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Marlowe’s Breathing Problems

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Eva Amurri Martino's daughter Marlowe looks longingly out the window of their Connecticut home

Ooof, this is a tough post for me to write– it really pulls at my Mama Heartstrings.  No Mom likes to see their kid struggling, especially with something health related.  If you follow me on social media recently, you’re aware of Marlowe’s use of a nebulizer the past couple of months.  And if you are REALLY paying attention, you may have caught her recent asthma diagnosis.  But I wanted to take a moment today to share a bit about what’s been going on the past couple of months with Marlowe’s breathing issues.  Sharing some of these not-so-cheerful parenting rites of passage always make me feel better personallybut I also always feel that it’s a great way for me to connect with other parents going through the same or similar situations, and to learn a little something from all of you!

In February (during this worst-ever Winter for sickness, it seems) Marlowe came down with a respiratory virus.  It was a fierce one, and she developed a terrible cough, fever, etc.  We had to bring her in to the pediatrician a few times a day to test her oxygen levels, and each time they were low, but not quite low enough to get admitted to the hospital.  For almost a week we were at the doctor’s office daily, nebulizing her, giving her steroids, and watching her like a hawk.  We would have to wait for her oxygen levels to go up and then I would have to check for “pulling” (breathing difficulty) all through the night.  It was such a crazy, exhausting emotional roller coaster.  Eventually her fever subsided and her cough got a bit better, but hasn’t totally gone away since. 

By this point, we owned a nebulizer, and were directed by the pediatrician to keep giving her albuterol every four hours as needed for wheezing, and then Budesonide (a steroid) twice a day in the neb as well.  They even tried her on two different courses of antibiotics to see if there was an underlying infection that just wasn’t going away.  Because of the persistence of the wheezing, they officially diagnosed her with asthma a little less than three weeks ago. We brought her in for a chest X-ray that confirmed the diagnosis and showed that there was not anything else more sinister at play.  Although asthma is common these days, this diagnosis really hit home for me, personally.

Eva Amurri Martino's daughter Marlowe sucks her thumb and rests her head on the table

I had asthma as a kid, and I had to carry an inhaler everywhere.  It really effected me when I had allergies (to animals) and when I played sports as well.  My Dad has asthma, so I can’t say I’m particularly surprised that I ended up with it– or my daughter– but I think every parent secretly hopes that their child won’t have to have any of the same struggles they had. I finally grew out of my own asthma in my early twenties.  To know that this is something she will probably be dealing with for a large part of her life just makes me a little sad.  I know there are so many parents out there that deal with even more extreme asthma– and even worse chronic illnesses with their children, and knowing how this small struggle has effected our family, my heart just breaks for them.  Luckily, Lowie has stayed relatively healthy and in great spirits through this whole ordeal. 

Our plan now is to determine what, if anything specific, has been causing this flare-up.  We got the air in our home tested for mold and other contaminants, and we are awaiting the results.  She has allergy testing scheduled for next week.  I know that the pollen and seasonal allergies this year are out of control, so there is a big possibility her struggle this month has to do with that!

Eva Amurri Martino's children Major and Marlowe sit at the kitchen table

In the meantime, there are a few things that have been really helping her since we started them.  I’ve put Hepa Air Filters in both of the kids rooms.  They each have a cute character, and they’re sweet additions to the room that also help clear the air!  I’ve also been diffusing “Breathe” essential oil blend by DoTerra in the family room and kitchen for a few hours a day while the kids are playing.  At night, I’ve been mixing a drop of Eucalyptus essential oil with a teaspoon of coconut oil and rubbed it in to her feet.  She’s been significantly less wheezy and coughing less since I started doing that at night!

I’m trying to keep some perspective here and not spiral in to panic, but this one has been a tough lesson in staying the course and keeping my child comfortable and feeling safe through an ongoing illness.  I’ve learned a lot already– but I’m sure there’s lots more to learn! I’m curious to hear if any of you have been through something similar, and if anything ended up working (or if there were any surprising revelations or triggers that I may not have on my radar!) As always, thanks for being a part of this online community and following along on my family’s journey.  It’s during moments like these that I’m so thankful to have the friendship of some seriously fabulous and strong readers like you.

Eva Amurri Martino's children Marlowe and Major look out the window of their Connecticut home

 

Photographs by Julia Dags.

