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Original poster

My son just made me call the ambulance

16 replies

sahara · 06/04/2005 22:17

Normal evening, Just played 3 board games in a row with Ds1 (6 yrs). Packed him off to bed.
Sitting down and then he comes running down the stairs screaming and crying saying he couldn't breath. I tried to calm him so that I could understand what he meant and he just starting breathing faster and faster. He started crying saying how he didn't want to go to heaven so I phoned the ambulance.
When they turned up the breathing slowed down and he started chatting away to them and obviously loving the scare he gave me. They said his lungs were clear and oxygen levels were perfect and he started to agree with them saying he was fine and that it wasn't going to happen again.
Now he is going to sleep as if nothing happened.
Did he do this on purpose? The ambulance seemed to think so cause of his ADHD and the fact that Ds2 has just found out he has asthma and has pumps. Maybe he is jealous and thinks that I will give him more sympathy if he's ill. What would you do?
I haven't made a fuss but what should I do to address this matter.
What would you do in same situation?

OP posts:
colditzmum · 06/04/2005 22:22

Maybe he was genuinely scared that he has asthma too? If he usually shares things with his brother, he may think he has asthma just like him? I'm thinking child logic here. Maybe his brother having asthma has made him very aware of his own breathing?

Or maybe he is just playing for the crowd?

Original poster
sahara · 06/04/2005 22:25

I never thought about it that way. It could be.
But would you take it further and take him to the GP first thing to get it checked out properly?

OP posts:
whatsername · 06/04/2005 22:25

Hmmm, that's difficult. I would say it probably is a reaction to your ds2' asthma. I think your best bet is to keep it very low key and calm and explain to him that ambulances are for sick people and if they come to someone who doesn't need them, someone else might be waiting and get sicker?

Original poster
sahara · 06/04/2005 22:27

Yes good advice whatsername. He is asleep now but I will say it in that way tomorrow and hope that sways him.
Should I get it checked just to be sure?

OP posts:
sallycinnamon · 06/04/2005 22:42

Very tricky! Agree with the others play it cool. You don't want to make too much of an issue however from what you described he was obviously very distressed. Not sure a 6yr old could act that. Must have been terrifying for you.

Original poster
sahara · 06/04/2005 22:48

It was! I'm crap in emergencies and I almost started crying. I know he was genuinly frightened which is why I haven't punished him But I think for safety's sake I will get it checked by Gp

OP posts:
GeorginaA · 07/04/2005 08:52

sahara - worth getting him checked out I think.

I am asthmatic but I have had episodes which are less to do with asthma but more psychological where I become very aware of my own breathing - so much so that I become convinced that if I stop paying it attention that the subconscious breathing process will not be able to take over. Hysteria and hyperventillation can then quite easily set in and it really does feel like you're going to die.

What I'm saying about in a roundabout way is that even if there's nothing physically wrong doesn't mean that he wasn't genuinely extremely frightened. Being relaxed once the medical team were there could just be relief that he wasn't going to die because there were people there who could help.

Now, what I don't know is if that hyperventillation cycle can occur separate from asthma or not so I do think it's worth while making a GP's appointment to discuss it and just to get him checked over.

Jimjams · 07/04/2005 09:00

it sounds like a panic attack to me. (one of the symtoms of a panic attack is that you think you are going to die). Ambulance men/women should recognise panic attacks they get called out to them all the time!

GeorginaA · 07/04/2005 09:02

Eeep - is it really, Jimjams - I'd always assumed they were part of the asthma thing, never considered that it was a panic attack . Hmm, probably get an episode about once a year-ish... worth me going to the docs do you think?

dolally · 07/04/2005 09:04

Could he have heard/seen something about someone unable to breathe/dying of asthma, etc, etc. Then associated this with the recent news that his brother has asthma. Perhaps lying in bed worrying about it all precipitated a kind of panic.... maybe he thinks that all people with asthma suddenly can't breathe and keel over dead!

Worth having a chat with a sympathetic doc, I would have thought.

throckenholt · 07/04/2005 09:06

could have been a panic attack maybe ? If he is scared by the asthma thing - maybe he was worrying about it and ended up getting really scared.

throckenholt · 07/04/2005 09:07

if it is a panic attack talk to the gp about how to handle them - just in case it happens again. And then you can talk to your DS and help him understand what happened to him, and also what the asthma is all about.

Jimjams · 07/04/2005 09:08

according to a paramedic I knew georgina. I suspect yoga/reiki/tai chi or something would help.

Jimjams · 07/04/2005 09:09

there is also a breathing technique that can be taught to asthmATICS whoops. buggered if i can remember its name though!

Jimjams · 07/04/2005 09:12

here we go buteyko

Original poster
sahara · 07/04/2005 23:23

Just saw these extra posts. thank you for your response it's difficult to get GP's app but will try again in the morning.

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