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!

[SurfsUp1]

From memory I think the asthma thing was mainly addressed in the 2nd episode?? I could be wrong.

I just thought the information was a little glossed over (I guess you can only get so technical on TV?) and wondered if anyone had investigated the research further?

[Sirzy]

How's everyone doing?

We narrowly avoided being admitted last night but chest infection time again so antibiotics and pred again

[WellThatsLife]

Hope he's doing better now. Dd ok at the moment.

[WellThatsLife]

Ah, spoke to soon she's come in coughing, saying her chest is tight!

[Sirzy]

Oh no well. Hope it's nothing a bit of ventolin won't sort.

A and e was full of asthmatics/wheezy children yesterday, the nurse said she seems to be spending half of each shift waiting for pred to dissolve!

[WellThatsLife]

I'm a pharmacist and I notice today that lots of scripts from emergency drs antibiotics and pred. They were almist hotbedding the ward when she was in the other week. Going to give her another dose before I go to bed as her peak flow was low.

[PeppaIsACowbag]

Hi all DD is suffering with a viral infection at the minute, horrible cough and wheezing even after 10 x salbutamol. Been prescribed a 5 day course of pred so hoping she feels better in time for Christmas.

[PeppaIsACowbag]

Plus we were on a ferry when she first came down with it, they have doctors/first aid on board and I had all her medication with me but the thought that I couldn't get to an A+ E terrified me! DD really enjoyed the ferry ride but won't be doing it again until her asthma is more controlled.

[Sirzy]

Hope she is better soon peppas. How's your dd wellthatslife?

[PeppaIsACowbag]

Thanks sirzy, hope your ds is better soon too.

[WellThatsLife]

Thankfully seemed to be a one off. She had an appointment with hospital dentist today due to ongoing problems with her front teeth from an accident when she was 8, it seems she has ab infection in the bone behind one of the teeth which has probably been grumbling for ages so not sure how much of her recent ill health has been in part due to her body fighting this. She's going to need treatment under a general anaesthetic to try to clear the infected tisdue out.

[Sirzy]

Owch but fingers crossed if helps

[PeppaIsACowbag]

Does anyone elses dc get a little hyperactive on pred? First time dd has had it and we've had some interesting tantrums so far, think im in for a long night!

[WellThatsLife]

Peppa dd1 has a complete personality change when on steroids-hyper, very bad tempered, can't sleep and eats us outof house and home. Combine all that with hormones ( she'll be 13 in march) and it's great fun!

[PeppaIsACowbag]

Hi hope you are all having a great Christmas. DD is struggling today keeping it under control with ventolin at the minute but fearing a hospital trip later

[Sirzy]

How is she peppals?


DS is currently on his second lot of antibiotics/steroids for a tough to clear infection but it seems to be working.

[TortoiseInAShell]

Hi parents of asthmatic children - I apologise for not reading the tread but I saw you've reached the 900+ mark and it will take me forever! I don't know if I qualify to put in an appearance as my barely 18 month old hasn't been diagnosed asthmatic, but since his first winter he has suffered repeated bouts of chesty coughs and wheeze. I think at times we've also had nocturnal stridors, but each time I take him to the GP (which is a LOT!) we are sent away with different antibiotics and prednisolone.
I'm always grateful to at least get that because it dampens down the cough and reduces the wheeze, but this winter it is much worse and simply won't clear up completely.

I've had it suggested to me that I don't take no for an answer and worse than that, if he is not treated correctly, he could have lasting lung damage. I feel awful for finding this out because I have worked so hard to constantly pester the GP for continuous steroids and antibiotics, and I had no idea I could be seriously letting him down by accepting this from the GP.

So I came to the child health thread to talk to the real experts on the ground. I want to be armed with information on Monday and so I can fight my case well.

I wonder if anyone can tell me:

He often vomits when he coughs, is that specifically whooping cough or can it happen with asthma?

He is on atrovent and ventolin which I give 3 times a day. I was told give one puff but to be honest I give two because he struggles with the aerochamber and we only get about 3 or 4 breaths each time.

I wondered when they might prescribe beclomethasone inhaler and not atrovent, I know there was talk of salbutamol being unsuitable for infants as it isn't proven to work, but they gave it anyway, yet haven't given steroids except orally.

Is there anything else he should have?

Do your DC rattle much worse after eating and drinking? And do they keep getting runny noses every 3-4 weeks as though an infection keeps popping back up regularly and just isn't being controlled?

Sorry for all the questions, please be kind! I know I have probably foolishly accepted what the medics told me and so trusted their direction, when you all probably would have fought from day one. FWIW I thought I was fighting but constantly going back to them for more prescriptions. I want to go in with as much knowledge as I can next week. Thanks in advance.

[Sirzy]

Sounds like typical asthma you are describing. I would push for a steroid inhaler (like you said beclemathazone is the normal starting point) and then if that doesn't work (or the GP says no) then insist on a refferal to a peditrician.

[PeppaIsACowbag]

She's doing ok thanks sirzy, still a bit wheezy though even after ten pumps of ventolin. Her asthma nurse has increased her steroid pump to 4 puffs morning and night so seeing if that helps.

Has your ds chest infection cleared up yet?

[TortoiseInAShell]

FWIW the GP said not asthmatic, just bronchiolitis, so he's been treated accordingly. So looks like I didn't come to the right place here at all after all.

[Sirzy]

Hopefully the increased steroid inhaler helps.

DS was doing better but finished antibiotics and has a low level temp at the moment so keeping a close eye on it for now

[PeppaIsACowbag]

How's ds temp sirzy? Hope he's settled down now.

Hope your ds is better too tortoise. It took me a while to get DD a diagnosis of asthma, she had 6 chest infections in a year and they still wouldn't look into it, not until she had her first attack.

Can I just thank who gave the tip to do countdown then blast off really helped me get DDs pumps down

[Sirzy]

Yes it's settled thankfully.


Here is to a healthy 2014 for all our little ones

[PeppaIsACowbag]

Here here

[PeppaIsACowbag]

How's everyones dc doing? We are just starting a 30 day course of montelukast over here.