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48 Comments

  1. Tabitha says:

    There are some stories that every child have an asthma period in his life! My father-in-law is from Greece and he always says that spending some days at sea breeze can cure any respiratory problems. Been for a week in Greece kids playing on the beach and voila the asthma problem was gone. Since then we spend some weekends on the beach far away from city smog.

    05.17.18 Reply
    • Irina Visan says:

      Right, and I bet Greek salty sea air is the best! I know doctors here in Romania send asmathic kids to the seaside too and it seems to help a lot.

      05.17.18 Reply
      • Marci says:

        It’s amazing what a little sea and sun can do for the body and soul. xo

        05.17.18 Reply
  2. Kay says:

    After a bout with bronchitis I developed a wheeze. If I got tired or worn down it would start. My chest would ache and I worried about being able to start an exercise routine or if the chronic sleep-deprivation that comes with children would be something I just couldn’t face.
    My father, an ER physician, listened to my chest when it was happening one night and told me that it wasn’t in my chest at all. He had to do some research but the problem was actually in my throat. If the wheezing started (and it did hurt my chest because the airways were being restricted in my throat and causing issues) I was instructed to take slow, deep, deliberate breaths to “retrain” my body. It seemed so bizarre but two years of wheezing was ended with maybe half a dozen sessions of deep breathing at onset of symptoms. ??‍♀️

    Bodies are tricky things. Sometimes we grow into and out of problems. I hope Marlowe’s issues are, if not resolved, well managed going forward. What a hard thing to face as a parent.

    05.17.18 Reply
  3. Amila says:

    When I was 6 my left lung partially collapsed from asthma + environmental allergies – neither of which I had dealt with much in my short life prior to that! After that I had the daily nebulizer and inhaler treatments for most of the rest of my early life. It wasn’t until later in elementary school I grew out of needing the nebulizer, and even to this day if I work out too hard or laugh too much (the later more commonly the reason) I may need my inhaler (being 30 this is still hard). Wish I could say it was all good for those years; but it was hard for me to know my boundaries, it was hard for my family to constantly watch that I wasn’t about to have an attack… Looking back though I realize it made me more of a perceptive child, and it brought me and my sisters closer in a special way. I hope Marlowe grows out if this quickly, and momma can rest just a bit easier!

    05.17.18 Reply
  4. Jenny says:
    05.17.18 Reply
    • Michelle says:

      Hi Eva! I Dm-Ed you about this. Eucalyptus is not safe for kids under 10. Please look into this because it can really mess with their airways, despite whatever positive results you may be seeing! Sending you major positive vibes for your Lowie to feel good soon!

      05.17.18 Reply
  5. Cara says:

    My little guy (Silas) was a micro-preemie and spent a good bit of time on oxygen after birth, so I knew to expect him to possibly struggle with asthma. He is almost 3 and his reared it’s head this winter too. We also think it is tied to some environmental allergies, so I’ll definitely be grabbing one of those HEPA air filters! He had a bad flare up last night/overnight and has a virus on top of it with high fever. WHY is illness always SO much worse at night?! His coughing and wheezing are always scary, but I was extra concerned last night. We have a pulse-ox to keep our eye on his oxygen levels, but you are right…it can get so stressful SO quickly. I’ll be following along with your allergy testing journey as we are considering that for Silas as well. Hugs to you and Marlowe. She’s such a trooper and strong little warrior girl! ?

    05.17.18 Reply
  6. April says:

    I know it seems like an extreme, but I know how it’s impacted my health, and that of others. Going vegan has made all the difference in the world for my allergies and breathing issues. I’ve had seasonal allergies my whole life. I took meds daily or my nose would slam shut and I’d have to breathe through my mouth. Constantly running nose, constant chronic cough, nose bleeds, shortness of breath and so on. Since going vegan I have not taken my allergy meds once even in the worst conditions, and I know other people who’ve been able to discontinue their weekly allergy shots after going vegan. It’s a step to consider, and it WILL make a difference.

