Looking for a Pediatric Pulmonary Specialties

Hey, there is a new strain of whooping cough that my friend and her husband had - maybe you could get a second opinion!
M. alice

Have you had her tested for Whooping Cough? The symptoms you describe sound suspiciously like what my cousin experienced when she had it earlier this summer. Just a thought...

I would also recommend Dr. Copenhaver and Gelfand. We saw Copenhaver at Children's Medical when my son was admitted for an RSV related asthma episode. I will also say that our experience has shown us that asthma symptoms come in many different forms. I always thought the "dry cough" was just post-nasal drip cough, but it was really asthma for my son. When he has an attack he just coughs and coughs, but doesn't sound tight or wheezy. Also, we learned, after landing in the hospital for 3 nights with our 2 year old, that specialists are the route to go. Our regular pediatrician totally misdiagnosed him. We see specialists as much as possible.

Coughing to the point of throwing up can be a sign of asthma or "reactive airway disease" which basically means that anytime they catch even a small cold it manifests itself in lots of coughing/congestion that lingers on for days or weeks at a time. My son has the same symptoms in the spring and fall. He was tested for allergies and was only mildly allergic to 2 fall weeds. The allergist said he has a reactive airway. I was given a Rx for Flovent (steroid) and Xopenex (bronchodilator) inhalers, but have chosen not to use them since his symptoms are so sporadic and I'm concerned about given him steroid meds. What I have found to help for those night time coughing fits (if they are to the point of vomiting or just constant through the night) is Viravan PDM. If he is only coughing a little I use Mucinex Cough at night and Mucinex Cold with Claritin during the day until he is no longer coughing. We usually have to keep him medicated for 2-3 weeks total (Viravan for 4-5 days total) and then he is good until the next illness or allergy attack hits. We have had good success with this regime. good luck!

5 of my 6 children have asthma and they go to Dr. Richard Wasserman at Medical City Dallas. He is wonderful. We have been going to him since 1998. He is a Pediatric Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Doctor. His # is ###-###-####

Not to jump to conclusions, but I know whooping cough has been diagnosed in the Colleyville area, specifically a few cases at Glenhope Elem. I would at least ask for a test. It can present itself in a weird way if she's been vaccinated.

Our friend that had it coughed mostly at night, no fever or anything, but got to the point that he threw up at night from coughing so hard. The Dr. thought it was allergies and changed his allergy meds and then finally the did the test for whooping cough and that's what it was. Just something to think about! Especially if it just started and seems to be getting worse.

Kari has a point. I used to have "asthma" that fits your description of your daughter's. My mom used to say that I barked like a seal when it got really bad. It turns out to be food allergies. I haven't had an asthma attack since the last time I ate chocolate and cinnamon. Depressing as it sounds to have no Hershey in my life, it's nice to breathe.

Allergy testing may be a way to go. I don't recommend allergy shots. They may "lessen the response" to foods, but you still can't eat them. It's cheaper just to eliminate the food from your diet.

DR.Peter Schochet Pedi-Pulmo ###-###-#### I found his name on mamasource-sorry I do'nt know where he is located but one lady said she thinks alot of him and the treatment her child recieves from him!

We've had whooping cough in our area also. My neighbor across the streets 3 year old son was just diagnosed after she asked for the test... he had just been dianosed with pneaumonia. She was told that the cough could last 6 months. He was also coughing so hard that he was vomiting. Just thought you would want to know. Oh, he and all his siblings have had all their vaccinations. good Luck

M.,

Regardless of the actual diagnosis, her immune system seems like it is down. Many believe asthma, allergies, and other chronic or recurring ailments are actually linked to underlying nutrient deficiencies and food intolerances, not some germ. Drugs, breathing machines, and lung doctors won't likely help you with this.

Good food intolerance testing can be found through www.enterolab.com Notice under the FAQ section that "asthma" is listed as a symptom that warrants gluten intolerance testing. In addition, dairy is usually connected with respiratory issues. Both can be tested through this fabulous lab. No doctor referral needed. Order test online. They email you the results. MD Director is the top in the field.

Othr things to consider:

Supplement with Omega 3's:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2001/0...

Eliminate grains and sugars:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/0...

Beward of steroids:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/1...

Avoid antibiotics and supplement with a probiotic:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/0...

Forego the antibacterial soaps:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/0...

Bump up her vitamin C intake to address any underlying infection:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/0...

Some say the vitamin C need is different for different people. It's water soluble, so you can't overdose on it. You can gradually increase her intake to as high an amount as possible without experiencing negative side effects like loose stools. Raw garlic is also great for infection, but this may be hard to do with a 6 year old.

All of the above changes would stregthen her immune system, regardless of whether the diagnosis is asthma, allergies, or some other chronic condition.

Good luck!

