Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To not agree with the nurse practiser's view that my DS has asthma and to think a diagnosis should come from a doctor?

572 replies

PolkadotCircus · 17/02/2013 08:15

Soooo my v healthy but skinny boy 9 has had a nasty winter virus that he has had problems shaking off,symptoms involve a cough that won't go away.Loads of other kids and adults have had/got it here.

The same happened last year and our fab doctor gave him temp inhalers to calm his airways down which worked a treat and were never used again.

His grandad is the same(very skinny and some times gets a chest infection in winter it takes a whole to shake off) but still cycling 16 miles a day at 80.

Anyhow dtwin 1 keeping dtwin 2 awake so tried to get an appointment with our fab GP but because he is so fab it is nigh on impossible so was offered an appointment with a nurse which I reluctantly accepted as all I wanted were temp inhalers and ds better ASAP.

Anyhow after a very lengthy appointment when his puff was measured,history looked at,records filled in,weighed etc she finally gave us some inhalers.Puff was poor(errr yes he has a virus and a temp) and we were told to come back for a follow up asthma review.I said but he doesn't have asthma only to be told well this happened last year etc,etc.

So we went to the review puff beyond normal now and very good,virus over so no surprise.Nurse then said as he had asthma she'd like to see him again,keep him in her records,how many inhalers did he have etc,to keep him topped up when tight in the chest etc etc.

I said very firmly he doesn't have asthma and never gets tight in the chest.She then asked if he had eczema or hay fever.He had eczema as a baby and gets a bit sneezy in the summer ahhhh then they are linked so he does have asthma.Me-no he doesn't he just gets a cough he can't shake some winters.
I don't want asthma on his records unnecessarily.We politely agreed to disagree.

So aibu to think a)he doesn't have asthma and b) a diagnosis should come from a doctor.

OP posts:
MerryCouthyMows · 17/02/2013 15:14

Do you have a spacer?

swisscottage · 17/02/2013 15:14

I used to be a trained asthma nurse in a GP practice and as I understand, all asthma nurses have to pass the diploma in asthma at the national asthma centre which involves a considerable amount of work and studying , plus two 2 hour exams. Therefore, the GPs give us autonomy to be able to diagnose and see asthma patients because most of the time we are more experienced than them - we can specialise in areas of interest whilst they have to be more broad spectrum.
I quote from what you said "I said firmly he didn't have asthma" - I suspect that the PN picked up your rather negative attitude towards her expertise and backed off, hence not "answering" your questions. I have done that myself. Best to get you out of the room and perhaps you might well go and see the GP instead. What would be the point of giving you leaflets when you said that he didn't have asthma?

Of course you were frightened a bit by the diagnosis because in your words, you wrote above "asthma is a serious and life long disease" . Believe me, it is not.

ClayDavis · 17/02/2013 15:15

But by your own admission you spent the last two appointments trying to convince her your DS didn't have asthma. Her priority was probably trying to collect his medical history to make a diagnosis.

hazeyjane · 17/02/2013 15:15

There should be 200 puffs in a ventolin inhaler, so if you have just had one issued it should be ok.

MerryCouthyMows · 17/02/2013 15:16

Swisscottage - it isn't always, but it CAN be. It certainly IS serious in my DS2's case.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 17/02/2013 15:19

I think you should be questioning why your apparently amazing GP gave antibiotics for a virus?

I'm appalled at some of the old fashioned views on nurses coming out on this thread. We aren't doctors hand maidens. And GPs aren't Gods either.

ClayDavis · 17/02/2013 15:19

You did better than I did Merry, I got a diagnosis of 'that sounds like asthma' and peak flow meter. Fuck lot of good that will do in an attack.

amillionyears · 17/02/2013 15:19

swisscottage "what would be the point of giving you leaflets when you said that he didnt have asthma",

I have to say, as I tried to say to another asthma nurse upthread, that I think that is bad practice.

Surely, if an asthma nurse is pretty sure that a 9 year old boy does have asthma, that leaflets should be handed out.

Other people may indeed later be able to presuade a parent that he may have asthma, and then the parent does have at least something to look over.

I would have thought,that patients do often change their minds at a later time, and agree with the health professional?

Original poster
PolkadotCircus · 17/02/2013 15:20

I had gone for the illness and wanting help with the cough and the receptionist had sent as to the clinic,I was reminding said nurse in case there was some confusion in the Firestone.In the second I was still none the wiser as to why we were having an asthma diagnosis outif the blue when our gp had never ever had a concern re asthma.

