Asthma Tips, please!

[ScarletBear]

I took my DD(5) to the GP this morning, having got her an emergency appointment, as she was really coughing last night, and had been breathless quite a bit for over a week. When we got her into the surgery, the GP told her that he wanted to listen to her back, to hear her breathing, pressed the stethoscope on, at which point she had a fit of the giggles, which turned into a major coughing fit. The GP looked alarmed, and decided then are there to put her on a breathing machine thing (I can't remember the name), to stop the coughing, which she didn't like, and resisted, but worked after about ten minutes. Then he told me that there was no doubt she had 'breathing problems', and that he was going to prescribe two inhalers, a blue and a brown, one for the morning and evening, and one for if she is breathless, or can't stop coughing (what counts as this - I'm unsure).
We have an appointment with the asthma nurse in a fortnight, but I would really like general tips/answers to these questions, please!

1. What should I tell her about her asthma.
2. When should I give the blue inhaler.
3. How should I get her to take the inhalers? She's already told me she doesn't want to, and after the breathing machine thing, I'm worried.

Sorry it's long!
Thanks!

Wow -- didn't the GP go over it with you?

DD (3 years) has a mask thing that goes over her face and it doesn't seem to bother her.

The brown inhaler is a preventer and has steroids.

The blue inhaler is a reliever, and the general rule is that if 10 puff every 4 hours isn't working, it's hospital.

Am sure people who are more experienced will be more helpful. Asthma is scary, but absolutely can be controlled.

should ask the chemist for a 'spacer' this allowed the medicine to go into a tube like thing and means that it can be taken over two breaths instead of one big one - which if you think about it - trying to breath deeply to take your asthma medicine is a bit pants.

also caffiene is a reliever - not great to give a 5 year old on a regular basis - but good to know about in future.

the brown one is a preventer - or a mild steroid - this should be taken regularly without fail - its very very important.

the blue one is the reliever - to take when needed.

aerobic exercise is best for asthmatics - such as swimming or cycling.

go and have a chat to the pharmacist in the meantime but briefly;
you need to tell your dd that when she has a coughing fit she needs her blue inhaler and to stop the coughing fits she needs the brown one.

She needs to take the blue inhaler before the brown one morning and night.

If she has a coughing fit she needs the blue one then about 1min apart.

Let her play with the inhalers and practise them. (supervised for short bursts) and go herehth

that should be 2 puffsof blue one 1 min apart

Thanks for all the tips - I really appreciate it!
We've had another rocky day here - she really doesn't want to do the inhalers, and seems to be getting quite wheezy without them - I've told her she needs to take them to get better, but she just cries and refuses (and the crying makes her breathing worse!). . .
Please can you keep the tips coming - I feel like I'm just about treading water with it, but I'm scared she's going to have an attack if I don't get the inhalers into her!
Thanks!

bribery and show her you taking the inhalers. (it wont do any harm)