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Original poster

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

987 replies

Knackeredmother · 21/09/2011 09:26

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!)

OP posts:
lollipoppi · 01/10/2012 07:51

Morning everybody, how is everyone?

DS has been up coughing all night, and he is upto 50 breaths per min, just given him 8 puffs and praying we can stay away from the hospital! Sad

butterfingerz · 01/10/2012 11:55

My DS was coughing a little last night and this morning... he's still got his cold and sneezed some really hefty green snot out this morning (which I was strangely happy about as its better than being on his chest!). But no wheezing... I'm really praying to stay out of A+E at least for a few weeks.

Does anybody use Atrovent? I have one of the inhalers at home and they use it in his nebs at the hospital. I have hardly used it, as it's not on his usual prescription, just given to use for 1/2 days as part of a stepdown. Wonder if it will help to dry up his chest?! My DP is a pharmacist and I'm sure he said Atrovent is better at drying up secretions....

ilovemydogandMrObama · 01/10/2012 14:02

sirzy forgot the night coughing! I did mention it to the consultant and he didn't really say much. And that she had rhinitis which is common with asthma, but wasn't going to treat it unless severe.

re: atrovent. DD1's consultant took her off it. I don't know why, but she was put on Seretide 50 and then 125.

alibobins · 01/10/2012 15:40

Lolli hope you and your ds have managed to stay at home.
Ds2 has atrovent alongside his flixotide and ventolin when really bad but the consultant said it's used more in the under 1's.
Ds2 is still not well he is fast asleep at the moment :( it is all his throat his chest is okayish at the moment.

Sirzy · 01/10/2012 18:24

Ds was on atrovent when he was little but that was stopped when he first started clenil. He still has atrovent Nebs sometimes when in though

oneandnomore · 01/10/2012 20:11

Hi all, hope everyone has had an ok day.
DD started coughing this morning, but she has settled to sleep ok. Like a lot of your DC's, she is really tired, but she seems ok in herself so has been at school today.
butterfingerz, I try and limit DD's dairy intake when she has a cold, as apparently it can increase secretions. Not sure where I heard that, will ask when DD goes for her check.

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 02/10/2012 11:28

Hi all, I think I'd better join you.

Brief history - DS (12m) has a hole in his heart picked up by going to the Dr with a cold at 11 weeks. Dr heard a murmur, sent to hospital and we didn't come out for two weeks as it was actually bronchiolitis. He was on oxygen and NG tubed. he was RSV+ so we were isolated. He didn't respond to inhalers and we were told they were useless for bronchiolitis.

Anyway, he had a cold every few weeks until about May this year and we have had a couple of months illness free. My DD began primary school a couple of weeks ago and has already brought a cold home. I have it, she has it and DS inevitably picked it up. A trip to the GP this morning has resulted in ABs just in case. We havent slept for four nights as he's teething as well. It's so hard to determine whether it's the teeth causing the problems or if the bronch. is coming back...

So just preparing myself for a long winter, hopefully we'll avoid hospital, fingers crossed.

lollipoppi · 02/10/2012 12:30

Hi all, well we are still at home, DS is coping on 8puffs 4hourly, still very snotty and coughing lots.
He has just settled down for a nap, he hasn't slept much the past few days with coughing.
I am on that verge of not knowing if we should be in hosp or not. May try and get a docs appt for this afternoon? I wonder if there is any point sometimes?

Hello lovelybunchofcoconuts! My DS always suffered more when he was teething. This time of year is always bad too with the weather ect fingers crossed he is ok xxx

cedmonds · 02/10/2012 15:53

Hi
Ds is doing ok just trying to cut his inhalers down knowHmm
He went back to school this week and is exhasted.
hope everyone else is ok

HotheadPaisan · 02/10/2012 16:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 02/10/2012 19:36

lovelybunch Hope your DS is ok, bronchi is horrible. IIRC DS was given inhalers one of the times he was in with it but they didn't make a massive difference.

