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!

Glad he is home.

DS is ok, not great not bad just his normal coughing self. Going away on monday so have the pred ready to take with us!

Nurse has been, slight wheeze but much better

Have a lovely holiday

I hope no one minds me joining this thread. DS (2.9) was admitted to hospital with suspected viral wheeze just over a week ago. He was given inhalers, steroids and nebulisers, came home after two nights and was re admitted two days later. This time we were told that it is likely he has asthma (he's already been in hospital twice, once for pneumonia and once for a viral wheeze). He was in for a further night and released.

Two days later and he's been admitted once again. It seems like every time the oral steroid runs out he deteriorates. This time they have done a chest X-Ray and he has the early stages of pneumonia.

It's frustrating as I'm breastfeeding DD so can't visit him as much as I'd like (no visitors under 5 on the ward) and can't stay over. My parents are now here to help but poor DH was exhausted last week and now has the flu.

At least now they suspect asthma we will be referred to the specialist at our GP practice and will learn how to manage his condition.

Hope he starts improving soon. From experience don't be afraid to push for consultant care rather than GP if you feel that would be better

First chest infection since Feb. rang ooh last night at eleven as dd1 coughing constantly and peak flow low, started her on pred and went to gp this morning, now on antibiotics as well with a chest and ear infection, just hope this isn't the start of a bad winter

Hope she perks up soon Well thats.

DS is ill again but so far avoiding pred

Hello everyone, do you mind if I join. I have a nearly 9m dd who is displaying signs of asthma since 6m and getting anything of the gp is becoming tiresome.

After many trips she now has a reliever inhaler.
But 3 months in she seems to be going backwards.
Coughing and coughing, after every feed, every meal, most of the night and particularly when its foggy.
She is bringing up nearly every feed and meal and currently the only advice from a gp is to give her cough medicine..

Hi pumpkin. I would ask the GP for a preventer inhaler and if he isn't helping ask for a refferal to a pediatrican

Dd a lot better but still coughing a bit. Finished steroids but still on antibiotics. Peak flow still so will have to keep an eye her ( getting a note for double pe tomorow so she'll be happy!) and seeing gp again thurs

Hey pumpkin, it sounds like you should push for a referral.

Has your dd been checked for reflux? My dd had reflux and part of her symptoms was coughing after feeds or a meal

Ds1 is doing ok at the moment, we've had another admission to add to the list a couple of weeks ago, but he's on the mend, for now

Thankyou, going off to go to this afternoon, after no improvement. Think she might have a chest infection, either that or she needs a preventative measure.

Haven't thought of reflux tbh, as we have gone a whole month without being sick in the past. She was a Sicky newborn, but was reassured it was normal by HV.

Not leaving GPS today without answers.

If I can explain the cough so you could all picture it.
When it starts, she just coughs & coughs & coughs, almost like choking and it isn't always after a meal.
She gets frustrated as even patting her on the back and given her cough meds does not work. She then goes really red and her eye lids also go red with the constant strain of it.
This has gone on over a week now, and I can hear rattling on her chest and mucus sounds after drinking.

Just peeved being told it's a simple cold each time, then ending up straight back to the surgery where I started.

Hi would you mind if I joined this thread? My 2 year old had an asthma attack last night, we didn't even know she had asthma.

She's had a night time cough for a while now but on Saturday night she was coughing so much she was sick. All day yesterday she was wheezy and out of breath even though she was just sat on the sofa. I gave her a dose of inhaler (she was prescribed this to help with wheezing as she suffers with her chest).

As the day went on she really started to struggle, she was squeaking when breathing in and out and all her rib muscles were sucking in when she was breathing and also the hollow at the top of her chest.

Called 111 straight away who sent ambulance, paramedics then worked on her for an hour in our house to get her breathing stable, gave oxygen salbutomol and activent (sp?)

Then we got taken to.a+e then admitted onto the childrens ward. She's home now and sleeping but was very scary for us both think im still in shock. Been given salbutomol and spacer to use 10 puffs every four hours and got some sachets of granules to help with her wheezing. Have an appointment with an asthma nurse booked too.