    05.17.18 Reply
    • Marci says:

      This is such an interesting comment. I have a friend with really bad allergies and she noticed the same thing. She started working with a naturopath and eating a Paleo diet in order to lose weight, and in doing so her allergies almost completely disappeared. She notices that when she lets her diet slip, her allergies come back, and the disappear again when she re-commits to eating well. I know personally, a lot of my own health issues have been attributed to diet and vitamin deficiencies. After testing it was determined that I had strong food sensitivities to eggs, dairy, wheat, gluten, and soy. Eliminating these foods from my diet has made a huge difference! Lots of love to you and Marlowe. xo

      05.17.18 Reply
    • Melly says:

      Definitely! Dairy and meat are very inflammatory for the body. I’ve seen a ton of improvement in my own health by going vegan.

      05.17.18 Reply
    • Laura says:

      I have had similar results going vegan also. I had been struggling badly with my allergies for a lot of years. Going vegan has almost cleared up my allergies completely. I dont need to take hayfever tablets anymore!

      05.17.18 Reply
  7. Irina Visan says:

    Oh Eva, I had allergic asmathic bronchitis (I think that’s how it’s translated) when I was little so I understand the struggle. It used to activate when I had a cold, flue or virus or an alergic reaction to mold. I eventually grew out of it around 7-10 years old and took antialergics (Peritol) for a while (up until I was 7 I think) and no steorids, I don’t think we even had that available here 25 years ago. Mold was the biggest culprit for me so getting your house tested for that sounds good. I am not sure what other information I could give to help you out but I hope Lowie feels better soon and grows out of it early!

    05.17.18 Reply
  8. Lindsay says:

    I had chronic bronchitis as a child, and my brother had asthma, while we both grew out of it at an earlier age than expected I can’t imagine, now that I am a mother how awful that was for my parents. My brother especially was told to stay away from dairy when he was having a particularly hard week or something. Asthma isn’t necessarily food related, but can be triggered by food or allergens! Sometimes an allergy test could be beneficial to see if that is the case with Marlowe (more doctors, I know!) Everytime my daughter gets a cough, I worry she will have the same issues!

    05.17.18 Reply
  9. Ashley says:

    My son has asthma and it really only gets really bad when he’s sick with a cold or something. We’ve been using Flovent for a year or so now and it’s the only thing that has helped, he’s rarely had to use his albuterol inhaler or the nebulizer since then.

    Also a thought about using/diffusing essential oils (not bashing anyone who uses them AT ALL, I know there are amazing benefits for some) BUT my son had a severe asthma attack when I used a natural product on our carpet that had peppermint oil in it, and I have read several articles online from doctors where they have mentioned diffusing oils can be extremely dangerous for people with asthma. Before my son had that reaction to the peppermint oil, I had just contacted somone who sold EO’s and bought some and asked for suggestions for some that might help with his asthma and she recommended several that I later researched were NOT safe for use for children. So to wrap up my long story (sorry) I would just highly recommend that people do research/maybe even talk to a doctor if there are health conditions in the household, before using EO’s and not just listen to what the person selling them to you says. Lesson learned for this mama! ??‍♀️ Hope you all figure out what’s causing her flare ups and a good treatment plan, it’s so hard to see our kids sick like that and not be able to make it better right away. ❤️

    05.17.18 Reply
  10. Irene says:

    Hi Eva, i can relate… every spring, myself & my 4 year old experiencing allergic asthma symptoms… People think of seasonal allergies as a runny nose, but that runny nose can cause the asthma to act up and the airway to become inflamed .. that triggers coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. I try to limit my son’s time outdoors on days when there are high allergen counts. Feel better soon Marlowe!

    05.17.18 Reply
  11. Nicole says:

    I have a little one with asthma as well and it’s no fun in him or the Mama. I’m akways worried about him and it makes me sad when he misses out on fun things cause he isn’t well. He’s had a really rough week as well with lots of wheezing and coughing. Finally under control after a dose of dexamethasone. Doctor prescribed a 3rd inhaler for him to use him during allergy season that we hope will really help. So he’s now on daily allergy Meds, two daily puffers and one as needed (which is often). Poor kiddos.

    05.17.18 Reply
  12. Dawn says:

    This post made me cry so hard! I was diagnosed with asthma when I was three and spent the good part of my childhood in the hospital! I still use an inhaler daily but my asthma is well under control. My mom lost years of sleep on account of my asthma and reading your post I can see it a little better from her eyes. I did find that my asthma flared up more when I ate dairy. I also use essential oils and find they help too. If you have any questions let me know!

    05.17.18 Reply
  13. David says:

    I had asthma that later progressed to COPD in my senior years. Things always bothersome to me are candles, fabric softener dryer sheets, and most perfumes.

    05.17.18 Reply
  14. Mally May says:

    You must watch the Netflix documentary Magic Pill. I would love to know what you think after you watch it!

    05.17.18 Reply
    • Marci says:

      I just watched this after your recommendation. Such a great film, and so many touching stories. I have struggled all my life with doctors that don’t make the food/health connection, and even criticize me for seeing a naturopath. Evidently, the naturopath is the only one who was finally able to help me.

      05.17.18 Reply
  15. Marcella H says:

    Hi Eva, in case this comment helps to give some sort of hope I’ll share my personal asthma experience with you.

    I was born with it, in fact my family used to joke what when I arrive into this world instead of crying I came out coughing 🙁

    Luckily I grew out of it still being a child, before 5 🙂

    Something that is not common to check as a cause is wood, I live in Central America, and here, different than in the US the houses are made of concrete not of wood but the house of my grandparents the place that I spend most of my childhood was made like the American type in the inside. It turned out that that was the strongest cause of my allergies and asthma, if it helps to you try to check it and I know you are not gonna go and built another house but maybe there’s a way to solve it

    Hope Marlowe gets better, even if it is in the DNA like it was for me in some cases it goes away while you are still a little kid

    Tip: combine Vick’s VapoRub with the eucalyptus in a diffuser and leave it the room for the night. It helped me a lot

    05.17.18 Reply
  16. Tracy Baker RRT RCP says:

    Peak flow meter ask Dr about, love a Registered Respiratory Therapist!

    05.17.18 Reply
  17. Emily says:

    I know your pain girl and it’s one hell of a scary ride. I birthed a perfectly healthy baby girl in 2008 and I believe around 3 or 4 years ago Constance was in East Texas for the weekend with us as usual seeing family and was sluggish and not feeling really well most the weekend and spent most of the time on the couch which was not usual for her behavior. By Sunday Morning she was wheezing hard and could barely breath so we ran her to the ER and they gave her the first breathing treatment. They came back in and basically right there diagnosed her with Asthma. I broke down bawling like a baby feeling like I had failed her somehow but I knew her dad had bad asthma at times and that of all the things she could have been diagnosed with we were fortunate it wasn’t worse and something that could be managed. We too spend many nights doing neutralizer treatments from allergy induced asthma and her crying because she was tired and just wanting to sleep but struggling to breath. Through the years she has been prescribed a daily allergy pill, her daily albuterol rescue inhaler as needed and a daily preventive inhaler that has actually made all the difference in the world for her and cutting her flare ups and breathing treatments down to almost nothing. My baby just turned 10 in March and I’m hoping with as well as she is doing that it’ll possibly be something she grows out of as she gets older or at least almost diminish totally by adulthood. It gets easier and I’m usually having to remind her to go take her inhaler otherwise she’s get busy and forget but something to watch for to is that with the rescue inhaler she got where I had to monitor her with it because she was trying to use it every time she barely got a little winded and I didn’t want her not necessarily abusing it but getting where she felt she couldn’t learn to slow down and just breath when she got crazy playing. I wanted to teach her that if she got into a situation where she was heavily playing and was having a full blow asthma attack and couldn’t get to her inhaler quickly to calm her breathing, calm down mentally and safely get herself to her inhaler without hyperventilating and passing out. We’ve taught her brothers and other family how to help her with her medications if needed and what to do if there is an emergency. We went through the allergy testing as well and thankfully no food allergies but it was mainly like Mountain Cedar, Dust and Pollen. So for like a month my daughter was like, “Mommy I am allergic to Dust, did you vacuum today because I’m sneezing!” LOL. It’s an adjustment but y’all got this.

    05.17.18 Reply
  18. Lindsey says:

    I’m so sorry you are going through this. My older son also has asthma and it gets so much worse when he’s sick. My husband is a nurse at an asthma and allergy clinic so we’ve gotten some great first hand advice. Look into a drug called Qvar. It’s helped us a lot. Also, from looking at your IG stories it seems like you have one of those loud plug in nebulizers. We found a battery operated travel one that is virtually silent. We use it on the way to school and will bring it with us everywhere when he’s sick. Makes life so much better!! Hope she grows out of it soon.

