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!)

[cedmonds]

TSC Ds chest can quite often sound clear even though he is tugging low stats etc. Maybe he needs a different antibiotic? I know DS last but one infection he needed two different antibiotics before it cleared.

[cedmonds]

Those with older children what spacer do they use? DS has just be given the blue areo chamber with no mask but he cant seem to get on with it.

[alibobins]

Ds1 is nearly 8 and prefers no spacer at all but we still use one with a mask when he us bad as it ensures he gets the full dose

[cedmonds]

Thanks Alli there is no way I could get the full dose in when he is bad. He just can't get his breathing right with it. We are at GOSH in the new year so will ask then. He saw a new GP and they gave it to him as its ment to get the dose in better??

[Chrysanthemum5]

DS is 8 and prefers not to use the spacer but if he's struggling then we use it. The one the hospital gave him has teddies on it so he says its too babyish!

[Sirzy]

Strange your hospital gave that spacer, ours doesn't like that at all and will give the volumatic ones instead. Ds has the aerochamber for out and about but uses the volumatic at home

[Sirzy]

Another evening in a and e, another course of pred! Hopefully this clears everything so we can have a healthy christmas this year!

[cedmonds]

Oh no hope he is better for Christmas. I have for everything crossed that we stay away from OOH or A+E this Christmas.

[Sirzy]

He seems okish this morning.

Hope you get your hospital free Christmas cedmonds!

[Chrysanthemum5]

Sirzy hope the steroids work quickly and you can all enjoy a happy Christmas and New Year

[alibobins]

Ds1 just can't seen to shift this last episode he is catching his breath all the time
Ds2 is plodding on not 100% but happy.
Sirzy sorry you ended up at A&E so much us going round it's horrible I feel rubbish and my chest is bad and half ds1 school have been off.
Hope everyone has a very merry wheeze free Christmas x

[sipper]

Hi there. I've been reading about a couple of studies regarding asthma in children. Here are the links in case of interest/use:

Vit D for improved lung function in children treated with inhaled corticosteroids:
www.vitamindcouncil.org/vitamin-d-deficiency-linked-to-poor-lung-function-in-asthmatic-children/

Interesting RCT; reduced meds and improved pulmonary function with use of supplements: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23211647
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23211647

[Sirzy]

Well his chest is improving but his voice is sounding very croaky now

[Arachnophobe]

Hello. 8mo DS3 has been wheezy for a month on and off along with infection and spiking temp. He's on third course of anti-biotics and had been having 2 puffs as needed of Ventalin (same GP 4 times this month also prescribed pred on Friday but told me to take him to a&e if the breathing did not improve which it did not).
At a&e Doctor upped to 10 puffs a go and white pump. Chest x-ray was clear and they advised He might be 'pre-asthma' too early to diagnose.
He has been having four pred daily and 10 puffs when has laboured breathing but steroids are now finished they would not give any more. I wish you and your DCs a healthy xmas.

[Sirzy]

If still struggling then go back and they will give another course of pred if needed. 3 days is the standard course and generally that works but sometimes more is needed.

[Arachnophobe]

Thank you I will do.
DS1 ended up on pred and ventalin each time he had a cold following bronchiolitis at same age and had a couple of admissions. We were very fortunate that it stopped when he got to about four years. I had blocked out how horrible it is to see your Child struggling like that.
I must get a grip and keep fake -ing. I was so excited for Baby DS first Christmas (and DS1's 10th and DS2's 7th) and am lucky that all relatively calm and OK at this precise moment but I just can't shake that feeling of dread off.
Time for a as not an option.

[Sirzy]

I will have a for you just as soon as DS is in bed. Only 2 hours to go thankfully, I don't know where he gets his energy from especially when poorly!

[lollipoppi]

Hi all,
Just caught up on the thread, just moved back into our house after an extension so glad to be home for Xmas!
DS has been ok recently he hasn't needed ventolin for a good few weeks now,
Sirzy, DS is on seritide 50, 4 puffs a day, he has only just turned 2 so think that's why he is on a lower dose
Ps ... have a wine for me too please (due dc2 in 4 weeks)!!!
Hope we all have a healthy Christmas xxx

[alibobins]

Bloody ds2 has been off it all day I put him to bed at 7 and he's done nothing but cough :(
Arach how's is your litte one doing now? Ds1 always needs at least 5 days of pred to sort him out
Lolli bet it's nice being home for christmas x

[Arachnophobe]

Has DS2 settled Ali? My LO is wheezing and crackling but happy and not struggling at the moment. I hope we all have a good night.

[alibobins]

Ds2 is still coughing away like a 50 a day smoker :( he is not wheezing at the mo but starting with a temp think I am going to give the ooh a call to see if we can get some more antibiotics to cover us for Christmas.

[Sirzy]

To many poorly little ones!!

Ds woke up twice in the night asking for his inhaler, and he needed it to. Keeping him on 5 puffs 4 hourly now to try to get us through the next couple of days without any hospital trips. Not overly hopeful though and have set one present to one side for my mum to grab just incase Santa needs to make a diversion!

[alibobins]

Oh sirzy really hope you don't end up in ds2 has an appointment at 2.30 he's so quiet and not really himself x
Hope everyone still manages to have a super Christmas x x

[Sirzy]

How did you get on at the doctors?

[alibobins]

He's got an upper respiratory infection hopefully once the meds kick in he will be okay I've not known a Christmas where we haven't spent the say or days after on hospital.
Sirzy how's your ds? X