Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Is DD having an asthma attack or is it just a cold?

47 replies

KatyMac · 05/02/2012 18:12

She is 14 and a fairly bad asthmatic; I am on the phone to NHS Direct

She is coughing very hard, croup like, and retching regularly

She is not a good colour (but she has a cold) - we doubled her inhaler on Thursday & she is taking regular ventolin.

It's so hard to make the call

OP posts:
Sirzy · 05/02/2012 20:30

SecondComing. If he is struggling then just push for them to take you seriously as a parent you know when something is wrong.

TheSecondComing · 05/02/2012 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 05/02/2012 20:47

Sounds like DS. We mix the singulair into yoghurt for him.

They wouldn't prescribe that much if they didn't think there was something, and for 8 admissions then (unfortunately) there must be something. How old is he?

youarekidding · 05/02/2012 20:51

KatyMac I'm glad your DD has something to make her feel better. It is worrying and my asthma played up worse at 14yo. There's a 7 yr cycle apparently.

TSC Hope you get to the bottom of DS breathing difficulties. If its any consolation you don't come across as bonkers on here!

TheSecondComing · 05/02/2012 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hellhasnofury · 05/02/2012 21:03

I hope she's ok. My DD never wheezes and always presents as your DD is now.

Sirzy · 05/02/2012 21:16

Sounds very much like DS but he got the diagnosis at 12 months thankfully. Montesculat and singulair are the same we have only just started it so hoping it makes a difference. If he is no better insist on another refferal we were 'accidentally' discharged and the dr we saw on our last admission went mad and made sure he was reffered straight away.

TheSecondComing · 05/02/2012 21:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
KatyMac · 05/02/2012 21:35

DD is fast asleep, breathing easily; with just occasional coughs

I'm glad we went

OP posts:
SantieMaggie · 05/02/2012 21:51

I have a card with my normal peak flow and a guide what to do if it drops below certain levels, for example below x keep an eye in it and increase inhaler use, below y make an appt with gp, below z go to hosp, etc. can you ask asthma uk/hosp etc for one so you know what to do?

Original poster
KatyMac · 05/02/2012 22:00

It was borderline on our care plan & her symptoms didn't match her peak flow (the dr said because the venotlin was working well)

She just woke up & we had the 'I want to go to school' argument

OP posts:
Petrean · 05/02/2012 22:00

Glad she's okay!

Original poster
KatyMac · 05/02/2012 22:03

Thanks everyone; it's nice to know I wasn't panicking

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 06/02/2012 09:15

She isn't much brighter today but hopefully the second dose of Steroids will help; she did sleep well

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 07/02/2012 22:03

Poor DD - she still isn't much better

She went in to school today for a GCSE paper (only for 1.5 hrs) but pretty much collapsed this evening in exhaustion

She wants to go in tomorrow too; I'm not sure

OP posts:
Sidge · 07/02/2012 22:16

What's she on, inhaler-wise, normally?

Doubling the inhaled steroid doesn't really offer much benefit quickly enough and isn't generally recommended nowaays. Usually we advise stay on the same dose of inhaled steroid, have up to 10 puffs of salbutamol (ventolin) via a large volume spacer every 4 hours day and night, and steroids +/- antibiotics if necessary.

Hope she's better soon. I would keep her home unless absolutely necessary.

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/02/2012 07:34

Whoopie - she has agreed to stay home

She is on 250 seretide; which is regularly double as her asthma is not very controlled and singulair

She just got prednisilone; but it's not helping as much as it did last time

OP posts:
Sidge · 08/02/2012 10:59

Do you see a paediatric respiratory consultant?

TBH if a patient of mine of that age was on top whack of Seretide, plus montelukast, and loads of salbutamol and still poorly controlled I'd be referring her to the respiratory clinic to consider theophylline assessment, for example.

Is the pred helping at all?

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/02/2012 11:16

No - just a (very nice) A&E dr

I have a call in for the asthma nurse (who is normally very proactive) but her next hospital appointment is for May I think

She is odd as she never has asthma attacks as such but when she gets a cold her peak flow drops and she is awful

2 years ago she was really bad with continual chest infections then pleurisy; but she has been better since

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 08/02/2012 11:32

The nurse wants to see her as 5 days of steroids won't be enough to clear it

So we are off this afternoon

OP posts:
Sidge · 08/02/2012 13:33

Poor girlie Sad hope she's on the mend soon.

Original poster
KatyMac · 08/02/2012 13:40

Thanks - it is scary for her

She asked (on the way to the hospital) if teenagers died of asthma

I had to say yes; and said if she took her medicine she'd probably be OK. She is often 'forgetting' or 'can't be bothered' Sad

I think this has frightened her Sad

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page