I wish I sought medical advice sooner but we know now what were dealing with and I know what to look for etc.

Hi peppals
Welcome to the thread, I've got a feeling it's going to be busy on here this winter!

Sorry to hear about your dd that must have been scary for you, I'm glad your back home now and hopefully she is on the mend?
Is she on a preventer inhaler?

Hello all.
I do hope all the poorly little ones are feeling better? :(
Just wanted some advice form you all re ds1 (11)
He is asthmatic and has had a cough for 5 weeks.
Didn't seem too bad at first and wasn't bothering him.
Then last week seemed to get worse so I took him to our (useless :() gp who gave him a nasal spray!?
Anyway, later in that day he was worse so I phoned and he reluctantly prescribed 3 days of pred.
He was off school from weds last week and went back today.
He has his asthma review with the asthma nurse on Friday...should I leave it til then to get him seem again or sooner?
He seems ok, but when he coughs it sounds terrible. He has also got a really snotty nose now too, poor thing.
He is still eating and sleeping ok though.
Wwyd?

Hey Badvoc
How often is he needing ventolin? If he is doing ok I would leave it until Friday, but if he gets worse in the mean time take him back to the GP

Ds1 is doing ok at the moment, dd on the other hand, not so much
She isn't asthmatic but has started to show signs. Same as ds1 whenever she gets a cold she struggles and wheezes
She is currently full of a cold and horrible cough and starting to wheeze a little, we have inhalers for her from her last cold so I may start her on them soon

He hasn't been using it so much the past day or two.
Ds1 is the same...he is ok until he gets a virus and then it really drags on and he gets quite poorly.
Am going to try and wait til Friday unless he takes a turn for the worse.

Hi Lolli no she hasn't been given a preventor inhaler, just the blue one that she has to take 10 puffs every 4 hours.

She's still wheezing and coughing a lot to be honest, but nowhere bad as she was. The doctor on the childrens ward didn't give me that much info to be honest, just to come back to.hospital if her breathing becomes difficult again. Im guessing will find out more when we have the appointment with the asthma nurse.

She's been prescribed montelukast as well.

dd1 still isn't right, started with a cold two weeks ago, after 3 days at gp, given antibiotics and 40mg pred for 5 days. has to go for a follow up after she finished these and was given an 8 day reducing course of pred as chest still bad and peak flow low, we've only got a couple more days of this and she still isn't right, her peak flow is still lowand she is till coughing although it is not as bad and she is till using her salbutamol more than usual. I'm unsure as to whether to leave for a few more days or to ring in the morning.

Hi hope some of are you online my daughter is still coughing and wheezing is this normal with asthma? She's taking 10 puffs of salbutamol every four hours and montekulast but we had a bad night again last night coughing until she was sick. I've rang GP who's put me on the telephone list.

I would def get her seen again peppa.
If the gp can't see her til this evening are you near an a and e?
I am taking ds1 back this afternoon too :(

Peppa is she is not coping on 10 puffs four hourly, like wheezing and struggling inbetween those four hours she need to be seen at a&e

If my DS is in hospital they won't let him home on more than 8puffs four hourly, and that's pushing it, I think their rule is 6 puffs four hourly

Hope your both ok

Thanks lolli and badvoc. Went back to GP who had a good listen to her chest and diagnosed a chest infection so she's been prescribed a course of antibiotics and she also prescribed her the brown preventor inhaler so hopefully they will do the trick.

How did your ds get on badvoc? Hope he's ok.

Oh poor thing :(
She said Ds chest is clear and to up his brown inhaler to 2 puffs.
She did his peak flow and his sats which were ok.
Just need to ride it out I guess :(

I hope he feels better soon. Awful to see them struggling isn't it .

Now DD has the preventor inhaler should I still give the montelukast that was prescribed by the hospital? From what I've found they are both preventors? The GP knew she was on montelukast but didn't say to stop so suppose I should give both? So many questions can you tell im new to all this

Yes you can give both together.