I have a 2 1/2 year old little girl with asthma and I really like our doctor. We go to dallas allergy and immunology. They are at Medical City Dallas, and have a practice in Frisco. We use Dr. Richard Wasserman and his partner is Dr. Sugarman. They are both great. I would think he could give you the answers and treatment you are looking for. We have had a very complicated case as well and I have been nothing but very satisfied with everyone in the practice. Their number is ###-###-####

Pediatric Pulmonary Specialist
1 review - Write a review
8210 Walnut Hill Ln # 718
Dallas, TX 75231
###-###-####‎ - Gelfand Andrew MD
###-###-####‎ - Fax

This is who our pediatrician sent us to when my son was having problems.

Hi M.,
I have a foster son who has a very rare syndrome and has a lot of respiratory issues with it. I take him to Dr. Martinez at Childrens Medical Center in Dallas. She is AWESOME! She is one of the few specialists I take him to who really listens to me and my instincts. Since his condition is so rare, she has spent a lot of time consulting with research doctors out of the area rather than just waiting for each new symptom to come up as some of his other doctors seem to do. I would highly recommend her.
S.

Hi M., Sorry about all the struggles your little girl is going through. I don't have a pulmonary doc but are you aware that Whooping Cough is spreading around here and other areas of the country? As far as I remember from what I've read, it's possible for her to get it even if she has been vaccinated. It causes terrible coughing and can even cause cracked ribs etc.

Sound like whooping cough to me. Has she had her vaccines? ASk the dr.....

Hello, M. and daughter.

Here is a technical bulliten put out by the Center of Disease Control. As a former scientist, this report is truly scary. But the good news is that I have a solution for most of the problems associated with asthma. Please read this and give me a call. ###-###-####

In 1998, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that asthma increased 75% from 1980-1994 and in 2007, the EPA reported that an average of one out of every 13 school-age children suffers from asthma.* In fact, “asthma has become the most common serious disease of childhood, and there are at least several well-designed epidemiologic studies that have documented a strong link between use of domestic and industrial cleaning products and risk of asthma,” says Dr. John Spengler, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation, Department of Environmental Health at Harvard University. "When reviewing the rapid increases of asthma rates in America, it is critical to recognize the link between pollution and human health, including chemical and biological pollutants in indoor environments.”
To help raise awareness around the asthma epidemic, Shaklee has teamed up with Harris Interactive (January 2008) to survey more than 1,000 American moms about their perceptions of home cleaners and their safety.
Key results from the Harris Poll are as follows:
•   81% of moms believe that their household cleaning products can trigger asthma in children and adults.
"Moms already know household cleaners can be hazardous if swallowed or spilled directly on your skin, but most don't make the connection that when these products are used as directed on floors, sinks and tubs, their families are exposed 24 hours a day." - Jane Houlihan, VP for Research at Environmental Working Group in Washington, D.C.
•    38% of moms even agree that the air inside their homes is more toxic than the air outside
A person who spends 15 minutes cleaning scale off shower walls could inhale 3 times the “acute one-hour exposure limit” for glycol ether-containing products set by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.
  88% of moms agree that household cleaning products can be harmful to you and your family’s health; 41% of moms admitted that they don’t know what types of ingredients are in the cleaning products they currently use      
91% of moms report that they would use non-toxic cleaning products if they knew they really worked

     
* Centers For Disease Control. Surveillance for Asthma, United States, 1960-1995, MMWR. 1998; 47 (SS-1)

Have you thought about an allergist? My daughter has asthma and the allergist is the one who manages it. I know what you mean by the ped not doing much, they do not specialize in asthma or allergy issues.
You need to find out what is causing her asthma flare ups and manage it by preventative meds and removal of allergens.

Not sure what side of town you are on but we LOVE Dr. Hadeed at Cook Children's. He has been my sons pulm since he was born 16 weeks early and at 3 years old he is off ALL medications!

Dr. Hadeed has gone out of his way to check on my son during hospital surgeries and visits (not lung related things). We almost lost him last year to Whooping cough and he checked on him EVERY day in the ICU.

If you do decide to meet him, tell him Mr. Alex sent you! He will know who you are talking about :)

Good luck!

Without a doubt, Pediatric Pulmonary Specialist. Andrew Gelfand Stephen Copenhaver. They are both wonderful. ###-###-####. They have and continue to treat my triplets. I would be lost without them. They also have a nurse practioner named Jan George who I have found to be terrific. I can't say enough wonderful things about the doctors and the nurses. They have offices in both Dallas and Plano. Ask to talk to a nurse and explain your concerns and see if they can work you in, the wait for a new patient can be long! Good luck

Whooping cough could be a real concern these days. Suggest it to your doc.

I know it isn't in your area- but the best asthma & allergy specialist in my opinion is Robert Rogers in Ft. Worth.

I ditto all who suggested looking into allergies. Check out a very readable book by Dr. Kenneth Bock called Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, Asthma, ADHD and allergies. I found it at my local library. It is a different perspective.