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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to have kept my ds in doors for the last month?

48 replies

mummysgoingmad · 05/01/2010 22:43

My ds (13 months) was admitted to yorkhill childrens hospital a week before xmas with a suspected asthma attack. That was the second time he was admitted in less than a month. My dh thinks i'm being over protective for not taking him out.

The last time he was taken in he had to be put on oxygen which completely broke me (theres a lump in my throat as i'm writing this). I was very ill as a child, i have asthma and was constantly in hospital on drips, heart monitors oxygen etc. So i know how sore an asthma attack is.

He thinks i'm being paranoid and says "every little cough and your on edge", but i think i'm being responsible to listen and watch for the signs of another attack.

He says it isn't fair on ds to keep him cooped up everyday, which is right to a point but i really dont want to run the risk of taking him out in the frost which could close his airways and start an attack.

Am i being paranoid or responsible?

OP posts:

weblette · 05/01/2010 23:18

Yanbu.

Unless you've seen your little dc struggling to breathe it's a hard thing to comprehend, and I completely sympathise. It doesn't always seem logical but them not being able to breathe brings about such a visceral response.

Ds2 was hospitalised with bronchiolitis when tiny then has had viral-induced wheeze. He's now 5 and has viral-induced asthma and is just recovering from an episode. Even the tiniest hint of cold air sends him into a coughing fit - oh he's coughing now

He's been confined to barracks for the last week on dr's advice, if their airways are irritated, cold can exacerbate it.

Agree completely that you need to investigate further - why are they saying asthma rather than anything else.

V un-MN but have a hug, I know where you are (())

SlartyBartFast · 05/01/2010 23:19

you must be getting cabin fever op

Original poster

mummysgoingmad · 05/01/2010 23:25

thanks weblette hell yeh slartybartfast. its getting unbearable now. there's only so many time you can clean in 1 day without becoming a little obbsessive compulsive lol

OP posts:

lowenergylightbulb · 05/01/2010 23:27

Cold air can trigger asthmatic episodes. It's one thing to deal with it when you are a big person with a diagnosis and meds, but the pro's are reluctant to diagnose/prescribe little kids (under 3)

If the op went to yorkhill then I'm guessing where she is is pretty darn cold.

YANBU.

Original poster

mummysgoingmad · 05/01/2010 23:34

Scotland...need i say more?

OP posts:

shockers · 05/01/2010 23:52

Are you at home too?

Could you take little steps together?

misdee · 05/01/2010 23:52

YANBU but YABU at the same time. if that makes any sense.

my dd4 recently has a suspected asthma attack at a year old. it is classed as 'suspected' as she is too young to diagnose as asthmatic. i have 3 older dd's who ALL have varying degrees of asthma. I have watched both dd1 and dd4 on nebulisers struggling to breathe, and looking so confused and scared. I have held dd1 hand as she struggled to breath, and the nebuliser mist clouding aroundher.

dd1 triggers are the cold air, cats and smokey places.

dd2+3 suffer when they are ill with colds and other bugs.

dd4, appears to be smoke related (her attack was after bonfire night), and possibly cats as well.

i have been taking dd4 out and about, but wrapped up warm and on very cold days, i have been using the sling more to keep her close to me so i can monitor her breathing. she was put on atrovent and salbutamol.

secretgardin · 06/01/2010 00:24

my dd is 20 months and has severe asthma just like me. histamine is released when cold air goes into your lungs and this is what causes an attack or triggers the wheezing. if a preventer is used correctly along with ventolin, you should see some improvement, though the preventer can take up to a week to kick in. get advice from your asthma nurse as soon as possible though. i would love to wrap dd up in cotton wool, but i wouldn't dream of not taking her outside as it's awful being stuck indoors. i just make sure that she is wrapped up warm and if it's really cold, i just stick her in the buggy with the raincover over and always have the inhaler and spacer at hand. my mum never stopped me from doing anything and i was horrible with collapsed lungs, chest infections etc and hospitalized so often, that i knew all the nurses names medication and treatment has improved so much over the years, there is no excuse

secretgardin · 06/01/2010 00:33

mummysgoingmad - sorry, ended that really abruptly was going to add YANBU for worrying about your ds though

Original poster

mummysgoingmad · 06/01/2010 00:34

but i dont have a preventer secretgardin, the hospital wouldnt give me one, do you think my gp might? for just in case?

OP posts:

StewieGriffinsMom · 06/01/2010 08:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

secretgardin · 06/01/2010 10:57

speak to your gp. if you don't feel you are taken seriously, change gp's and find someone that you feel will listen. it is helpful to stay with the same one though as it is incredibly difficult getting a diagnosis, especially at such a young age. if the gp is aquainted with your ds, it will get a lot easier.

carocaro · 06/01/2010 11:03

does your GP have an asthma nurse you can talk to?

ours does she is great for help and advice.