    05.17.18 Reply
    • Melanie says:

      Do you happen to know the brand name of the battery operated nebulizer?

      05.17.18 Reply
    • Melanie says:

      Do you happen o have the brand name of the battery operated nebulizer?

      05.17.18 Reply
  19. Stephanie says:

    Try avoiding the essential oils. They can irritate sensitive air passages.

    05.17.18 Reply
  20. Chantal says:

    Hi there!
    I have had asthma since birth and I am 41 now. I can tell you that my seasonal allergies (I am in East Coast Canada) can trigger bouts of hard breathing. Also, essential oils are especially hard to be around. Some are worse than others for sure. I wish you all the best, my journey has been fine despite hospitalization several times as a child. Medicine has come a long way since I was diagnosed and the treatments are excellent now a days. Your little is lucky to have such a wonderful Mommy like you.

    05.17.18 Reply
  21. Rene McKeel says:

    I’m so sorry Lowie is having a tough time with asthma. ?

    05.17.18 Reply
  22. Nicole says:

    It’s so great that you already own a nebulizer! I also inherited asthma, unfortunately I never grew out of mine, though thankfully mine is not that frequent. However it took me 25 years for a doctor to give me a nebulizer, so the fact that you have one is crucial! I also find that tea tree, orange, peppermint and eucalyptus diffused in the room at night, on top of how you are applying it to Marlowe’s feet, is amazing!!!! I made my own vial and used it constantly this winter for my two littles and that helped tremendously! I hope you can find her triggers and she can get this under control ?

    05.17.18 Reply
  23. Lori says:

    My little is 6 and came down with a cold in February and has not recovered. She’s been on 4 antibiotics and nothing helped. We took her to an asthma and allergy doc who told us she does not have allergies, but does have asthma. Her chest and sinus X-ray are clear. We are going to an ent to see why she is SO congested. Her cough is better since the asthma diagnosis and breathing treatments but the congestion is terrible. I’ve been watching your stories with Lowie suffering and I can really relate. We are only as happy as our unhappiest child. I hope your princess continues to feel better ??!!!!

    05.17.18 Reply
  24. Jen says:

    Oh boy brings back memories I feel you’re pain, when my son was born he had an immediate allergy to dairy, any little bit of dairy would put him in a full asthma attack around his first birthday he got a very bad upper respitory virus that put him in the hospital for a week. Did I mention we are away on vacation that was extra fun… we also saw a pediatric allergist and found out beside dairy what his other allergies were. He was allergic to everything at least it seemed like everything. The spring time was the worst time, poor kid was nebulized constantly we even purshased a portable nebulizer because you never knew when he would have a severe attack. After we found out what allergies he had we took precautions to make our home as allergy free as we could… central air was put in our home and no carpets either especially in his room. Windows were never opened and when he played outside clothes were changed the minute he came inside..We learned to live with the asthma and severe allergies, the Dr. Told us he would most likely grow out of it since he was a baby when he got asthma. The Dr. Was right by the time he was 10 he no longer was allergic to dairy and the attack’s came less. The only thing Jack is allergic to is tree nuts severely but People with nut allergies never grow out of them. Anyway he has his epi pen and never leaves the house without it. He is now a 22 year old healthy young man…. I know your in the thick of it now Eva but it won’t be forever, I know it still sucks seeing your baby struggle with their health. Good luck to you all!!! Be well Marlowe! Xoxo jennifer

    05.17.18 Reply
  25. Megan says:

    I get wheezy during the spring bloom. What has really helped me is a salt inhaler. It’s natural and helps clean out the inpurities in the lungs and nasal airwat. It runs along the same line as some of the comments suggesting going to the ocean. I use the inhaler from livinglibations.com. it’s made a huge difference. I like to deter breath blend as well.

    05.17.18 Reply
  26. Taylor says:

    Hi Eva,

    I grew up in Fairfield County and was diagnosed with asthma at around the same age as Marlowe. It makes me happy to see that she seems okay with the neb!

