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

DS(3) newly diagnosed with asthma, really struggling tonight

29 replies

BR44 · 05/08/2014 22:04

He's been having runs of 2-3 days where he coughs a lot and his breathing is laboured, then if seems like whatever's triggering it subsides, then it gets worse again. He's been given a blue inhaler which helps a lot but only when I can get him to relax enough to breath properly.
Tonight he's really struggling. The cough us awful, his breathing bad and he's tired and panicky when I try to get him to use the inhaler. I'm in bed with him now and even though he's half asleep his discomfort and distress are obvious. What else can I do to help him?

OP posts:
Mondaybaby · 05/08/2014 22:09

Gosh, BR44, that sounds awful.
If he is in bed and is in discomfort and distress then my first thought is that he may need more medical intervention than just the blue inhaler. Maybe he needs a nebuliser?
Are you managing to use the inhaler with a spacer? Can you give him some while he is asleep?

Sidge · 05/08/2014 22:11

You should have a spacer. Give him 10 puffs (one at a time) through the spacer. You can do it whilst he's asleep, or half asleep.

Then make an urgent GP appointment in the morning and ask them to prescribe a regular steroid inhaler, usually a brown one.

If he gets worse overnight despite 10 puffs of his blue inhaler then call the out of hours service to get him seen, or take him to A&E if he's really struggling.

Wineandcakes · 05/08/2014 22:11

Prop him up a bit with an extra pillow. Lying flat makes things worse. Also, my ds benefits from Vick rubbed on his chest.

AccidentallyInLove · 05/08/2014 22:14

I am an asthma sufferer and have been to hospital when it has been bad. I would consider going to there if he is bad. It won't just go away on its own. Let air in the room and get him a steroid inhaler. Hope he feels better soon Thanks

sidsgranny · 05/08/2014 22:21

Am badly asthmatic with an asthmatic son. Not sure how old your little one is but please get medical help, at least phone NHS direct.

sidsgranny · 05/08/2014 22:22

Am badly asthmatic with an asthmatic son. Not sure how old your little one is but please get medical help, at least phone NHS direct.

sidsgranny · 05/08/2014 22:22

Am badly asthmatic with an asthmatic son. Not sure how old your little one is but please get medical help, at least phone NHS direct.

Original poster
BR44 · 05/08/2014 22:25

Thanks all. Yes I do have a spacer and it works wonders during the day when I can get him to breathe calmly and thus properly inhale the medicine. The problem at night is that he's frightened and can't focus on breathing normally, which I totally understand. He's much more settled now and properly asleep and not wheezing so I am going to try and give him a few puffs through the spacer.

I HATE this. It seems to have come out of nowhere and is massively affecting his quality of life at the moment.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 05/08/2014 22:53

Please take him to get a preventer inhaler. If he gets any worse tonight don't hesitate to take him to ooh/a and e

Mondaybaby · 05/08/2014 23:08

I know this is obvious and sure are aware but dust can make asthma worse so do lots of vacuuming and dusting (when he is not in the same room).

And A&E if he gets worse, like other posters have said.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 05/08/2014 23:17

Right now: A&E - if DS is breathing so hard he's sucking in his tummy so that his ribs protrude.

To consider for later:

Did doctor/nurse give you an Asthma plan? ie what doses to give DS for how long/what to do if he doesn't improve. I have mine stuck on my fridge.

My DS (also 3) doesn't have Asthma but does have occasional wheeziness which is like Asthma and we treat it as thus (complicated ongoing situation)

Also what times of the day is better/worse? I write on my calendar when my DS has had a bad cold, needed his inhaler (and how much) - might be worth doing this so you can possibly identify trigger/s (such as pollen, viruses, pets)

Also if it's night time I'd suggest deep cleaning his bedroom (when DS isn't about) - I steam/hoover DS's regularly incl mattress (and his brother's) and got an air purifier - the hepa one - he no longer gets a regular night time cough. Also keep soft toys and clutter to an absolute minimum in his bedroom to prevent build up of dust and mites.

www.asthma.org.uk/

Take care, it's awful and scary seeing them suffer but if in doubt A&e.

Funkytown · 05/08/2014 23:23

Vacuum and dust the whole bedroom top to bottom I find allergy pillows work wonders for my boy slighty prop to sleep it eases the chest my little one coughs every 1-2 minutes when his asthmas playing up and this helps also water and fresh air circulating , my son has a blue and a brown inhaler so maybe speak to gp see if they can prescribe that too .
Is the 10 puff thing recomened the instructions on mine says 2 when required didn't no I could give more that would of helped many sleepless nights

Northernlurker · 05/08/2014 23:28

It could well be pollen that's making things worse atm. My hayfever related wheeze has been worse over the last few days.

Vacillating · 05/08/2014 23:31

Yes if you have sleepless nights more meds are needed. You can't OD the blue inhaler when it is needed so much better to use liberally and go to a and e early. Too many practice staff give incorrect info on inhalers - asthma nurses are often best.