DS1 has astma and the cold air really gets him, he has been out and to school but with strict instructions to use his inhaler (he forgets) and to take it easy and not run around to much. He is 7.

I think you should get out the house for a short time everyday, you are making it worse for yourself and him by keeping him cooped up.

Remember that his experience will be totally different to yours, do not let this cloud you judgement and fee your fear. You don't want to make him scared of it, god management is key, not hiding away.

I know it's not nice, watching them have an attack and coughing etc, but they look to you for reassurance and guidance, not fear.

ShinyAndNew · 06/01/2010 11:07

YANBU to be worried. I have asthma, so do most of my family and dd2 has suspected asthma. Only my sister has asthma as bad as your ds sounds.

I doubt they'd give him a preventative at that age, as most of them are steriod based. Plus asthma cannot be formally diagnosed untill they are about 5 or so, as you already know.

YABU to keep him inside though. It's not fair on you or him. Though I fully understand why you feel you need to. Maybe some short trips outside at first?

jangly · 06/01/2010 11:14

It won't hurt your little boy one bit to stay indoors while the weather is so cold. Just open your windows for five minutes every now and then to freshen the air (rooms he is not in). Just try to keep him occupied and let him jump on the sofa! Breathing in very cold air is not good for anyone with asthmatic tendencies.

jangly · 06/01/2010 11:17

If you do feel the need to go out for your own sanity, keep him well back in the buggy with a scarf pulled up in front of his nose and mouth.

lucyellensmumagain · 06/01/2010 12:06

oh, poor you!! how awful for you. I don't know what the best advice is - i guess the cold could excascerbate (sp) asthma, but ive not heard of it being a major problem. Maybe talk to your doctor or a doctor at the clinic and see what they say.

I can totally understand why, in this foul weather you want to keep him inside. However, i dont think you should do so when its just "normally cold" as i am a firm believer in fresh air. Not just that, you will be mad with cabin fever and then wont want to go out, vicious circle.

I can totally understand you wanting to protect your LO, i think you need to arm yourself with as much information as you can. You know what your triggers were so if you feel that the cold triggered yours its perfectly reasonable to think that it will trigger your little boys.

TBH, im more worried about you not getting out than your wee lad - its not good to be a hermit, especially as you sound like you have a lot of worry at the moment.

Does anyone know of any good asthma forums?

StewieGriffinsMom · 06/01/2010 12:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

mummysgoingmad · 06/01/2010 13:09

thanks for all the feeback, i've called the health centre this morning and have arranged an appointment with the doctor. i'm also going to the baby clinic today to see if they can refer me to the asthma clinic. i know i've got to be stong for him but i'm a nervous wreck when he start coughing i feel like my insides are shaking. my dp says you would nver know by looking at me as i try to paint a smile on.

OP posts:

fernie3 · 06/01/2010 13:12

YANBU to be worried your experience is EXACTLY the same as I had with my son (who is now three but he was about 11 months when it all started). He was a very wheezy baby and at 11 months got rushed into hospital needed oxygen etc then again at around 14 months and the last time was around 20 months. They never seemed all that concerened even though I was a nervous wreck about it. Even now at three he get wheezy in the cold. I HAVE to take him out twice a day to my daughters school, we have a giant double buggy (even though people laugh because he is so big in it!) but I keep him in there with hats, blankets scarves etc and the raincover over in the cold wind. He hasnt had any serious problems this year so im hoping that means he has grown out of it which from what I hear isnt that uncommon.

lucyellensmumagain · 06/01/2010 23:19

my DD grew out of asthma, although she didn't have it very severely.

mummysgoingmad? how is your wee lad today? did you go to the clinic?

Original poster

mummysgoingmad · 07/01/2010 21:46

i did go, but the baby clinic wasnt on and the asthma nurse was on holiday..just my luck! i did however take him out a walk, and got his 1st haircut (nightmare) i'm have every intention of going back next monday when the nurse comes back. he's ok today lucyellensmumagain, i took everyones advice, wrapped him up, reclined the buggy back a bit, put the rainover on and was outside for 30mins tops.

OP posts:

pranma · 07/01/2010 22:01

I have asthma and very cold air brings on an attack.I have a chest infection at the moment and doc says stay in.For fresh air I would open a window for a while in a heated room and leave it for half an hour to get rid of stale air.It was -7 here this afternoon-I wouldnt take an asthmatic baby out.

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