If its not asthma - what could it be - ds6 breathless, tired, puffy eyes.

[tigi]

ds is 6, and had a blue and a brown inhaler for asthma since 2006. He was diagnosed because he was tired & out of breath when running about at nursery, and then he had a asthma attack on hol - completely out of breath and wheezy.

Now he is always tired. Out of breath very easily (coughs when he is). For the last two weeks he has puffy eyes and clearing his (tickly) throat in the night. I have searched and found that there are fungal spores in air this time of year.

been see asthma nurse this morn for check up and to discuss . he has upped his brown to 2 puffs morn and night, but he he ok in that he really doesn't need his blue, even when out of breath, as he doesn't seem to get a wheeze, just desperatly out of breath.

the nurse now wonders if it is asthma - she wonders if could it be an allergy? she thinks maybe refer him to chest specialist? She also wonders if could be anaemic? - pale, tired and sleepy, and also breathlessness is a symptom. His diet is good.

so now i am really worried and upset what could it be. On the other hand i don't want him on inhalers if its not asthma.

seeing doc in two weeks time.

any suggestions or experience welcomed please - thanks.

[tigi]

bump.......

[Lazarou]

HAs he had any bloodt tests to rule out anaemia?

[3littlefrogs]

If he is out of breath he needs his blue inhaler - that is what it is for and it is really important that he uses it.

When ds1 was suffering (and his asthma was aggravated by allergies - this is very common) I had to up his preventer to 2 puffs 4 times daily and his reliever to 2 puffs 4 times daily for several days just to get it under control, then gradually reduce the reliever.

Has she advised you to give him some antihistamine such as loratidine?

TBH, if i was your asthma nurse i wouldn't have let you leave the building without seeing a doctor.

If he is very out of breath I would go to A&E.

[3littlefrogs]

Did the nurse check his peak flow?

[tigi]

Hi, I have been giving him loradatine, does make a difference to his eyes - they are settling down now - i know that HAS to be allergy (of some sort) based.
peak flow is ok (150 -190) even after breathless - at the start of summer he was very breathless - not couldn't hear a wheeze, and it was going down to 70.
He is very good and asks for blue if he needs it.
he gets by when breathless after running about without it. and then gets his breath back naturally.
i just wouldn't expect a 6yo to be very out of breath when walking fast to the end of the road - we were a bit late for docs!
no blood test arranged yet - docs in 2 weeks.

[tigi]

he's just come off trampoline now, and i can hear him breathing heavily in kitchen now from where i am!

[Lazarou]

Ask the doc about Singulair. I've recently been put on it and it has made the world of difference. Does it bother him at night?

[tigi]

he sometimes coughs, and he makes dreadful noises from his throat - says it tickles - sounds like an old man, wakes us all up!

he will cough a bit if he is out of breath - but not wheeze really!

[misdee]

coughing when out of breath can be a sign of asthma.

coughing after exercise also.

breathlessness also a sign

asthma attack is not always accompnied by a wheeze.

my girls rarely wheeze.

[tigi]

thanks misdee, this seems to be whole problem - the asthma nurse says his chest is always clear, and he never has a wheeze/rattle.

[misdee]

dd's chest is usually clear. but she gets out of breath easily so uses her blue inhal;er. it helps.

if he feel breathless then use the inhaler. if it makes him feel better then let him use it.

[tigi]

thanks - but i know she is wondering if an allergy causing the breathlessness (he had a big swollen face 2 years ago after a soya milkshake- hosp said looked like pollen allergy though - i said he lives next to a field so i doubt it! - happed a couple times since for no reason, but they won't bloonmin test him for an allegy unless a 'real' problem to him!
But whether it would cause him to be so breathless (with no wheeze) so often i don't know!

i can see where she is coming from with the anaemia, as i have had that and been tired and breathless, and he is always tired and pale.
sorry, I know i'm going on, but I am worying it could be something worse.

[Buda]

It does sound like allergies. I get hay fever and am allergic to cats. Cats brought on my first ever asthma attack when I was in my 30s.

Last year my hay fever was really bad and I was also very tired and pale and struggled to breathe. Doc said it was allergic asthma. I was given Ventolin and a purple inhaler thingie. Surprised the asthma nurse would not be more knowedgeable about allergy induced asthma.

[3littlefrogs]

I think he needs to see a doctor much sooner than 2 weeks time. It really isn't possible to diagnose over the internet. I would not be comfortable about waiting 2 weeks.

[3littlefrogs]

And poor you are going to be worrying for 2 weeks and that isn't fair.

[tigi]

thanks for your replies - i really do appreciate it. The doc I need to see is on hol for two weeks - the other doc is completely useless! He will tell me he has a cold!

[hennipenni]

Sounds so like my DD3, she also very very rarely wheezes with asthma but does get very short of breath and then starts to cough. She is seen by our asthma nurse who also thinks that it is allergy induced asthma as she is fine during the summer but is always bad at this time of the year. We had a wake up call a couple weeks ago as we were out and I'd forgotten her inhaler- cue asthma attack. She is now back on her preventer and we are struggling a little to keep her off her releiver but she is getting better.

[tigi]

Thanks Hennipenni, that makes me feel better too. I will let you know how we get on on the 24th xx