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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:
HattiFattner · 30/09/2011 10:01

thank you!

He's had 5 lots of ventolin since 5 am, so we are off to the GP at noon, watching him until then. Think it might be an infection brewing as he was really clammy and hot overnight.

HattiFattner · 30/09/2011 12:43

steroids & penicillin :( Ahh you have to love Autumn!

sillywmama · 30/09/2011 14:43

bless! Poor thing. I hope it's a short illness. I know it's not asthma related, but my wee DS has just had his MMR and the other two jabs (Blush I don't actually know what the other two were!!) and is feeling rubbish today. Fever, no appetite, exhausted. Makes a change to have a sleepless night that ISN'T about asthma. As a result of the fever, the only thing he will accept for fluids today is formula... so much for dairy free!! Start again tomorrow I think...

roliepolie · 02/10/2011 13:00

Hi girls thanks for the welcome to the thread..i think we all need a bit of support with the constant worry with our los.Was reading all the messages and was wondering have any of you had your los on the singulair sachets or tablets for the older ones.I had dd on them last yr ,now she still got a chest infection but in between seemed symptom free.She was taken off them as doc thought they were causing nightmares but i put her back on them last night as she has had a very bad few nights with her breathing.Anyone any experience with this medication i looked it up myself on the net and think its the worse thing i did.Consultant said you will find negative things about all meds if you google them.She seemed to have a better night last night so thinking of keeping her on them during winter mths.Sorry abt long post but its all just so confusing trying to get a happy medium with all the meds.

elmofan · 02/10/2011 13:31

Hello . Is it ok if i join in ?

My dd is 5yrs old and has Asthma , eczema & hay fever (the whole package) but is having recurrent chest infections every 3 weeks and is put on Antibiotics and Steroid tablets along with her inhalers every month for the last two years . No improvement at all . Going back to our GP tomorrow as her chest is in bits again .

Sorry all of you are going through this too .Sad

HattiFattner · 02/10/2011 15:52

elmofan, as for a referral to a specialist...that is too much for a wee one!

Mine is still struggling - not needing ventolin now but is awful colour and breathless all the time. We are playing the "wait and see" game.

HattiFattner · 02/10/2011 15:53

ask [bush]

HattiFattner · 02/10/2011 15:53

gaarh! ASK Blush

Double Blush

elmofan · 02/10/2011 16:18

Thanks hatti We had a referral to a consultant last year but he just told us the same as our GP "that dd should grow out of these chest infections" Sad
But EVERY 3 weeks she's back on steroid tablets & antibiotics . I wonder could i buy an nebuliser to use at home , i will ask my doctor tomorrow .

Fingers crossed for your little one x

Sirzy · 02/10/2011 20:54

We were told they only give home nebs to really severe asthma, as normally if they need nebs they need to be in hospital (or at least at gp)

Sounds to me like its the same infection just not clearing. I would be pushing for a longer course of antibiotics (perhaps even all winter) to make sure it clears fully.

elmofan · 02/10/2011 21:06

Could it be the same infection lasting for just over two
years now though? Shock
My Gp asked me did i have a nebuliser at home while i was
at his surgery three weeks ago, but didn't mention it again after
i said no.

Thanks i'll ask about a longer course of antib's.

HattiFattner · 02/10/2011 21:09

do you think I should be worried?

DS is on amoxicillin and prenisolone, has been since friday lunchtime. But still feels very tight and wheezy. He's had a couple of puffs of ventolin tonight (on top of normal upped dose of flixotide and serevent). Peak flow is down but not drastically (from 400 to 340) ... WWYD - just keep on with the ventolin or down to after hours for a neb?

Bohica · 02/10/2011 21:16

Is he settled and just sounding tight and wheezy? When did you last give the top up and do you think it helped?

elmofan · 02/10/2011 21:17

Go with your instincts Hatti Sad if you are worried
go to doctor / hospital now.
How old is your ds?

HattiFattner · 02/10/2011 21:23

hes coming up for 12. calling GP now as he had 3rd dose ventolin in last 30 mins and he is upstairs coughing and breathless

Sirzy · 02/10/2011 21:25

I would give the full 10 puffs then see what happens but like others have said if in doubt get him checked out.

Hope he is ok x

elmofan · 03/10/2011 07:05

How is your ds Hatti? hope he is doing ok now? X

HattiFattner · 03/10/2011 07:25

morning - spent the evening in A&E - hes now on reducing regime of ventolin/atrovent. Snoring upstairs, and so tired he hasnt actually woken up to do his inhalers overnight. WIll be building a spreadsheet thismorning to work out when he needs which meds! Surely theres a market for an app for this (goes to work out spec for app).

Sirzy · 03/10/2011 10:00

An app like that would be fantastic. I end up with a peice of paper with everything he is taking written down with the times they are due!

roliepolie · 03/10/2011 11:04

hattifattner sorry to hear your ds not doing well..hopefully he will be a bit better today hate those visits to A&E as soon as my dd sees the doors she goes mad and she only 2..weather not as damp here today so maybe have a better day

roliepolie · 03/10/2011 11:06

sorry hattifattner meant to ask how do you measure the peak flow

Sirzy · 03/10/2011 11:44

Ds loves going to hopsital bless him! He thinks the nurses are great - until they give him Nebs then he hates them.

Peak flow is only done when they are old enough to understand and co-operate!

elmofan · 03/10/2011 12:29

Hi everyone , We are just back from the doctors with DD . GP has changed her inhalers to salmeterol/fluticasone and salbutamol and ventolin . I mentioned about the antibiotics not working (thanks sirzy) so he has given her a two week course of Augmentin Duo antibiotics to see if that clears her infections up (both her lungs are crackling and her chest is very wheezy) . If not then he is talking about starting her on a tablet for her Asthma along with the inhalers .
Her colouring is awful today , very dark circles under her eyes .

How is your ds feeling now Hatti ? poor thing must be exhausted Sad x

HattiFattner · 03/10/2011 14:24

we're just back from A&E again :( DS was very tight and wheezy depite 6x ventolin at 8:00am, peak flow down to 320, so off we pottered....all morning in a fecking busy A&E* and saw paeds consultant....of course when triage nurse and junior dr listened to his chest at 10am, he was wheezy all over. Xray was clear. By time Paeds consult called, he was fine Hmm - magic white coat anyone?

She's put it down to a viral infection. He has a snotty nose, and post nasal drip is triggering wheeze. Plus she says much of it is in his head (he had major attack and 2 days hospital in January) - as she was very kind and said that kids panic. Gave us some good advice on when to bring him in, and also said that Drs can panic too and start him on loads of different meds for belt and braces cover, where really he might not have needed much of it.

So at least we are home, and he is looking better and has been reassured by a nice dr.

  • A&E: A family there - mum, 2x sisters (one in her PJs - she was about 18) toddler and baby. Mother is having a big shouty issue with the nurse because she wants to see a dr NOW as her baby might have meningitis.....Hmm this would be the 9mo baby that is beaming at everyone, eating cheesy wotsits and chugging on her bottle quite happily then?
HattiFattner · 03/10/2011 14:27

rolie, we have a peak flow monitor. he blows into it theres a little guage on the side and we know where it should be (c. 400 is normal for him) and if it drops below a certain point (now 300) he needs ventolin. You can ask your GP for one.

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