To expect DS' asthma to be better, not worse after a three day stay in hospital?

[funkypigeon]

DS has chronic brittle asthma. We got home about 2 hours ago after his 8th admission in 12 months.,he was in since Friday. They gave him the usual- burst therapy, involving multiple dosing if salbutamol, oxygen when required and prednisolone (oral steroids). But today and since we got home he has been coughing almost non stop and lethargic- just wanting to lay on the sofa. His sats are around 90-93%. He is 4.

Argh, I don't know, it's just so frustrating. I expected some improvement by now. He had a temperature this morning, and the doctor just assured me it's a virus that he has that's causing this. He's on antibiotics as well. AIBU? And what do I do? Surely they wouldn't have let him out if he wasn't ok, but clearly he's not again now. I've given him his pump and he's now in and out of sleep.

I don't want to overreact but I'm finding it hard not to be worried. Please could someone share their experiences of having an acute episode like this with their child? I know it isn't the first time, it's just that he was in all weekend so I thought we'd be going in the right direction about now.

No, merry, they weren't particularly busy, but I think they felt he'd been in long enough, and since he was on 4hrly inhalers, deemed him fine to go home.

grants, he is on montelukast as well. Glad yours grew out of it- hope its the same for DS.

He has had IV fluids and antibiotics in the past. DS has the same habit of perking up when he arrives at hospital, thankfully they know him well enough to know that he is generally still cheerful even when his sats are dangerously low!

How is he doing today?

Thanks sirzy
He's ok. Saying he feels unwell, chest hurting, lying down all the time. It's the first day that I have to wean him down to 6 hrly, instead of four. So he's next due at 8- seems an age away, and he's coughing away!

Ds always takes forever to wean down. It's 10 days since his last big attack and he is still needing 6 puffs every 5 hours but as he is happy enough inbetween im not too worried although seeing the asthma nurse on Thursday.

sirzy just seen your support for asthmatics thread, can I join?

Of course you can, its open to anyone

funky i hope your DS is on the mend! it's horrible seeing them like that, mine's 15 months old and we just got out of hospital 3 days ago. weaning off inhalers went fine until today (we're at 4 puffs every 8 hours) when cough started again, temperature and he was really worn down by bedtime. we were told to back up a step in the weaning plan if the symptoms worsen with less inhalers, but i guess you did that anyway.
and one question: how do you know your DS's sats while at home, can you buy the probe thingies anywhere?

xlatia

Yes, I bought one on ebay a while back. Just put in 'oximeters'. I think it was about £20. The nurses were a bit meh that I've got one at home, I guess because they think it's not wise to keep looking at a monitor and not your child, ie how ill/well they are, it's just that for me it helps me to know where we're at.
Hope your DS improves soon.