Lolli hope you have managed to stay at home. I now tend to err on the side of caution and if in doubt go to A and E to get checked over

Cedmonds Glad he is back at school

Hothead Glad you found the appointment useful.

DS is still plodding, trying to reduce his ventolin but not getting to far yet!

alibobins · 02/10/2012 21:13

Ds2 was a bronchi baby at 3 weeks old he was rsv negative though but so so poorly it was over new year and can remembering watching fireworks out the hospital window Sad
He got it again at 4 months but only spent a couple of nights in that time.
Hope the consultant is ready for me tomorrow x x

alibobins · 03/10/2012 11:53

The consultant has put ds2 on a low dose preventative antibiotic to see if that helps x x

ilovemydogandMrObama · 03/10/2012 16:47

cedmonds yeah, we tried to reduce the Seretide, but each time DD1 would either develop night coughs or have an attack. Probably not related, but consultant advised not to reduce in the winter months.

She's also very very tired and was sent home this afternoon from school. She has mainly just flopped on couch. Don't think it's asthma related...

Is everyone else getting DCs flu vaccine? We got a letter last week and need to make an appointment...

HotheadPaisan · 03/10/2012 16:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 03/10/2012 17:19

Ds has his flu jab booked for next week. This is the 3 year he has had it - not bad considering he is only 3 next month!

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 03/10/2012 17:28

I havent received a letter about a flu jab for DS should I call and ask if he can have one? Can anyone have one?

Sirzy · 03/10/2012 17:30

I think for asthmatics they have to take a regular preventative drug to be able to have it.

pinkbuttons · 03/10/2012 17:56

Hi all, Hope its ok for me to join, saw this thread and seems to reiterate my exact thoughts re: dreaded winter.

My DS is 21 months old and has had 8 admissions to A&E since his first admission at 9 months old with bronchiolitis, He hasnt officially been diagnosed with asthma as apparently they dont until theyre 2? but symptoms are the same and obviously treatment as well. He has the normal ventolin inhaler and started on clenil back in May. Hoping it will help this winter...

Alot of your stories sound very similar and it really is very reassuring to know that Im not the only one, having to miss days off work every few weeks over winter and sitting listening for respiratory rates on a bad night.

DS had been relatively well over summer until he developed viral pneumonia in August.

Sorry to hear those of you whos DCs are already struggling, sending you sympathising supportive thoughts.

Also wanted to ask about flu jab, do they have to be a certain age before being eligible?

Sirzy · 03/10/2012 18:04

Welcome pink buttons!

Ds was just over 1 when he had his first flu jab. Probably worth phoning your gp to ask

alibobins · 03/10/2012 22:09

Ds1 is nearly 8 and the consultant today mentioned that he might want to move him onto the powdered inhalers just the seritide not the ventolin as he said he wouldn't be able to use it well during an attack. Does anyone use the powdered versions.
He also said there are alot of mould spores from the autumn around at the moment which may be why he's had a bad few weeks.
In terms of his medication he has not changed anything and wants to see us again in two months.

lollipoppi · 04/10/2012 09:59

Hello everybody,
We have just arrived home from the hospital, DS got admitted yesterday morning, he had to have a few nebs but back on his inhalers now.
The community nurse is coming out soon to check his stats, he is still struggling a little between the 4 hours but his chest is clear
Hope everybody else is doing ok x

HotheadPaisan · 04/10/2012 17:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cedmonds · 04/10/2012 17:48

ilove I wasnt trying to reduce the seritide just the ventolin didnt make that clearBlush |There is no way we would do it in the winter we did this summer for a few months though.
Ds has had his flu jab since he was one and had this years this week.
ali Dont use the powedered inhalers but i think my cousin did when she was younger. What did they say about peak flow?

Sirzy · 04/10/2012 18:09

Lolli - hope he is feeling better now

Hothead - how much ventolin have you been giving?

Ds is finally accepting some reduction in ventolin (down to 3 puffs 4-5 hourly now) considering it wasn't a big attack it seems to be taking a long time to improve this time!