Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Any mums of asthmatics online now?

16 replies

Notquitegrownup · 29/01/2011 23:31

DS2 aged 7 was mildly asthmatic when small - had ventolin, which we used when he was wheezy, but he never had a full asthma attack. 3 years ago he got quite distressed one day, finding breathing hard and was given oral steriods, but has been completely clear since.

Saw the GP this week as he was developing a chesty cough, and got a new ventolin inhaler, just in case.

He has been coughing a very rattly cough all afternoon, and coughed a lot at bedtime. He's asleep now, but his breathing is very shallow going in, and then very wheezy coming out. Gave him another dose of inhaler just, to try to free the airways, but he is not taking much in.

Have rung NHS direct and am waiting on the call back. He is not feverish at all, just wheezy and apparently not taking much breath in - though he is a healthy colour, peaceful, and was cheerful enough today, just coughing like a 60 a day man!

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 29/01/2011 23:33

Have you propped him up? You can give him some more puffs of the inhaler. It sounds like he needs to be seen in A&E, he may need some steroids or a nebuliser.

thekidsmom · 29/01/2011 23:36

Yes, I'm a mum of an ashtamtic.

All I can say is don't ignore your insticnts - it can turn very nasty very quickly.

Count the number of breaths in a minute whilst he's asleep - more than 30 is bad, i beleive (but maybe look this up on line - it changes with age)

Do not just hope for the best and see what the morning brings. IF you're worried, call out a paramedic and they can do an assessment for you at home and take your DS in if needs be.

you relaly cannot be too careful with asthma.

Sorry to be dramatic but it can be very serious. Not saying this will be, but just saying err on the side of caution

MrsShrekTheThird · 29/01/2011 23:38

would also say prop him up - shove stuff under the matress if you can't get at him any other way. Have you done the (sleeping) inhaler with a spacer and face mask? if not, it might not have been much use, unfortunately. You're right to have phoned the NHS direct. If still worried don't hesitate to up the ante and do out of hours GP, A&E or ambulance.

MrsShrekTheThird · 29/01/2011 23:41

not wanting to scare you in any way, but we are all saying the same thing... get him seen :) I also think nebs might be needed, but go with your mum-instinct. If you're worried, get the medics in asap.

Original poster
Notquitegrownup · 29/01/2011 23:41

Thanks yes, I propped him up. Was just concerned that not much ventolin seemed to be going in. Breathing seems shallow . . . still keeping a close eye on him and waiting for NHS direct

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 29/01/2011 23:42

Are you using a spacer? Looks like a space rocket?

NHS direct will send an ambulance, that's all they do when I call them for ds.

PixieOnaLeaf · 29/01/2011 23:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

PixieOnaLeaf · 29/01/2011 23:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Notquitegrownup · 30/01/2011 00:00

Yes, have spacer, thanks

Just had NHS call back. V. helpful lady, who tried to listen to his breathing over the phone, but coudn't hear anything. Then asked us to look at his chest whilst he was sleeping but he woke up, and had another blast of inhaler. Breathed in much much easier this time, which was v. reassuring - think the last dose must have eased things up a bit, so that this dose went in better.

NHS direct happy that we can go back to bed and keep an eye/ear open in the night, and to call them, or 999 if we feel he is getting worse. Don't think I'll get too much sleep, listening out, but as long as he's fine, that's OK.

Thanks for being awake/being there. MN rocks!

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 30/01/2011 00:02

Smile I do hope he's on the mend soon.

PixieOnaLeaf · 30/01/2011 00:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsShrekTheThird · 30/01/2011 00:04

as uncomfortable as it can be, I put my dc next to me and kick dh out into their beds (he looks a prat in dd's pink princess bed but who cares) It's much easier to sleep a bit and keep track of them.

Original poster
Notquitegrownup · 30/01/2011 00:07

lol MrsShrek - dh packed his overnight bag at 8pm without my saying a word, and stuck it in the spare room. Absolute rule in our house!

OP posts:
trixymalixy · 30/01/2011 00:08

How many puffs of the ventolin are you giving him? It should be 10 puffs in a row through a spacer in this kind of situation.

Have you had a look at his chest? Is the skin pulling in between his ribs when he breathes at all? If so, get to a&e asap.

MrsShrekTheThird · 30/01/2011 00:10
Grin so all you have to contend with is a kicking, coughing 7 year old octopus. Fabulous. Sweet dreams, all. And all our posts are in agreement, if you are worried at all then cut out the middle [NHS] man/woman and head straight for A&E!
Original poster
Notquitegrownup · 30/01/2011 00:21

No dh is the octopus in our house! Ds2 is a snuggly teddybear, who occasionally turns over, reaches out a hand and mutters "love you mummy" then goes back to sleep.

Surprising that dh gets back at all really!

Will head for A & E if his breathing tightens up again, promise.

G'night

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread