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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:
BramblyHedge · 28/11/2011 12:05

Thanks. he was also admitted 7 weeks ago for same thing. i have never known him to be ill and it not go to his chest and he has had the inhaler a while, just seems to be getting worse.

Sirzy · 28/11/2011 12:14

With DS it varies in length.

The first time he was admitted to hospital with an asthma attack (rather than bronchi as it has been before then) he was in for 8 days in total and took another 2 weeks or more at home to fully recover. Other times he has recovered in the space of 3 days well enough to come home and fully recovered in a week.

He always seems to take a long time to get back to normally fully though, although since being on the brown inhalers his bouceback time has increased a lot!

TheSecondComing · 28/11/2011 12:16

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Sirzy · 28/11/2011 12:21

He is just turned 2, had chest trouble since he was 8 weeks old so its second nature now. He has a cold at the moment and touch wood he is coping well on just 5 puffs every 4 hours so I am hoping we manage to stay home. He has his asthma clinic on Thursday anyway so she can check him over then.

I find the "day to day" problems worse than the illness ones at times though strangly. Things like him not being able to walk or run around for as long as a normal 2 year old are starting to become more of a problem now he gets older and doesn't want to be in his pram!

alibobins · 28/11/2011 12:50

Ds2 is not well he's got a cough and wheeze :( we are managing at home so far but have an appointment at 4.30 with docs. Up until this point we were doing well with only 1 a&e visits and that was ds1.
Sorry to hear others not doing so well.
We have steroids and a nebuliser at home but I'm a bit reluctant to use with ds2 as I don't really know his limits yet. With ds1 I know when to try at home and when we need extra support I just worry that it gives me confidence to saty at home when really they need more support.

TheSecondComing · 28/11/2011 15:00

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cedmonds · 28/11/2011 15:56

HI
Sorry everyone is having such a rough time Sad
Ds was sent home from school today as his ventolin wasn't working.
He has had a neb and doesn't seem to bad now so hopefully he will stay at home.
TSC Have you tried ribena and in the smallest amount we normaly get away with about 10ml and lots of briberyGrin sweets normally work

BH When ds is bad he has been in hospital anything from two nights to over a week. He will take a while to recover as well. If he stays at home it will normaly always be a week off school doing nothing and if he is really bad he will then go part time for a week afterwards.

Sirzy · 28/11/2011 18:31

I was going to say Ribena to! I love the nurse who taught me that trick, makes life much easier!

ilovemydogandMrObama · 28/11/2011 20:38

second here's what I do: get a shot glass Blush and put in the pred tablets with just a splash of water, and I do mean just a splash. Let them dissolve, and add a small amount of Calpol, about 5ml.

TheSecondComing · 28/11/2011 21:28

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Sirzy · 01/12/2011 16:02

Those who have Los on clenil what doses do they have? Ds is just 2 and just been increased to 400mg a day which seem a lot?

TheSecondComing · 01/12/2011 18:16

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 01/12/2011 18:33

Oh no hope you not in to long. This time last year we were just coming to the end of our pneumonia stay.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 02/12/2011 14:38

Hope everyone is doing OK?

DD1 had an appointment with the asthma nurse at Children''s Hospital, mainly as there was an incident a few weeks ago where she was quite poorly, but didn't tell the teacher, and her O2 levels were around 90% Sad. Anyway the asthma nurse was brilliant and is making a card for DD1, so when she feels poorly, she hands the card to her teacher, and the teacher gives her Ventolin.

Poor DD1. She was telling the asthma nurse that she is told not to interrupt, so felt unsure about communicating about her asthma Sad Sad

Hopefully the card system will make it easier.

Original poster
Knackeredmother · 03/12/2011 16:27

Hi all, just checking in. I'm sad to see lots are struggling but thats winter eh? It's crap.
We've finally seen the respiratory professor who although isn't actually doing much has reassured me ds doesn't have an underlying cardiac or imunology problem which was my worry.
He has told me 'he will take my problems away'! I bloody hope so!
As an aside have any of your lo had the chickenpox vaccine? I'm going to push for it as it is very serious if caught within 3 months of a course of pred. Given we are virtually always within 3 months of a course of pred it seems prudent to vaccinate but I just can't afford to do it privately.
Anyway, big hugs to you all (not allowed I know but needed on this board!)

OP posts:
Sirzy · 10/12/2011 20:58

Hope everyones los are as fit and healthy as can be expected at this time of year.

Quick question. DS normally doesn't have trouble with a cough with his asthma but is struggling at bit with it at the moment. Giving him extra ventolin especially before bed but not really helping a lot. At what point do you get the cough checked out? or is it even worth getting it checked?

cedmonds · 11/12/2011 17:46

Hi
Ds has had a horrid virus which has gone on and on. He is on lots of ventolin. At least he is going to GOSH this week so the can see him when he is not good.Hope everyone is ok?
sirzy Has he had a cold or anything? I tend to get ds checked as it can be the first sign of his asthma getting worse. He is also prone to infections.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 11/12/2011 18:03

cedmonds DD1 has had the virus too. She woke up a few nights ago with this terrible cough and gasping for air and saying, 'I can't breathe...' Scary, but it was all in her throat. Croup, I think? Anyway, went into the shower room and turned on as high as it would go and sat in the steam for half an hour and that seemed to help. Gave her a ton on Ventolin anyway, just in case.

sirzy I usually get it checked if DD1 is struggling as she too is a 'silent' asthmatic.

Sirzy · 11/12/2011 18:08

Thank you both. Will try to get him to the nurse this week, it's only 2 weeks since she increased his clenil but said it may not be effective and might need something else.

Hope your Los both feel better soon

cedmonds · 11/12/2011 21:24

iove Croup sounds like a barking seal
sirzy How old is ds now i have lost track of time? Have they tried him on an antihistame or montelukast? Both worked really well for ds when he was little.

Sirzy · 11/12/2011 21:28

He has just turned 2. I think montelukast is the next thing they are planning as he is on 400mg of clenil a day so that can't go any higher!

ilovemydogandMrObama · 12/12/2011 10:36

Grin @ barking seal!

sirzy they may want to change his preventer. Clenil didn't really help DD1, and she went to the orange one (can't remember name) which also didn't really help, so now she's on Seretide which seems to help in addition to singulair. her attacks aren't as frequent or as severe and she hasn't had to be blue lighted to hospital in over a year!

cedmonds · 12/12/2011 19:32

Hi clenil didnt really help ds either the orange one you are talking about is flexitide. Ds was on it before the seritide.

Sirzy · 24/12/2011 19:29

A quick visit to wish everyone a very happy, and healthy, Christmas!

gemjays · 30/12/2011 20:44

So glad I have found this! Hi I'm new but god am I stressed! So I shall give you a run down.. My daughter is now 2 but at 10 days old she got bronchilitus, had it so severe she was in high dependency on CPAP and was minutes away from being put on a ventilator. Ever since then she has NEVER shifted the awful gagging cough she is on ventolin and atravent and a month ago was given the steroid dissolvable tablets after a bad spell. She's now on a clenil inhaler too... However nothing seems to shift her cough, she sounds awful she can't sleep and she cannot get overly active as she has a mild attack. It is breaking my heart and also frustrates me so much that my GP doesn't seem to actually do anything to help!!! I want an asthma plan, reassurance etc etc.. Haven't slept in days just want to take it all away from her. Although luckily she knows no different so it seems to bother me more than her!