    Here’s some ground rules my mom used:
    -daily steroid-based “controller” med
    -Albuterol as needed, always with a spacer, never directly from an inhaler (I think this made it a lot more effective). I got to a place where I only used albuterol when sick or having an asthma attack.
    -every April 1st, no matter the weather in CT, I started a nasal spray (Rhinocort) and oral (Claritin) allergy med. Both of these were RX but now are OTC. We started this because I would get allergy-induced bronchitis in mid-April, every year, without fail.
    -Learned to swim laps by 5 or 6. This increased my lung capacity, but also requires mindfulness in breathing.

    I’m in my late twenties now and have used a rescue inhaler mayve twice in the past 5 years, both times during bouts of bronchitis. As you know, it gets so much better!

    Best of luck!

    05.17.18 Reply
  27. Glenda says:

    Sorry to hear M us going through this. It definitely hurts your mama heart. My son developed asthma at 9m. He finally outgrew it at 14. It was the worst of times. Hoping M feels better soon.

    05.17.18 Reply
  28. Lisa says:

    We have gone through this with two children. Our now 7 year old ended up spending three nights in the hospital because of wheezing and low oxygen levels and after that, we started with the nebulizer treatments and always had the oral steroid on hand. For him, every time he’d get a runny nose it would turn into a respiratory illness that would cause concern and problems. We started seeing a Pulmonologist and our treatment plan was to start with the nebulizer treatments anytime he started getting a cold. This was to basically prevent it from becoming a full on respiratory virus. I think they called it reactive airway disease or something like that. I will say that he is now almost 8 and it has gotten so much better. We can use an inhaler now but really haven’t had to use it quite as much. There are still questions though about allergies as he’s struggling a bit right now with all the pollen, etc. Our 1 year old seems to be following suit and after a night in the hospital we are now doing the same nebulizer treatments. We start albuteral and budesinide at the sign of any cold. Winter is tough and I find we use the neb way too frequently but thankfully we have stayed out of the hospital. Breathing issues are very scary so I always find myself using the neb and bringing the child into the doctor if there is ever a question. I’ve been to the doctor many times when I probably didn’t have to go but better safe than sorry.

    05.17.18 Reply
  29. Melanie says:

    So sorry to hear about Marlowe’s diagnosis and all that you’ve had to endure. I have a 5 month old who has been experiencing breathing issues since she was 3 mos old after a broncholitis diagnosis. We have been doing daily albuterol treatments and now 2x a day budesonide treatments. She’s had congestion, a cough, and hard work of breathing for over 6 weeks. I attempted to make an appt with asthma and allergy dr and my pediatrician told me to cancel it and was referred to a pediatric pulmonary dr instead. We shall see if I can get any answers as to the cause. Hang in there. You are doing a great job caring for her.

    05.17.18 Reply
  30. Bre says:

    My 20 month old was diagnosed 7 months ago. I know your worry with every minor cold that blows into needing an epi shot and decamethasone, prednisolone and nebulizing. I use the Hepa daily and also an ultrasonic cool mist humidifier (when sick and sanitize it daily) on low plus keep his window cracked an inch. I live in Buffalo so it gets cold but that window crack is key for us. I get good cuddles and sleep in the crib with him and he does better with me there. My back hurts but parenting demands it. Good luck to you, it’s draining emotionally for sure.

    05.17.18 Reply
  31. Rebekah says:

    Thanks for sharing, I’ve been wondering how she’s doing since the asthma diagnosis. We all do our best as parents to help keep our kiddos healthy and it’s so hard when they are sick and we feel so helpless. That’s awesome you are using essential oils, I am an avid DoTERRA oil user and I truly contribute them to my sons good health. Sending love and good vibes your way!

    05.17.18 Reply
  32. karen says:

    For allergies related to pollen: in your diffuser put three to four drops of each: lemongrass, lavender, and peppermint. I run this in the bedroom at least an hour before going to bed and it seems to help. You could run it all day if you want.

    05.17.18 Reply
  33. Diane says:

    I can’t imagine being a little one and going through this scary thing. I wasn’t diagnosed with asthma until I was 21 years old. I probably had it earlier, as I remember having breathing issues in high school, but my doctor never seemed to either believe me or think it was severe enough to warrant a full checkup by a pulmonologist. I did finally learn that I have allergies to mold spores and pollen, both of which are horrible here in Pittsburgh. I’ve actually been hospitalized for asthma and it is no fun. A nebulizer at home is a must and often helps to stave off more serious attacks. I take it everywhere we go on vacations or weekend trips, just to be sure I have what I need.

