Today, Chloe finally finished the 4-week asthma (steroid) treatments. Hope this is really the END. According to Dr. Bobby Chan, FLIXOTIDE can prevent Chloe from asthma attacks.
Flixotide contains the active ingredient fluticasone propionate, which is a type of medicine known as a corticosteroid. Fluticasone is a synthetic corticosteroid and is used to decrease inflammation in the lungs. (NB. Corticosteroids are often simply called steroids, but it should be noted that they are very different from another group of steroids, called anabolic steroids, which have gained notoriety because of their abuse by some athletes and body builders.)
Inhaled corticosteroids have considerably fewer side effects than steroids taken by mouth. However, this can sometimes cause a fungal infection in the mouth called oral thrush. To minimise the chances of this, I have to rinse Chloe's mouth with water or clean her teeth after inhaling each dose. Also, when taken for long periods of time at high doses, inhaled steroids do have the potential to cause side effects such as glaucoma, cataracts, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), slowed growth in children and adolescents, and to suppress the functioning of the adrenal glands (glands that produce natural steroid hormones). For this reason, I had only given Chloe the lowest effective dose prescribed by Dr. Chan to control her symptoms, and monitored for these side effects. It is recommended that we should have Chloe's growth monitored after receiving long-term treatment with corticosteroids. If Chloe's growth appears to be slowed, we may have to go to a specialist respiratory paediatrician.
Since Flixotide is only a "preventer" and cannot be used to treat an asthma attack, Chloe had to take Ventolin 4-6 times (1 puff each time) daily during the first 2 1/2 weeks. This one made
Chloe's hands shake and heartbeat faster than normal, so she was quite cranky and couldn't sleep until 2-3am every nite. To get rid of asthma and allergies triggers, our whole family has been working so hard together to make changes in our home and ourselves. We change all our fabric pleated curtain to roller blinds; daddy is quitting smoking again; I am using all perfume free products (and everybody); Change cleaning aids, procedure and schedule; All stuffed toys are sealed with plastic bags in the cabinets.
HOPE, Medical treatments together with better living environment, this is a Real END.
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1 comment:
So sorry Chloe has to go through it, but we know she's a real fighter!!
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