Tracheal tug/ laboured breathing with chest recession go straight to a and e. It is new to you so will take a while to get to grips with-finding triggers, best drugs and delivery takes a while.

Hope it feels better soon.

funnyface31 · 05/08/2014 23:46

I agree that he may need clenil as a prevention. My DS was about 2.5/3 when he was diagnosed and uses a purple one now of a night/morning. Best bit of advice consultant said was buy a big lunchbox and store it in your bathroom. Gets washed once a month and it clean from any dust etc.

I would keep the blue one topped up during the day too.
So many different explanations to what is the correct way to use the spacer. Make sure it's straight, wait 30 seconds between each puff and ensure drink is given to avoid thrush:
You probably know all that. Hope he is sorted soon x

Bumply · 05/08/2014 23:50

DS2s asthma plan states 2 puffs to start with, going up to a max of 10 puffs on the blue inhaler once every 4 hours. If that's not reducing the wheezing then you need to take them to GP/A&E as they may need nebuliser and oxygen. A&E always take it seriously.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 06/08/2014 00:27

Hi OP, has DS breathing settled? Hope you are both ok x

Original poster
BR44 · 06/08/2014 08:47

Thank you all for taking the time to post and for all the info - it's really useful.

After I last posted around 10.30 he was so much better and slept soundly. I heard him cough a few times around 2 am but he settled very quickly and then nothing until he was up and about at 5.30, as per usual (grrrr...). No sign of coughing this morning and his breathing seems fine.

Vacillating as you say this is all new to me so I'm only just starting to get to grips with warning signs, triggers, how to handle him etc. He's been using the blue inhaler for about 3-4 weeks. Our GP is away at the moment but we're going back to see him in early sept for a review and i will definitely be asking about the preventative options then.

Northernlurker my gut feeling is that it is pollen related as the days when it flares up do seem to coincide with my hayfever getting worse. Whether there are other triggers too I don't yet know, but I'm massive;y hoping that we'll see a big improvment come autumn/winter. That might be naive, though, as I know it's possible that more than one thing might aggravate him. We'll see.

And thank you all for stressing that it's fine to take him to A&E if I feel it's getting beyond our control. You are very sensible and very reassuring. It's frightening to see a kid who is normally glowing with health and has boundless energy struggling to just stop bloody coughing, poor thing.

OP posts:
Sidge · 06/08/2014 08:54

I wouldn't wait until early September for a review. I'd be making an appointment to see someone sooner (ideally the asthma nurse if your practice has one) as a preventer inhaler will take a couple of weeks to get on top of his symptoms.

Then you can update the GP when you see him in September.

Sirzy · 06/08/2014 09:15

If you think it is hayfever related when you see about a preventer inahler (like Sidge said ASAP not in septmember) i would ask about an antihistamine. Part of the treatment for DS asthma is daily antihistamine

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 06/08/2014 09:37

You definitely can't wait until September. I think you need to see someone this week tbh. He can go downhill very rapidly if his asthma isn't controlled and it would be better to prevent that happening, rather than wait for it to happen and then treat it.

SweepTheHalls · 06/08/2014 09:44

Please see someone this week, as an asthmatic it is exhausting when you aren't we'll controlled and needs sorting ASAP.

AnnabelleDarling · 06/08/2014 10:09

Ds1 was first diagnosed with asthma around his second birthday. It took us quite a while to get to grips with it. He had the blue inhaler but also a brown preventer inhaler which we used with a spacer. I won't repeat all the good advice here, but if you are concerned, take him to A&E. They won't think you are making a fuss about nothing. Often ds just needed nebulisers and steroids (orally) and after a few hours when his oxygen levels had stabilised he was allowed home. It really is best to err on the side of caution. I was always advised to look at his tummy, if you could see it moving up and down with his breathing then he needs help so time to go to the hospital.

Ds' triggers were always colds in winter and hay fever in summer. Over the years his 'preventor' inhalers were adjusted depending on his needs. He also took Singulair tablets for a while which made a huge difference to the allergy related asthma. Humidity also affected him, as did fog in winter. I am still cautious about him being out on a cold, foggy day!

He is a teenager now and the asthma has hugely improved. He is a little wheezy at the moment but that's down to hay fever and the humid weather he just makes sure he always has a blue inhaler with him. He's a keen rugby player and asthma hasn't held him back in any way.

It is very stressful as a parent in the beginning, there is so much to remember, but you'll get the hang of it Smile

Original poster
BR44 · 06/08/2014 13:19

Yes, I think you're all right about seeing domeone sooner. I will take him to the GP practice tomorrow and see the first available doctor and then review with our main GP in September. He is taking daily antihistamine too. Thanks for all the advice everyone

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 06/08/2014 17:57

You're doing really well with this Op. Lots for you to deal with.