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!

[lollipoppi]

How's he doing Ali?
Has anybody invested in a de-humidifyer (sp?) our house has been filled with that cavarty wall insulation and the windows are constantly full of condensation, I feel like the house can't "breath" if you know what I mean? We have just had all the air vents uncovered while building work has been going on which should help but do you think it's worth getting one? Would it help DS asthma? X

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

I think a de humidifier dries out the air and that's worse for asthmatics . Humidifiers can help though.

[alibobins]

The gp says to carry on as we are and he is ringing in the morning as he says it's not fair keep dragging ds2 about. He really is the same as this morning no worse but no better :(

[Sirzy]

at least he isn't any worse, fingers crossed he has a good night

[Sirzy]

how are all the poorly los this evening?

[DizzyHoneyBee]

We've never been told how many puffs in x hours before going to hospital.
He just has it when he needs it and then we get on with it.
The last couple of weeks I noticed that he was not coughing at all at night, that is the first time it has ever happened but then just before Xmas he started coughing again :( I'm not sure how long the not coughing lasted but I suddenly realised one night that I had been getting a full night's sleep.

somebody i know recommended thieves oil, have any of you tried it?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10ml-Four-4-Thieves-Blend-Aromatherapy-Essential-Oil-/350676138809?pt=UK_Health_Beauty_Natural_AlternativeTherapies&hash=item51a5ed3b39

Amazon also sell it.

[DizzyHoneyBee]

it's very confusing to know what works really isn't it, I mean a de humidifier dries out the air and that is bad but then we are told not to dry laundry inside because it makes the air damp, hence having DSs duvet covers on the garden line all week trying to get them dry.

Out of interest, have any of you noticed a link between asthma and bed wetting? DS is wet nearly every night and I am sure it is connected. In the summer we went on holiday to a lovely hot country and he had no asthma problems at all and was dry every single night. We came home to cold and wet weather and within three days he was back to coughing and his bed was wet every night and it has been wet every night since except the three or four nights when he was not coughing at all.

The asthma nurse says it is nothing to do with it but it was the same last year when we went somewhere hot.

[Sirzy]

DS only wets the bed when his cough is bad at night, which then upsets him and makes him cough more!

[DizzyHoneyBee]

Ali, sorry to hear that your DS is ill with the flu. Missing the flu vaccine is a real pain, DS nearly missed it but thank goodness he didn't as half of his class were off with either flu or chickenpox just before Xmas. Was so glad to avoid another dose of pred. with chickenpox doing the rounds

[DizzyHoneyBee]

DS coughs all night every night no matter what we do, he's then so tired that he will sleep through anything.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

I've never noticed a link dizzy x dd has only had an accident once or twice and it's never coincided with an asthma flare up.

She's doing ok today although very grey under eyes and feels very warm. Definately another viral induced flare up but so far Che's staying relatively clear. Seems to have presented with another symptom this time.

How's your dc ali

[alibobins]

Thanks for asking he is just so sad :( hasn't touched a thing and it's been a struggle to get any more fluids in. He's sleep in bed with me but not settled his little cough is making his whole body shake I feel so sorry for him and I think it's made worse by the fact there is no magic cure :( the gp did say after day 6/7 he should start to improve.
Ds has rarely wet the bed since potty training on the odd occasion that he does it is because he is so shattered. Ivealways thought dry air was worse for asthmatics and to keep a wet towel on the radiator.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

That just sounds so
Poorly and awful. 6 more days??? Bless him how horrid for all of u :( x know u can't drink in case u need to go to hospital so here have a and a

Really hope he feels better soon xx

[Chrysanthemum5]

Ali so sorry your DS is not well, hope he is ok for his birthday.

Dizzy DS is 8 so doesn't tend to have accidents anymore, when he did in the past it was generally related to constipation rather than coughing.

I found those links to vitamin D intake that were posted on the previous thread pretty interesting. I slather DS in sunscreen if he's outside (even thought we live in Scotland!) because I used to live in Australia and I'm paranoid about sun damage so I wonder if he's not getting enough vitamin d? Have bought some vitamin tablets with a full daily dose of vitamin d, fingers crossed it helps.

