When the Asthma Girl aches and radiates fever and can’t stop coughing, here’s how I get through:
Valium
Nah, just kidding.This is a survival guide, not a wish list. Of all the issues that make raising an asthmatic child difficult, the number one thing I hate the worst is the all-night coughing. I sleep lightly, always have, and oh for the love of all that is good and quiet and peaceful: am I tired of being tired.
The real list:
Showers
AG takes, no lie, about three hot showers a day when she’s sick. If she feels too bad to to do it herself, I’ve even been known to drag a bean bag chair into the bathroom while I take a shower, so she can sit and breathe in the steam. Warm, moist air helps loosen up mucus, so she can cough it up easier.
Honey
An ER nurse on the 24-hour hotline gave me this tip. A spoonful of honey will coat an irritated throat to help keep the coughing down.
Nasal Washes
Usually, I have my kid use a saline nose spray rather than this full-on rinse that she absolutely hates and is, I’ll admit, kind of intense for a child. However, I swear by these for my sinus cavities, which will infect if you just look at them sideways. During last week’s bout with H1N1, I started nasal rinses on my third day of illness and came through sinus infection-free.
Green Tea
Some of the more zealous members of the green tea club claim it cures everything from athlete’s foot to cancer, but there is evidence for its infection-fighting properties. In any case, warm drinks soothe the threat and can help congestion, so I give my kid a mixture of warm green tea and apple cider – the only way she’ll drink tea.
How about you? Got any flu tips of your own to share?
My 6 yo asthma boy was flaring badly a couple of weeks ago — allergy induced not flu but still ended up on prednisone. BUT, I agree with the nasal wash. He lets us use a neti pot on him and it is amazing. Other suggestions I’ve received are rubbing a little bit of lavender oil on his back during the rough nights. I’ve also found distraction works — we sat on the porch and looked at the stars until the albuterol kicked in; I let him take out my earrings and put them back in — which for some reason he always wants to do, but is super annoying and I only let him when he’s flaring
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Mmm green tea mixed with cider, good idea! My dad always gave me honey when I couldn’t stop coughing, pre asthma diagnosis. I can’t remember if it helped, but it probably did some.
As for me, I drink a LOT of tea (more than on a normal day, which is already a lot). I usually drink a cup of tea after a flare as well because I find the heat from it very noticeably helps relax my airways.
I pull out my “sick socks” to make sure my feet stay warm when I’m chilled. Other than that, I make sure I have lots of pillows to keep me propped up and breathing as best I can.
Feel better soon AG! We’re rooting for you! And stay sane Amy!
Allison–Just the THOUGHT of little fingers putting my earrings on and off, over and over again, is profoundly irritating, but I agree–whatever works, lol.
Danielle–I totally have my own sick socks, too.