Multiple Issues, Not Sure if Crohn's Related

[positivemum]

Hi
My son is 14 and was diagnosed 2.5 years ago. We have been through many things and meds. Currently just completed 6 weeks EN and moving back to food. EN made him feel better.

Biggest problems are not gut related - are these EIMs - is ther help?

1. lots of saliva in throat - feels stuck there and can't cough it up.

2. tightness of chest when playing football( running hard) and can't breathe. Chest sounds clear and blows no problem into asthma tester. has an inhaler to help now. Helps a bit

3. Low white blood cell count - taken off AZA - still low. Has infected toe form ingrowing which is healing very slowly - is this the problem?

4. taste buds weak - found zinc is low so now supplementing and htis can affect taste.

The crohns symtoms are ok the above are driving him mad. Docs have no idea about the saliva/mucus in throat and throat is clear of infection. They are not convincing about breathing problem as chest sounds clear.

Please help if you can...

 

[my little penguin]

Have the done the asthma test after he exercised?
Some kids have exercise induced asthma so you only see issues if you test them after they have run a good but either a treadmill it the hallway etc...

Go to:
Abstract
Exercise induced asthma (EIA) is a transient increase in airway resistance after intensive exercise and can be measured as a decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). The condition is due to increased training load and inhalation of cold and dry air. Several studies have shown that eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea challenge test (EVH test) is a very sensitive and specific diagnostic method. EVH test develops EIA by hyperventilation of dry gas and the test achieves the same airway obstruction as training in cold and dry air. The test is better than the previously used methacholine challenge test.
Keywords: Bronchospasm, Asthma Exercise-Induced, Diagnosis, Athletes, Exercise

From:


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3289196/

 

[Chester31]

Hi

Not sure about the throat issues but could the breathlessness be caused by anaemia? J had lots of problems with breathlessness and stamina before we realised he was anaemic. He would also get palpitations.

 

[CrohnsKidMom]

My 8 yr old son had an ingrown toenail, which may have caused the elevation of his inflammation markers on his bloodwork. But the presence of infection and inflammation would mean his white blood cell count would go up, and not down, I think. Sorry, I'm not much help.

 

[kimmidwife]

Also has he had his heart checked? Shortness of breathe as I was just reminded by my daughters doctor can be caused by heart issues.

 

[positivemum]

Thanks all

Having had responses on different pages I have come to the conclusion that it is iron related in terms of the breathing issues. Can't believe I didn't make the link. Bad parenting moment #127!! Why oh why can't the professionals tell me these things??Has had an infusion so we should see a difference soon. Thank goodness for this forum

 

[xmdmom]

How long has his wbc been low? Do you know what the full CBC showed in terms of hemoglobin, platelets, and wbc, wbc differential? The lower the neutrophils (type of wbc), the higher the risk of infection and the more difficult it is for the body to take care of an infection. Has your son's doctor spoke to you about vulnerability to infection with low wbc and what to do for signs of infection or fever? or why s/he thinks it's low?

 

[CarolinAlaska]

Hi
My son is 14 and was diagnosed 2.5 years ago. We have been through many things and meds. Currently just completed 6 weeks EN and moving back to food. EN made him feel better.

Biggest problems are not gut related - are these EIMs - is there help?

1. lots of saliva in throat - feels stuck there and can't cough it up.

2. tightness of chest when playing football( running hard) and can't breathe. Chest sounds clear and blows no problem into asthma tester. has an inhaler to help now. Helps a bit

Could 1 and 2 have to do with GERD or sinusitis or allergies? Has he done the asthma tester when feeling short of breath after exercising or just in the office? GERD can act like sore throat, cause bad taste in mouth, and trigger asthma-like symptoms.

3. Low white blood cell count - taken off AZA - still low. Has infected toe form ingrowing which is healing very slowly - is this the problem?

Maybe not the problem but the result of the low WBCs. How long has he been off the AZA?

4. taste buds weak - found zinc is low so now supplementing and this can affect taste.

Again, makes me wonder about GERD.

Hope you can figure it out quickly. I know its hard when they are sick.