Can we start a new asthma support thread now dreaded winter season is looming?

[Knackeredmother]

Hi,
I can't seem to find the old support thread. I lurked on it during many long, lonely and frightening nights and admissions with ds over the past year and a half.
My ds is 21 months now, was hospitalized at 8 weeks severe bronchiolitis (really thought he would die) then every 3-4 weeks since whenever he gets a cold. No symptoms in between colds but a wet, crackly chest with some wheeze with every cold. Plus of course the dreaded tracheal tug and sternal recession that heralds an admission.
It is all so bloody draining and heartbreaking!
We are just starting with a new bout today after a whole 8 weeks of being well. I am debating whether to call in sick for my nightshift tonight or leave poor hubby with an inevitable hospital admission AND our 4 year old!
Anyway, would be good to hear from others going through similar so we can all support each other ( or direct me to the original support thread!)

Hi, can I join you lovely ladies please?
DD was finally diagnosed with asthma last April, was prescribed Clenil and we have seen a massive improvement.

Sorry clicked send too soon!
Was going to say, she has her first cold of the year, and she always has an awful cough, which triggers her asthma. She doesn't wheeze, just coughs continuously.

She has a review next week with the respiritory nurse, should I ask her at what point should I be worried and get her to hospital, do I call ambulance?
Is there anything else I need to ask, was wondering about peak flow as we haven't been asked to do this.

Thanks

HI Oneandnomore
HOw old is your dd? YOu need to have an action plan which will state what to do when. A lot of children find it hard to do the peak flow untill they get older ds has had one since he was 4 but only now been able to use it accurately.

Ds is doing really well he is staying at his Nanas house tonight so hopefully he will be ok. Mindyou she always comes to hospital appoinments etc with me so knows what she is doing and also had me as an ashmatic child.
Ali hope you are still at home and the pred and antibiotics are working

It depends on how old your child is, a very young child cannot do a peak flow test as they wouldn't understand what is required of them or wouldn't be compliant... perhaps from the age of 3/4/5 depending on maturity. Like my DS is only 16 months so because he cannot do a peak flow test, he has not been given a formal diagnosis of asthma though when he is symptomatic with wheezing and stridor, he is treated as if it is asthma and we have inhalers for him.

I take my DS to A+E when he has stridor (heavy audible wheeze and hoarseness), tracheal tug (neck pulling in, nr the collarbone) and pulling in around the ribs, his breathing is quite rapid. My DS gets a cough too, its a persistant dry irritating cough which usually is the start of what I call his 'episodes'. Also, when 10 puffs of ventolin does not provide relief from these symptoms or the relief is not lasting for very long. If in doubt, head for A+E, it's better to be over cautious with asthma than to wait until its an emergency situation.

I have only had to call an ambulance once for DS but I only live 10 minutes from peads a and e so it's quicker to bundle him into the car and drive there really. We go if his resp rate is up or he is struggling with his breathing (tugging etc) if in doubt get him checked as they can go downhill so quickly it's not with waiting too long.

Hello all, and welcome oneandnomore

Well DS has been really off this week, I've had a bug too so I think he just has what I have had, I cannot get any food in him other than the occasional bite of toast, or fruit, suppose it's better than nothing!

But my problem is this, I feel like I'm keeping my DS (and me) a prisoner in our own home
Today, for once, the sun is shining! I feel like I should take the opportunity to go and get us both some fresh air as it's going to pee it down again tomorrow.
But this morning he has a runny nose and starting with a cough ......... And we all know how this ends

So do I lock him up, wrap him in some cotton wool and keep him safe and warm inside, OR take the chance and go for a walk? It sounds so stupid but it's only been 2 weeks since our last admission and I always feel racked with guilt it if makes him worse

Please tell me it's bit just me that feels like this!!??

I get DS out for fresh air as much as possible even if it's wrap up warm and into the pram!

My DS is still snotty and coughing, it's very sunny here so I put a few extra layers on him and took him out.

It's very warm in the sunshine here... so I'd take him out, doesn't have to be for long, I'm sure the fresh air will do him good. Put an extra vest on him and make sure he's got his coat on. A gentle stroll, not too much exertion.

I have spent the morning cleaning EVERYTHING downstairs, about to do the same upstairs, hopefully less dust (not that it's bad to start with!) will help with the coughing!

Took your advise, wrapped him up (he actually couldn't move with all the layers ) and went and fed the ducks, feel so much better for a bit of fresh air! X

hello

Well, DD1 has started a new school year (Year 2) and now we have total over reaction which I supposed is infinitely better than massive under reaction that we had last year resulting in her being blue lighted to Children's Hospital. Last week the school called me 6 times describing her symptoms, mainly tiredness, which can be a symptom of her asthma and is on her care plan.

She saw the respiratory consultant last week and he pointed out the progress in that she hasn't seen the inside of an ambulance for several months so is looking like her asthma is getting under control... Still on Seretide and Singulair, and has developed exercise induced asthma...

But she passed her ballet exam which was a really big deal...

How is everyone else...

Hi ilove glad your DD is doing better this year and the school are taking things seriously!

lolli glad the fresh air helped

DS is back to wheezing away tonight, not sure whats going on with him at the moment he is so up and down its getting daft. He isn't due back with his consultant til december but I am considering trying to get that sooner (not that I like my chances of that!) I always feel a bit in limbo when he gets like this the GP is useless, he isn't ill enough for A and E but the consultant is too far away.

Both my ds's are wheezing away tonight dh just said there must be something in the air

I don't think all the change in weather at the moment helps them :(

Took DS2 to the park late afternoon, early evening and he was coughing and wheezing by the time we got home.

Sorted with 4 puffs of the blue inhaler (tried 2, left ten mins but still wheezy), and he's gone to sleep fine. I am worried he's getting worse.

sitting if you are worried can you get an appointment with the asthma nurse to discuss his drugs? What is he on at the moment?

also, have you tried giving him the inhaler before you go to the park? If I know DS is going to be running around we give it in advance which generally works.

Thanks for reply. I'll have to check the names - it's the light brown one, twice a day, and blue when needed. If he has a bad spell, the nurse advised to double the light brown one, which I have done about a week ago.

He was diagnosed at 3 years, although we'd had bad winters since he was 1 year. He's never had a full "attack", just the cough and wheezing, but it stops him sleeping, he goes off his food, and looks very pale.

I think it's just that we've had such a good summer, and I'm only just realising his triggers - seems to be cold air.

has anyone else tried the Allergy syrups? First tried them a couple of years back and realised they seemed to take away coughing from dust and smoke, without needing inhalers. It seems to stop coughs and colds escalating as well. Our GP says, it it works, fine, carry on.

I think I heard someone says it's an antihistamine and has a general anti-inflammatory effect, but I may be mis-remembering.

Any allergy syrup will be an antihistamine, some doctors prescribe patients will allergy induced asthma an antihistamine to use in conjunction with their inhalers. Other medications like montelukast work well on allergy triggered asthma. Back in the day, my mum said she used Benadryl with inhalers on my asthmatic sister... so I think it's a well established method of treatment.

From what I know about allergies, an antihistamine will work well on immediate primary phase reactions, as this is the body releasing histamine. Secondary phase reactions are an IgE response, can occur several hrs after first contact with the allergen, and antihistamines do not work on this type of reaction. Regular use of a steroid inhaler can lessen the effects of an IgE response, or if serious - prednisolone or epinephrine. My DS gets a late phase reaction from cows milk, it causes an asthma attack several hrs after eating and we've tried piriton and it doesn't work, even the trusty ventolin is pretty useless but prednisolone works quite well.

How is everyone this evening? Hope you have all had a wheeze free day.

I have found a bonus of DS being so wheezy, I always know where in the house he is hiding!

Sirzy that made me chuckle
Ds2 is much better wheeze wise but is now poorly with his throat he can't eat without gaging it's a joke he looks like a scrawn he's been ill constantly since June I hope the consultant has got a few hours free on Wednesday x x

DD1 has been exhausted these last few weeks, which can be an indication of an asthma attack, but so far she's been OK. Just seems to have turned into a teenager; rolls eyes, says, 'Oh mom!' and is glued to the couch.

She's 6 years old

Poor thing, hope you get some answers on Wednesday.

ilove DS is knackered all the time at the moment, even gone back to napping which he only does when poorly now. Not helped by the constant coughing at night either!

Thanks for your replies. Sorry, should have said, DD is 7, so will ask re peak flow as she should be old enough.
Cedmonds, I will ask re an action plan, I think we need this, rather than allowing her to go hours of constant coughing and struggling.

Thanks for the advice re when to go to a and e. Sorry that so many of you are familiar with the routine

I hardly dare say this, but DD is three days into a cold, and is also really tired, but no cough. She is sleeping well too, so lets hope that the Clenil is effective as it seems to be. It's me who is up checking on her!

butterfingerz, DD was prescribed Piriton before being diagnosed, and it was effective for a while, although not sure if it was the anti histamine effect or it's knock out value! I used to only give at night, and half the dosage as it really made DD sleepy, but it did work for a while.
I may try Benadryl if the coughing is a problem again.