Is anyone familiar with...?

Something called Vocal Cord Dysfunction?

On saturday night/sunday morning my son was having a bad asthma attack, like we almost lost him bad. He was sleeping next to us and just started kicking and arching his back gasping for air. Our doctor told us we were lucky we got the meds in just in time or else his airways may have completely clamped shut (they were close, the meds were barely working)
But at the ER the doctor informed us the wheeze was not in his lungs where it should be. He said it was in his vocal cords. We have another ENT apt (he had his tonsils out last year) to check on this, but wanted to know if anyone had ever heard of this or dealt with it.

Did he say that is what he had? My son has asthma but the wheezing mostly comes from his vocals and sometimes his lungs. The doctors just say it's croup...He was suppose to see an ENT but I can't afford it now but he hasn't had a bad attack in 8 months. Sometimes he wakes up with croupy cough but it goes away later in the day.

Quoting Mommy2Kay:" Did he say that is what he had? My son has asthma but the wheezing mostly comes from his vocals and sometimes ... [snip!] ... it now but he hasn't had a bad attack in 8 months. Sometimes he wakes up with croupy cough but it goes away later in the day."

It's a possibility. He said to look into it. His asthma attacks always start off sounding croupy- which at 5 yrs his vocal cords should have done enough stretching not to do that (so I am told, and my 3 yr old does not get that croup cough anymore even when she catches it from him) Apparently most people who have it are miss diagnosed with asthma (although the can exist together)

Quoting Buzz and Almond Joys momm:" It's a possibility. He said to look into it. His asthma attacks always start off sounding croupy- which ... [snip!] ... she catches it from him) Apparently most people who have it are miss diagnosed with asthma (although the can exist together) "

I'm so glad you posted this! I am going to look into it and when I get his insurance have him seen! My son is 4 almost 5, his tonsils are enlarged. One time one of the attacks was pretty bad, he need to inhale epi, albuterol, and take a oral steroid. After that I was able to get the machine at home but he hasn't had asthma since, just croupy cough.

Quoting Mommy2Kay:" I'm so glad you posted this! I am going to look into it and when I get his insurance have him seen! ... [snip!] ... and take a oral steroid. After that I was able to get the machine at home but he hasn't had asthma since, just croupy cough."

We are pretty much at a monthly bad attack during fall and winter. Each time we get epi neps, the steroid shots (he vomits the liquid from his GERD) another mist neb, and of course albuterol. My dude is 5. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea (from the tonsils and addenoids) at 3. I say see the ENT for sure. I think if more doctors would have payed attention at the ER we would have known years ago that he had this. This was the first doc to say the wheeze was not in the lungs. And he always sounds like the croup- since he was 2.

Quoting Buzz and Almond Joys momm:" We are pretty much at a monthly bad attack during fall and winter. Each time we get epi neps, the steroid ... [snip!] ... had this. This was the first doc to say the wheeze was not in the lungs. And he always sounds like the croup- since he was 2. "

I can totally relate! My son has always gotten "croup" a lot, I can't even count how many times it has been. Last year was the first time he had asthma and he got it every month for 3 months staright (Nov, Dec, and Jan) and then in spring he had horrible allergies that medications weren't doing anything for him. We moved and I am hoping that he is better in this state, so far so good. Good luck to you!

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mommy2Kay:</b>" I can totally relate! My son has always gotten "croup" a lot, I can't even count how many times it has ... [snip!] ... weren't doing anything for him. We moved and I am hoping that he is better in this state, so far so good. Good luck to you!"</blockquote>




Thanks you too! I want to move sooo bad I just know in another yet or so we'll be having problems from those allergies. Bleh