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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for urgent Asthma advice please.

31 replies

OhKnow70 · 28/02/2018 07:57

Dd(10) had an attack Sunday and a second attack Monday. Saw GP as advised yesterday morning, peak flow was still very low 220 but that was an increase from 170 on Sunday/Monday. We were with the GP for along time and he prescribed prednisolone tablets for the next 5 days and blue inhaler every 4 hours given in spacer, he was concerned over the peak flow and restricted airways. There was no sign of infection so antibiotics not needed. 24 hours on there is no improvement the peak flow is around 210 and she is taking very shallow breathes if she takes a deep breath she struggles to recover from it and barks the only thing I can describe it as is like a seal. She is using the blue inhaler in the spacer more than four hourly and was woken in the night with a tight chest. She has had 2 doses of prednisolone never had them before so don't know how long they take to work. I know GP appointments are few and far between but would I be unreasonable to ask for another emergency appointment today? Her peak flow is normal over 300.

OP posts:
LordEmsworth · 28/02/2018 08:00

If it is waking her in the night, she needs to see a doctor. If her peak flow is down, she needs to see a doctor.

If they say no, tell them you will sit in the surgery until they see her, or take her to A&E.

Do not stop to ask us. Just go.

NewYearNewMe18 · 28/02/2018 08:01

Don't take this the wrong way - if you even have to ask the question, call the GP - this isn't the place for medical advice . Or if able, can you get to urgent care/walk in centre?

UrsulaPandress · 28/02/2018 08:03

A friend's dd used to have a free pass to A&E when she was having an attack.

I'd take her. Is the cold weather affecting her?

Isadora2007 · 28/02/2018 08:03

I would call the GP or even take to A and E.
The bark could be croup? Though as she is older that might not be as likely.
If you press her fingernails do they stay white for longer or pink back up immediately? That can help you see if her oxygen levels are lower than normal.
But get medical advice now.

Idontdowindows · 28/02/2018 08:04

Take her. This weather is shit on asthma and asthmatics.

Been there, done that, thankfully grew out of it! Dry, cold winters were the worst :(

ivykaty44 · 28/02/2018 08:04

Get her seen again by gp and tell the receptionist it’s due to your dd not being able to breath and already on steroids.

If no appointment then A&E

Original poster
OhKnow70 · 28/02/2018 08:08

No offence taken, my confusion is I know she is unwell but they see her treat her and send us away should I be insisting they keep her? She has been nebulized several times in the last 3 days Ventolin and a steroid but unsure of the name they are saying they can hear her breathing is restricted but still sent her home. This is her second attack last time she was 3 and nobody else in the family has asthma so I am a novice and don't know what I should be asking for. I sound like a terrible mother now but I not just uneducated in the asthma department and scared at seeing my baby struggling to breath.

OP posts:
Summer1986 · 28/02/2018 08:11

Fellows asthmatic and Nurse (although not paeds trained) here.
Go to A and E.
I'd have expected some improvement on 2 doses of pred to be honest, even slight.

Caulk · 28/02/2018 08:12

Call 111 and ask them re hospital or GP.
There is some great stuff to educate yourself on the asthma society site or see your GP and ask them to tell you what to look for in the future. It’s hard for random people on the internet to diagnose what best treatment she needs

LordEmsworth · 28/02/2018 08:12

The medication should have eased the symptoms by now. If there is no improvement then she needs something else. She doesn't necessarily need to stay in but she needs something that is going to relieve the difficulty (though if they've tried all those things and nothing's made a difference, then I would be expecting hospital to be the next step - as a precaution at least)

TheNavigator · 28/02/2018 08:14

Asthma mum - take her in. Pred obv not being enough. Don't want to be alarmist but like you I had no experience of asthma - and my DD ended up blue lighted thanks to my dithering. Never would I delay with an asthmatic child - voice of bitter experience.

Original poster
OhKnow70 · 28/02/2018 08:14

Off to gp now it opens at 8:30, thank you hopefully she gets sorted.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 28/02/2018 08:14

From what you have described I wouldn’t hesitate to take her to a and e.

Did the GP check her SATs?

NoStraightEdges · 28/02/2018 08:15

She needs to be seen, urgently. You don't mess with asthma.

It sounds like she has a stridor too-could she have croup as well?

Hood she feels better soon

NoStraightEdges · 28/02/2018 08:15

*hope

Idontdowindows · 28/02/2018 08:15

I sound like a terrible mother now

No, you don't! Not at all! None of us are born with the knowledge we need to look after a child and there's no manual. Especially not if the child has some things that need a different kind of knowledge.

My mum didn't know everything either and suddenly she was dealing with an asthmatic child. We learned together!

Original poster
OhKnow70 · 28/02/2018 08:17

SATs where 95 on oxygen, 92 before nebulizer was given.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 28/02/2018 08:18

And he then sent you home?

Don’t go near the Gp then go straight to a and e

mumtomaxwell · 28/02/2018 08:21

With SATS life that my daughter got ambulanced from the GP to hospital! Go to A&E.

Original poster
OhKnow70 · 28/02/2018 08:21

Ok he said above 94 is normal is not the case. Right change of plan off to A&E they have a walk in clinic there also so if that is more appropriate they will direct us that way. Thank you all again.

OP posts:
Princessdebthe1st · 28/02/2018 08:24

Dear OP,
Asthma mum and nurse here. I would go straight to A&E with those issues. It is very easy to underestimate the seriousness of asthma but you have to remember that asthma can be fatal if poorly controlled. If you can't see the GP straight away then go immediately to A&E.
When she is recovered from this episode you need to make an appointment with your lead asthma professional (GP or Asthma nurse) and agree an asthma plan so you know how to respond to deterioration in her asthma in the future and you aren't left unsure what to do. All patients with asthma should have an asthma plan.

Sirzy · 28/02/2018 08:24

95 is low for straight after a neb, she should have then been closely monitored for a few hours to make sure they didn’t drop quickly.

They should be as close to 100 a possible especially straight after a treatment.

92 is close to needing to go on oxygen generally.

Hope she gets help at a and e

Idontdowindows · 28/02/2018 08:25

SATs where 95 on oxygen, 92 before nebulizer was given.

ah. Your GP also doesn't know enough about asthma. I don't know if it's an option, but once she's seen to in A&E, maybe ask them about specialist asthma support, I know there are options, I just don't know if they're available where you are.

CatkinToadflax · 28/02/2018 08:29

Yes - go to A&E. Amazed the GP sent you home with sats of 92 that only rose to 95 on oxygen. Hope your DD is OK. You are absolutely not wasting A&E time by taking her. Good luck x

TheNecroscope · 28/02/2018 09:02

I know you are already going, but wanted to also add my voice to the others saying with those issues you should go straight to A&E.
My DD had viral-induced asthma when she was younger (thankfully now seems to have outgrown it) and we were instructed if ever she couldn't go 4 hours between blue inhaler doses, she needed to be seen ASAP. She was hospitalised once with sats of 95 and they wouldn't discharge her until she could do 4 hours between blue doses.
Asthma is a killer, don't hesitate with it.

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