Re puffers,yes we had the thing it pops into. One said to count to 10 between each puff the other said firmly not to.

Kind of thought it didn't matter so went with what the nurse said.

OP posts:
MerryCouthyMows · 17/02/2013 15:20

Tbh, for most things, I tend to see the NP in preference to the GP!

It's only for my epilepsy that I see the GP, because the NP at my practice has not had epilepsy specific training.

Totallymum · 17/02/2013 15:21

It appears that you do not like or trust the NP in question, so I would strongly recommend you don't see her again, as any consultation between you will be unproductive. Nurse/doctor-patient relationships sometimes break down for many reasons, that is life. But please try to see how your behaviour can affect other people.

Original poster
PolkadotCircus · 17/02/2013 15:22

Pobble did you not read the thread,we came to the conclusion it was for a secondary thing.

OP posts:
edam · 17/02/2013 15:24

I'm sure you always want to put your child first. So please, do make that GP appointment and get your son the treatment he very probably needs. Whatever your issues with the nurse practitioner.

MerryCouthyMows · 17/02/2013 15:25

I have always been told that with a younger DC, or one 'new' to taking inhalers, the 10 second thing is important as it ensures they have taken in the full dose.

My DS2 no longer needs to do that, but that is because I am teaching him to breathe the puffs in deeply, so he DOES take it in in just two breaths now.

I think to start with, I would follow the 10 second thing, to ensure that he is getting the full dose.

(Disclaimer - I am in no way medically trained, but have been dealing with DS2's Chronic Asthma since he was a baby. He was dxd at just 7mo because he had nearly died through asthma attacks 3 times by that point.)

zeeboo · 17/02/2013 15:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

careergirl · 17/02/2013 15:27

A Nurse Practitioner carried out my WLE following melanoma diagnosis under consultant's supervision. She did such a good job you can't even see the scar!
I've seen one other NP in the follow up clinic and with respect to the doctors she actually presents as better informed and more knowledgeable.
To be dismissive toward them is extremely rude and you are not helping yourself - they are highly knowledgeable in their trained area probably more so than a GP

safclass · 17/02/2013 15:29

Hi my son suffers from 'asthma' like responses when he gets hayfever. he also gets inhaler during summer to 'help'. We got a letter asking him to come in for flu injection as he 'suffers from asthma'.

I phoned up and said 'he doesnt have asthma, just asthma like symptoms due to hayfever',
'oh you need to speak to flu nurse'.

She would have to check with asthma nurse who had to check with the doctor!!!

The receptionist eventually phoned back and said 'he doesnt need a flu jab, you know he doesnt actually have asthma just asthma like symptoms due to his hayfever!!!!' Think you'll find i told you that 3 days ago!! Smile

I'd ask for the asthma test to be done during the summer when he is NOT suffering from a cold/flu, of course his results are going to show poorer levels with a bad chest!

blubberguts · 17/02/2013 15:31

In conclusion, taking into account all of the available evidence YABU and on occassion aggressive, defensive and illogical. Your GP practice is truly blessed.

amillionyears · 17/02/2013 15:32

zeeboo, I have to say, you post is over the top.

ClayDavis · 17/02/2013 15:33

There's a lot of long words in that post, blubber. You're not actually an NP are you?

weblette · 17/02/2013 15:33

safclass what is the asthma test though?

Were you to 'test' my ds2 atm he would show no signs of asthma however during an attack his peak flow is virtually nil, he needs nebulised steroids and oral steroids and only just avoids hospital admission because we are now very experienced in treating him.

Asthma is not a straightforward condition. There are degrees of severity and any number of different triggers.

Original poster
PolkadotCircus · 17/02/2013 15:34

Zeeboo the inhalers worked by the second one as. I knew they would going by last year.

The cost to me with an anti b prescription on top for the 3 inhaler scripts were best part of £30,it was last year.

If you are going to make attacks I will report,I am not a bigot.

OP posts:
Original poster
PolkadotCircus · 17/02/2013 15:35

Saf will do,that is really interesting,thanks.

OP posts:
ClayDavis · 17/02/2013 15:35

How many inhalers has he had. I'm a bit confused.

Original poster
PolkadotCircus · 17/02/2013 15:37

Merry thanks for that,could have one with it all written down to be honest ie in a leaflet.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread