Wheezing into 2013 - Support thread for parents of asthmatics

[Sirzy]

As the old thread is filling up I thought I would get a new one started!

This thread is for anyone with a child with asthma, or asthma type symptoms. Between us we have to much experience of inhalers, nebulisers, steroids, sats and all things asthma!

All are welcome on the thread :)

Not on steroids yet but wouldn't be suprised if he ended on them. Seems to be trying to get on his chest but 5 puffs 4 hourly is controlling things just about

Hope he is ok sirzy, and welcome ballroomblitz x

He is a bit wheezy this morning but nothing worrying yet thankfully.

How are things with you Lolli?

That's good news! Hope he has had a good day today, DS is ok, still on inhalers and he has almost completely lost his voice

Happy Mother's Day !!! From what we all go through I think a bunch of is well deserved xxx

How is everyone doing?

We ended up in a and e last night with a bad croup attack steroids seemed to help but rather wheezy today having a day snuggled up watching octonauts

Oh no sirzy, hope DS is ok! Mummy cuddles are the best cure

DS is ok, he recovered from his last episode quite quickly which is good, normally takes a good 2-3 weeks to get him off ventolin, only took a week and half which I'm taking as a good sign x

That's good Lolli x

How is DS today sirzy? X

he has been ok thanks Lolli still getting wheezy as he gets to his 4 hours but on the mend. Thanks for asking.

Hello all

Do you mind if I join you?

My DD turned 5 in November and has been asthmatic for as long as I can remember (even before they can supposedly dx it).

It is completely out of control and I'm starting to worry about long term complications of being so badly controlled. She had an x ray last year which showed scarring on her lungs and a weekend away this weekend almost ended in my dm calling an ambulance because she literally cannot breathe.

She started on Montelukast end of last year and it did seem to be helping but she started sleepwalking and having horrendous night terrors so we have had to take her off it. She's also on 200mg of Flixotide a day.

She's usually on preds every 6-8 weeks, she needs a minimum of 8 puffs of Ventolin to even touch a wheeze and I'm regularly being called to collect her from school because they aren't happy to keep her there after 10 puffs.

She's under a the local hospital but there's usually a long wait for appts - our next one is end of June.

Any advice or guidance on how to get this looked in properly to would be appreciated, I'm so fearful because it's escalating and now she's older she's panicking more when it happens. I'll go private if needs be, has anybody gone down this route?

Hello Dragon.

Have you managed to find out what causes her attacks? DS has had allergy testing and now takes daily antihistamine which helps him alot. I think half the battle is finding the triggers sometime.

Can you phone to bring the appointment forward?

Hi Sirzy

It's usually exercise, the cold/going in to warm places, and if she has a cold. I don't think there's any allergen connections - none that I can think of anyway?

I can probably bring the appt forward - we only ever see a nurse specialist though and even though my aunt is one (in a different specialty) is it worth pushing for somebody more senior?

Hello Dragon,

My son who is now 26 months has had 5 overnight admissions since August for severe wheezing (one with IV Saubetamol and Hydrocortisone) and know how it feels. He has had many courses of prednisilone, we also tried twice Montekulast and the same thing happened (night terrors, erratic mood, etc) very scarry we finally removed him from the medication.

He has been "controlled" since our very nice and helpfull pediatritian Dr Ahmed Massoud (works in the children's consulting offices at the Portland Hospital) has put him on 400 mg daily of Qvar Beclomethasone since December the 8th until mid April when we will be reducing it hopefully. He has gone though two colds without needing hospitalisation.

The private Drs we have seen are: Dr Ahmed Massoud (pediatritian at the Portland Children's Hospital), Dr Ranjan Suri (respiraroty specialist at the Cromwell Hospital), and finally Dr Ben Hatley (ENT specialist at the Portland as well).

Thought all excellent and very experienced they can be very expensive, perhaps worth trying your insurance if you have one. Bupa have covered us for every single appointment, they are usually quite good when it comes to respiratory issues.

Hope it helps...

Hi dragon,
That sounds quite severe! I know you have a specialist nurse but is she not under a consultant?
I would go down that route with the hospital first, my DS consultant on the NHS, would be the same consultant if we were to go private so we have been quite lucky.

It depends what area you are in but I would highly recommend Dr Mekrow if your anywhere near the north west area
X

I would push for consultant care at least until she is under control. DS is under consultant care for now then when he is controlled more it will be monitored by the nurse specialist.

How is everyone doing? Ds is quite chesty today, don't think the cold weather is doing him much good really.

DS is clear at the moment, and with all this snow and cold weather on the way this weekend I plan on staying in with the heating on ( for the good of DS health of course! ) x

DS had chicken pox now so we are trapped inside, although with this weather that seems a pretty good option anyway!

Oh gosh sirzy! Hope he is ok! X

Hi guys, just need a bit of adivce really, my 18 month old has wheezy epidsodes regulary and i am looking for a really good baby monitor that will pick up him breathing when he is asleep. Can anyone reccommend one?

I used an angel care one with DS until he was just over 2.

does it pick up his breathing, i just dont want to risk leaving him upstairs in case anything should happen as he can get ill quite quickly.

yes and the motion sensor alarmed if stopped breathing or was breathing too fast.

that said, unless you have a very big house you will probably find that you hear it no matter what. You quickly become tuned into the little signs of a problem.

ah that sounds good. i know my partner keeps telling me this aswell! thanks very much. hope the chicken pox has cleared up!

It has now thankfully!

Hello all, nice to find a thread and hope you don't mind me joining in!
I have twins, DS and DD, who are both asthmatic, probably as a result of being a little premature. DS' at the moment is fairly mild, needing 2-6 puffs ventolin 4/5 times per week for wheezing/coughing after running around or in the night occasionally, and has 2 puffs Beclometasone 100 twice daily. He has had a few attacks needing a nebuliser but normally after a heavy cold. DD on the other hand is proving to be more difficult to control. She is taking 4 puffs B 100 3 times per day and montelukast (1 tablet each evening) but has been struggling and needing ventolin multilple times per day for the past few days. GP booked on Tuesday - she's breathless walking around and audibly wheezy at rest and although not getting any worse, we have noticed that rushing upstairs etc leaves her almost gasping. Also when she is speaking she'll often take big (?) breaths and sigh at the end of sentences sometimes - not sure if is this asthma or an attitude? We give her ventolin morning & night with the other inhaler, and before any active play. She needs ventolin during and/or after running around for a longer period and will often cough and wheeze for the rest of the day making speaking a challenge as she'll be spluttering a lot. Our GP is pretty good but if anyone has suggestions I;d love to hear them!