The day had arrived.

I have been documenting every peak flow meter reading, every albuterol puff, and every asthma symptom for almost a month and a half, waiting for our visit to the lung specialist. I took in all of my documentation and had a bag full on any and every asthma related devise I had for not only his inspection, but to make sure my kids had all the asthma appliances they may need. I waited a month and a half for this visit, so I wanted to make the most of it.

The nurse started with Carson and after the usual round of questions of why are we here, what are his meds etc., they did a lung function test. Of course the little bugger was having a good lung day. Never fails, can't have a bad day on the day of the appointment. After the lung functioning test we headed back to our room and waited, and waited, and waited.

I think this is how they wear you down, so by the time the doctor finally comes, you are so ready to get out of there, and you don't take up much of the doctors time.

When the doctor finally came in, he introduced himself to the kids and I, and pulled me up a chair. A chair?? Pulled and requested to sit by the doctor??? I was in foreign territory. I swear our pediatrician comes in the door and has his hand on the door handle ready to leave before I even get out the first symptom.

I had the opportunity to explain how Carson's asthma started, symptoms and flare ups and pulled out all my documentation. He examined Carson, asked questions and explained a number of different things related to Carson's allergies (which no doctor had ever bothered to point out). It was decided that we needed to have a better handle on Carson's allergies, and this, along with an increase in his Flovent inhaler, would help to calm down his flair ups.

Next, we moved on to my other little asthmatic Adeline. I explained how I discovered when doing research on asthma when Carson was diagnosed, that I read in one article that constant clearing of the throat was an asthma symptom. Adeline was constantly clearing her throat for months. When I took her to the pediatrician he put her on Singulair and the albuterol inhaler, which I believe he did just to pacify me. Anyway, back to the specialist, he examined Adeline and had her do some weird things like talk with her nose closed and would opened it while talking to show me difference in voice changes, all related to allergies. He decided to try her on a amped up version of Zyrtec, called Xyzal, and the nose spray Nasonex, to try and get her upper congestion under control, and see if the allergy symptoms were the cause of her clearing of her throat.

I still think Adeline has mild asthma, but I so liked this doctor, respected his assessment and judgement, the time he spent with both children and myself, that I am willing to try any of his suggestions. Even though the congestion in Adeline is better, she is still clearing her throat. Next week I will report back to the specialist, and we will proceed from there.

After we left, I called to report our visit to my husband and at the end I said to him that I think I actually got my co pay worth of a visit finally. This should be a huge compliment to Dr. Nakamura, as we have a hefty co pay per child per visit. His visit was worth the month and a half wait, and my money. Thank you Dr. Nakamura.

Now, we will see how these medicine changes help my two little asthmatics.