    Some suggestions for you that I’ve found to help:
    -Have your air ducts in the house cleaned. There was SO much dust and mold particles coursing through the ducts in my house that it made it easier for my filters to work and they lasted much longer.
    -Have a humidifier put onto your furnace. It’s a costly expense, but we had the option of getting one when we built our house. It really has helped maintain the proper humidity in the house, because either too humid or too dry can trigger an attack.
    -As much as I love fresh air, I rarely have my windows open. It’s a sad fact of life with asthma that I can’t risk the pollen and mold spores getting in. If you do, make sure your window sills outside (lift windows and see) are spotless. Mold is notorious for setting up shop there.
    -I just read that thunderstorms can trigger and worsen asthma attacks. https://www.health24.com/Medical/Asthma/News/thunderstorms-can-trigger-asthma-flares-20170502
    -Asthma is affected by GERD (and vice versa). When one flares, often the other does as well. I didn’t even realize how much I coughed after I ate until a friend finally asked me why I cough after every meal. If I eat something that bothers my GERD, I inevitably have breathing issues as well, and if I have an asthma attack, my GERD is worse. Weird, but true.

    I hope she grows out of it. Asthma is no joke and has put strains on my heart and my stomach, not to mention my lungs. There is nothing scarier in this world than thinking you are going to suffocate because you just cannot breathe. I’m glad it’s me and not my child. I feel for your mama heart going through this. <3

    05.18.18 Reply
  34. B Wall says:

    I am hoping for relief from any problems for your little one. You’re blessed with such a sweet and loving family!

    05.18.18 Reply
  35. Megan says:

    So sorry to hear about the asthma diagnosis, but at least it’s not something worse. My sister had severe asthma as a child, diagnosed even younger than Marlowe. Like yourself, she too grew out of it in her 20’s, but does still have allergies to food and animals. Myself have had an opposite experience, fine as a child and as an adult getting food and other allergies and developed asthma. Marlowe has a great mom and since you’ve been through it yourself, you can help her navigate this. Stay strong! ?

    05.18.18 Reply
  36. Danielle says:

    Hi Eva,

    I had asthma has child as well (I wasn’t diagnosed till 12) once I was diagnosed the doctor couldn’t believe I was even functioning. He told my mom that normal walking made me feel like I’d run a two mile marathon. I had an inhaler and a breathing blow machine I had to track 3 times a day. I had to blow really hard and see how high I could get the number to register. I had an inhaler till I was in my mid teens. I eventually outgrew it and live a normal life with very minor asthma flare ups or breathing difficulties! Don’t lose hope!

    05.19.18 Reply
  37. Sommer Leonard says:

    This hits home with me. My 9 month old was diagnosed with Asthma at 7 months old. He is currently on flowvent twice a day. He takes Zyrtec (2.5/day) that we just started this week so we hopefully don’t have to add more medication. We use a humidifier at night in his room, but I’m going to look at the air filter. We also have a nebulizer & albuteral inhaler. My brother & grandfather had asthma very bad. Both outgrew it though. My pediatrician said that Charlie can still play sports. Makes this mama nervous though.

    05.19.18 Reply
  38. Andrea says:

    My son was diagnosed at age 2 with asthma which also goes hand in hand with his allergies quite often. He has both seasonal & food allergies. We have the neb, he has been on steroids & ended up in the hospital for 2 days after a really bad attack. I feel like managing both together has given us the best results as he has not had a bad attack since. When he is sick with a cold it tends to flare up but now we know to start neb treatments right away. He also takes a nose spray flucticasone daily, liquid allegra as needed & is ok to do daily & flovent inhaler daily. Together they have helped with the seasonal allergies & asthma. He is now 10 & no attack since age 4. Not to say this will help Marlowe & she is still small but it is what we have found has made all the difference. Hope she improves soon!

    05.20.18 Reply
  39. Brigit says:

    Hi Eva and to all reading,
    Just wanted to say how glad I am that you were all able to find out the culprit to Marlowe’s breathing issue’s . I hope it is something that you can pay gradually. I think the biggest part is that you all found out and, will be able to remedy it. I’m glad you have noticed a difference with keeping the kids out of that part of the house. Brigit

    05.30.18 Reply