I saw earlier some posters were saying the dose do steroids is for 3 days, DS has had a few doses now but always for a week? Seems like advice varies so much depending on where you live!

[Chrysanthemum5]

Wheresmycaffeine - DS was fine with his flu jab. DH also gets one as he has mild asthma. I pay privately for me and DD to have one as I don't want us bringing flu home in case it mutates inside us and is able to infect DS, we are both fine after the jabs. I don't regret getting them at all, and we've had them for a couple of years now.

[alibobins]

Ds2 had his birthday 2 weeks ago it's ds1's birthday tomorrow. Ds2 has been unwell a few days now do hopefully coming to a peak don't think I can cope with much more :(
Ds1 as never had the flu jab due to being anaphylactic to egg but the gp did say if he starts with symptoms they will give him anti virals his chest is a lot weaker than ds2's at the minute I'm trying to keep them separate as much as possible.

Sirzy how is you ds now?

[Chrysanthemum5]

Sorry Ali I got confused with the birthdays hope ds2 is better soon

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

I completely forgot about them until family members dropped it into conversation and I realized that we hadnt been offered one for three years. Turns out we have to book them now we don't get the letter.

I'm
Intrigued by the thieves oil that was mentioned above. I
Will have to
Research that. I've gone the dairy free route this time round to see if that helps. In reception dd had to have a few days off due to asthma glare ups. Since going dairy free , she has had flare ups but has not been so bad it's required a day off or steroids. Last course was just before I started. Controversial I know but I feel it's worth a try to avoid the
Medication.

[ballroomblitz]

I hope you don't mind me dropping in. Had actually come onto children's health board to see if anyone had experience with a good home oximeter for children and you all seem like a good lot to ask?

Ds hasn't officially been diagnosed with asthma. At 5yo they still keep telling us it is too young for him to be dx. Has always had a bad chest and every cold turns into endless courses of antibiotics and steroids. Honestly thought it would get better the older he got but seems to be getting worse and he has been admitted into hospital twice this year with lower respiratory infections and 'exacerbation asthma' including this week and Christmas Day Even though we are home now he is still sick and miserable. I dread even the simpliest of colds as I don't know what way it's going to effect him.

Hothead have you tried dissolving the prednisolone into juice? Ds always throws it back up when given in hospital but I stick it in a good bit of lemonade when we're home and he'll take it ok.

I to make a follow up appointment with the gp. Is there anything I should be pushing for? He was taken off the brown preventer inhalor during the summer. Is it worth trying him back on it?

Sorry to hear there are other poorly dc atm.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

Aw ballroom sorry to
Hear all that. Sounds horrible hope your ds gets better too!!! The protocol is obviously different where you are. Everyone else I know who's kid has asthma was told around age two. My dd was about that age two when I was told she was "classed as asthmatic" after two hospital
Admissions with vital induced wheezing requiring nebulizers.

Can't answer your question I'm afraid but wanted to answer your post. Hope you r ok x

[Sirzy]

Happy birthday to your DS 2 Ali :) hope you all had a peaceful night.

Ds seems a but better this morning.

When DS has pred it is always done in 3 day doses but sometimes he has multiple doses (so 6 or 9 days) if needed. I always mix it with blackcurrant juice and have mastered making it in 2.5ml of fluid to make it quicker!

Ds was diagnosed at 13 months mainly because he was having problems even when otherwise well. They don't seem to like diagnosing in under 5s when it is just when poorly it seems

[Sirzy]

Ballroom - yes I would push for a preventer inhaler

[alibobins]

Had an okayish night think ds was hallucinating at one point which was scary. He has coughed till he has been sick but has happily drunk some juice without me pinning him down he has woke up for around 15 mins then gone back to sleep.
Ds1 has opened all his and is mo raring to go out on his new stunt scooter

I always dissolve the pred in the smallest amout of juice and syringe it it but both my boys take it no problems. Ds1 was diagnosed quite early due to numerous stays in hospital and an anaphylactic reaction at 9 months. I agree with others and push for a preventer they don't need a formal diagnosis to have one.

[Sirzy]

Glad he is drinking now, thats a good sign