“I dont see the light at the end, i see no end at all…. What can i do?”

“I have a 6 year old girl who has always suffered from bad coughs since she was about 2. Constant dry cough can go on and on for days or weeks. I’ve brought her to gps so often and always get the its a viral infection reason, its normal in kids to get sick often etc…now she has been coughing for three weeks, first gp said viral about two weeks ago, sunday i took her to NEDOC and he said she has a chest infection, prescribed antibiotics and steroids. I dont see any improvement at all after three days. Am i crazy? Impatient? At this point im desperate with horrible anxiety 24/7… I dont see the light at the end, i see no end at all…. What can i do?”

The first thing I thought when I read your post is this: Has anyone asked if your daughter has asthma? I’ve never seen your daughter, so I can’t really say, but it’s one question that pops into my mind immediately reading your story.

If you are worried about your child’s chronic health complaint, and there doesn’t seem to be “light”, here are ways to approach it:

1) Schedule an appointment with his/her usual GP. Have your thoughts organised before you go in, a short list of questions written down works well. Remember you are partners with your GP to work together for your child’s health. Approach it as a partnership, not a confrontation.

2) Start with a short, honest statement, similar to what you told me, that this is giving you anxiety. That is important.

3) Ask what you and the GP together could do to try to get the bottom of it a little more, including asking for a specialist referral to a paediatrician, etc.

4) In this case, I’m going to do something very rare, and suggest you actually include question “could this be asthma?” It may very well not be, and there are other causes.

5) Before leaving GP, see if you can agree together on an action plan with a timeframe. Actually, good advice for anyone. Make sure you are always clear what outcome GP expects, for example, if fevers or symptoms aren’t better in 48 hours, does s/he want to see your child again? Or does s/he expect things to be slow over a week?

This story highlights a few of things I would love all mammies to take away from following me:

1) Never feel guilty for getting your child reassessed by appropriate medical professionals if you are concerned about your health. Ever.

2) Mother’s intuition is usually not far off the mark. Learn to trust it. If you are anxious, it usually with good reason. (there are exceptions)

3) Your child’s illness is a journey (we’ve talked this before). Symptoms change, illnesses change and can develop (vague viral illness develop complications of pneumonia or ear infections, for example). The third doctor to see your child often has the benefit of the whole story or the changed illness to work with. As logical as that is, it makes it no easier for you (or us!).

4) Uncontrolled/suspected/undiagnosed asthma or new asthma attacks need to be addressed. If your child’s asthma is not controlled, bring them back and back again until it is. GP, GP on-call, ED. Everytime. No excuses. No apologies. No delays. Regular followers know that I am generally supportive of complementary medicine/therapy within my usual guidelines, but NEVER for asthma. NEVER. It is not safe. EVER. Run – very fast – away from any alternative practitioner claiming to treat or cure asthma.

5) Before leaving GP, pause for a moment and make sure you are always clear on diagnosis, instructions, what outcome GP expects, what to do/when to worry if things aren’t better? If you aren’t sure, ask. If you worry later, ring surgery and ask.