Is there anyone with a dc suffering with Asthma?

[jofeb04]

My ds (3) has just recieved asthma pump, and some form of mask to have over his mouth and nose.

Doctor said that the symptoms seem to be asthma, but it is not deffinate (sp?) yet.

So, how did you get your dc to take the pump?

[Mistymoo]

My dc's use a volumatic and they find it really easy to use. They just blow in and out. Both used them from a very young age. Your pharmacist may give you one.

[fryalot]

I have had the same thing with ds (but since we got the pump thing he hasn't had an attack)

our doctor advised us to just let him play with it, apparently they can't break it (and ours hasn't broken yet, so that's a good sign)

We got ds to pretend it was like a microphone and sing into it, so he puts the mask on his face and sings twinkle star.

As I say, we haven't actually used it for what it was intended for, but he is not frightened of the mask itself.

[coppertop]

Ds1 used to hate the mask but at the time was very interested in space and so we told him that it was a spaceman's mask. Once he got into the routine of having it he was fine with the idea. Ds2 had always been fascinated by it so was actually pleased when he was able to have one himself when he was dx'ed with asthma.

[Tigi]

ds has the volumatic, but no mask. Used to moan, but ok now. Has been really well since xmas, just a bit breathless when running about a lot/fighting - tickling & swimming every day during hols.
He saw an older boy using his at a party, was impressed, and from then on used it much better.

[jofeb04]

Thanks,

Going to try with saying it is a toy. It's awful trying to give it to him, and I suppose i am a ittle bit scared (stupid I know)!

[Sparks]

Try not to be scared. If your ds picks up on your fear, he will start feeling scared too. If you make it into a game, he will feel OK about the whole thing. My dd is older, so we can talk things through more, but I always tried to treat it as no big deal, and for the most part she does too.

The asthma medicine is really really helpful for them. It's terrible to see dd struggling to breathe. When she has the medicine, she feels better straight away.

My dd's doc was the same about the diagnosis. He said asthma can only be diagnosed in retrospect. Basically, if they benefit from the medicine, that means it's asthma.

[scienceteacher]

With the spacer device, all they have to do is breathe normally. They soon realise that it is better to comply and have the symptoms relieved.

If you find the large volumatic device is hard to use, you can buy a aerochamber from the pharmacy for about a tenner.

[orangehead]

my son loved it, never had prob with it

[jofeb04]

Thaks for the advice. Not scared of him using it tbh, more seeing my ds like it.