut. If you feel like something isn’t right – go back to the doctor, or after-hours, or the emergency room. You are the expert on YOUR child's health, on what seems normal for them.

Do you have stories of listening to your instinct?