We got a call last night that dd's blood work came back negative for allergies. They tested for dog, cat, trees, grasses, molds, dust, etc. I am relieved to know that she is not allergic but still confused as to why she is waking up with swollen eyes and a phlegmy cough after playing outside in the leaves. She has needed albuterol both yesterday and today in addition to her preventative flovent inhaler.
I know the blood tests are not as reliable as the skin prick tests, but if she had bad allergies I would expect SOMETHING to show up and there was nothing at all. I guess we have to keep looking for the cause of her asthma symptoms...

I think she is allergic to something also. Can you give her some claritin at night after a day outside just to see if that helps?

She has been taking. Claritin at night for at least a week...

Did they DO the skin prick tests or just the blood tests? Perhaps it would be worth a shot to go back for the skin prick tests? The "good" thing about the skin tests is that YOU can see the reaction almost instantly and it's oddly reassuring to know that you're not crazy. When we first took Alex, he acted like I was crazy to assume that my child was allergic to milk and eggs---but as soon as they pricked his back, he had a huge reaction to both of those and it confirmed what I already knew. And while doctors are medically trained, only YOU are trained in your child and you're her strongest advocate. So you have to be her voice. I've learned that lesson the hard (and lengthy) way.

Maybe Claritin isn't the right thing for her. Ask about Allegra, Singulair, or something else. Everyone reacts differently and perhaps her reaction to Claritin isn't strong enough to fend off whatever is causing this reaction in her.

From a mama with a kid allergic to so many things, I know how hard it is to watch your child suffer. I hope you can get down to the root of the issue soon and find her (and you) some relief.

I agree with Deanna. I kept telling our Pediatrician that I thought Brooke had allergies but they kept telling me she was too young (under 1). Sure enough when she was 13 months old they did the prick test and she had some allergies to things but they were seasonal type things. He put her on Allegra and Singulair and bam - no more ear infections (even after tubes and adenoids removed) and no more coughing non stop.