Asthma spacer question for nearly 12yr old with allergies

[chloesmumtoo]

Hi, my dd has many allergies including the life threatening peanut allergy so has to carry her own medical items around with her and will do for starting secondary this week. I have bought her a few nice medical pouches to carry some things in. She has epipens,piriton and ventolin but also a spacer (aero chamber plus). Dd went to her asthma review yesterday and they still recommended the use of a spacer? Now she tells me that all her friends don't use spacers anymore? It would be much easier if she did not have to carry a spacer around with her at certain times as can't seem to fit everything in her small medical pouches/bags. She has to take a smallish kit inside her large school bag as it has to accompany her when doing P.E. on the field ect or cross country run. Just checking really to see what your children carry around with them in simular situations and whether other children her age are still carrying spacers along with the epipens ventolin and piriton ect. Just wondered if she sometimes could just use the inhaler (if taught) without a spacer now whilst out with only a small/portable medical kit?

[ThePFJ]

I don't have a child with asthma but I have had a huge spacer and all the inhalers you can think of for years... and there is one thing I can tell you... every single doctor and asthma nurse I have seen tells me different information! How to use my inhalers, how often I need to use the spacer... just all of it. I have to say when I am really breathless the spacer makes me feel better because you can get a bigger lung full and it works faster.... but if I am traveling I never take it with me.. it's huge. Usually they will give a large spacer for a reason - it depends on each case, but your dd has a life... so I would ask her to keep the spacer in her main school bag and have her blue inhaler in her pockets/pouches etc. So if the inhaler isn't enough she can at least go back to her bag and grab the spacer?? If she has friends with asthma too she is pretty lucky to have girls to share that with... I hope that helps.... I need my spacer, but out and about sometimes its just impossible and I learn to make do. I am perfectly happy making my own call on it. IFSWIM?

[chloesmumtoo]

Thanks for reply ThePFJ. We tended to think the spacers were related to a childs age and dd thought others did not use them now older. Thats helpful to know using the spacers are more beneficial. Yes it does seem she will have to just adapt to the situation at hand. I will look into teaching her how to use it without for times she cannot have the spacer to hand, but yes if it will fit in her school bag then she can carry it with her.

[ThePFJ]

Anytime - don't be afraid to use your judgement on the situation, you know your dd better than the doctors do! Just remember a spacer helps more of the ventolin get deeper into the lungs, because you take in more air as you breathe in with it - so her inhaler will work faster as a result... plus less powder landing in my mouth means I don't have to obsess over rinsing out my mouth afterwards... apparently sometimes it can cause thrush of the tongue! They gave me a spacer because my asthma levels required it. But you dd is a young lady now, so balance her happiness with her health. Good luck in the new school year :)

[freefrommum]

My DS is only 6 but our consultant told us that it is better to use the big Volumatic spacer as much as possible. However, this is far too big to carry around everywhere so we use the small chamber spacer when we're out and about. Given that your DD has life-threatening allergies, I would think that one of the possible reasons for keeping the spacer is because if she goes into anaphylactic shock, it may be difficult to use the inhaler without the spacer. We were told that if DS has anaphylaxis, we should give the epi-pen but then if he's having breathing difficulties we should also give him his ventolin inhaler via the spacer until the ambulance arrives. I don't think he'd be in any fit state to take his inhaler without the spacer due to the drop in blood pressure and disorientation that they suffer.

And yes, inhalers do cause oral thrush (DH suffers with this quite badly but not DS so clearly the spacer helps) and I've also just read that they can increase tooth decay so we've started giving the daily brown inhaler before brushing DS's teeth rather than after as we always used to!

[trixymalixy]

Have you seen the able spacer? It's quite neat and the inhaler fits inside it. You can get it on prescription but also buy it on amazon etc.

[Sirzy]

Not ideal but can she store the spacers in a couple of places in school with a note in her kit saying where it is?

Even adults are now recommended to use a spacer so I certainly wouldn't get rid. Ideally find a way for it to be carried with her.

[Sirzy]

Asthma uk advice on spacers

www.asthma.org.uk/knowledge-bank-treatment-and-medicines-spacers

[trixymalixy]

able spacer

I agree with Sirzy, even as an adult I use a spacer as I find it difficult to get a proper dose without it ending up in my tongue.

DS's medication fits in quite a neat wee pouch as we have the piriton decanted into a small bottle and the inhaler inside the able spacer.

[Sirzy]

that looks fab Trixy, I will have to remember about them when DS is old enough to not need to mask.

[trixymalixy]

Oh we have a mask for the able spacer too. It is fab, I was so pleased when we got it after carting the bloody volumatic around the whole time.

[JemimaMuddledUp]

DS1 is almost 11 and still uses a spacer, as does DS2 who is 9. In fact I have a spacer which I use when my symptoms are bad as it is more effective.

I wouldn't get rid of it myself.

[Sirzy]

I will have to go and have a look. We have a aerochamber for out and about at the moment but being able to store the inahler inside it would make it much easier.

[trixymalixy]

able spacer mask

[JemimaMuddledUp]

I assume she has this one already and not a huge volumatic one?

[Cephalicdream]

Ds 11, has large volumetric spacer but like you for starting secondary school this yearthought it was just too bulky...so we got him a small spacer and easi breathe specially for school.
Good luck to your dd

[trixymalixy]

Yes that's what she said in the OP Jemima, but it makes a big difference space wise being able to fit the inhaler inside the spacer like you can with the able spacer.

[freefrommum]

You should ask the makers of Able Spacer for commission trixymalixy - I'm gonna get one now too!

[trixymalixy]

. I'm just so delighted with it compared to the aero chamber or volumatic that I just can't help but share. Some commission would be good.....

[chloesmumtoo]

Thanks everyone, some interesting info. We since saw dd's allergy doc and he too would like her to carry the spacer at all times. Will have a look at one of those able spacers too. They look a great idea. I am glad now I know the advantages of the spacers

[valiumredhead]

Our asthma nurse says EVERYONE should use a spacer regardless of age.

My ds had to carry epi pens and inhalers round as well-royal pain in the arse isn't it?!

[GeekInThePink]

We have an able spacer- really good!

[ukey]

is able spacer better than aerochamber?

we have volumatic spacer for use at home, and aerochamber to carry around. tho also carry epi pens, piriton etc too.