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Original poster

Asthma support thread

158 replies

Sirzy · 10/02/2015 11:25

Just gone to bump the old one and noticed it was nearly full so time for a new one.

Thread for anyone who is dealing with an asthmatic (or possibly asthmatic) child who wants hand holding, advice or just somewhere to vent!

All welcome.

DS has just been diagnosed with his third chest infection since October. Thankfully he is back at his consultant in two weeks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Sirzy · 16/03/2015 18:42

Hi all, we are in hopsital for a few days of intensive monitoring and testing to try to get things stable.

DS was diagnosed at 11 months so they can diagnose younger but are reluctant to. Montelukast seems to be increasingly used as first choice preventer

OP posts:
ShootPeppaPig · 17/03/2015 17:49

Can I join?

DS 2.5 just been prescribed ventolin and spacer today Sad as Dr thinks he's developed asthma due to (or as well as?) allergic tendencies after having croup 8+ weeks ago and still coughing fits, runny nose, now gunky eyes etc

I have no idea how to use the thing will read instructions tonight - she said to wash it before/after each use, does anyone know if they can go in the dishwasher?

Original poster
Sirzy · 17/03/2015 18:05

Hi shoot.

For the inhaler if in doubt ask a pharmasict and they will help you but quick guide - shake inhaler, one puff into spacer at a time count to ten then do each additional puff the same way.

I don't wash the spacer after every use and never have. We are in hopsital at the moment and washing the spacer hasn't been mentioned. I wash it every week or so just leave it in boiling water for a bit then leave to air dry. Rubbing it dry can stop it working as well. I have a spare spacer so swap them as they are cleaned!

OP posts:
ShootPeppaPig · 17/03/2015 18:20

Thanks!!

I'm guessing I just encourage him to suck on the spacer after iv pressed the inhaler the right amount of puffs?

The pharmacist who 'showed' me was clearly being trained and had as much clue as me Grin

Does it matter if it's wet then when I use? If I can't rub it dry?

wfrances · 17/03/2015 18:52

dd18 takes seritide preventer , its changed her life,
im a bit annoyed she wasnt given it before, she was diagnosed at 18 months and didnt get this until 6 years ago.
it has drastically the need to use ventolin.

ShootPeppaPig · 17/03/2015 19:54

Is salbutamol ? Salamol? Sulphate the same thing as ventolin?

The Dr def said ventolin but it's salbutamol on the chemist packet? Is it just another brand name for the same thing?

Original poster
Sirzy · 17/03/2015 20:04

Yes salbutamol and ventolin are the same thing.

Seretide was a godsend for DS, he was lucky enough to be started on it at 2 but I know that it is only licensed for over 4 or 12 dependant on the strengths.

OP posts:
ShootPeppaPig · 17/03/2015 20:09

Oh that's good to know! Thanks!

ShootPeppaPig · 18/03/2015 00:31

Just had a very panicked screaming toddler with long long coughing fit - eventually persuaded wrestled him into using what he's now called his "space rocket" (spacer) and he's calmed down, gone drowsy and seems to be breathing easier but still coughing/spluttering every so often although much shorter episodes - I'm clueless,

Does it sound like he had a proper asthma attack? Or could it perhaps not be asthma as he's still coughing a bit?

Does the medication normally cause drowsiness? I offered an episode of thomas as a bribe to use the inhaler but he wasn't bothered about thomas after unheard of

Original poster
Sirzy · 20/03/2015 15:43

So home from hospital, 2 new meds and awaiting an appointment for a broncoscopy.

OP posts:
lollipoppi · 21/03/2015 10:09

Found you!

Sirzy how was the hospital stay? What new meds have they out him on? I'm hope it makes his asthma more manageable

DS has been doing really well, managed attacks at home with pred and ventolin, however this morning his is on the slippery slope, ventolin isn't controlling his cough or wheeze

PeppaIsACowbag · 23/03/2015 16:49

Hi hope everyone doing well. What new meds has your ds been given Sirzy?

Dd has had a great couple of weeks but has come down with a cold so the dreaded coughing and wheezing has started again. Her cough is awful, horrible desperate sucky in noise when she gasps for breath after a coughing fit.

What would be the next stage for meds if these ones are not keeping things under control? She's currently on ventolin as and when, flixitide 200g daily and montelukast long term. I'm going to ask her asthma nurse for an appointment this week.

Original poster
Sirzy · 23/03/2015 16:54

They think part of his problem is reflux related - apparently it is closely linked to asthma - so has demperidone and omprazole (sp) on top of everything else. Seems to be helping with the nights at least.

Hope they both improve quickly lolli and poppa

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lollipoppi · 23/03/2015 21:06

That's good that you've seen an improvement already Sirzy.

Peppa how's your dd doing?

As predicted, DS was admitted to hospital on Saturday afternoon. His chest was so tight he wasn't even wheezing, apparently his airways were so tight a wheeze couldn't be heard, once he started his Nebs and oxygen the wheeze appeared as his airways had opened. This was new to me as he has always had an audible wheeze.
We were discharged today, on more steroids and the nurse will come out to check on him tomorrow

Original poster
Sirzy · 23/03/2015 21:20

Glad he is home now.

DS rarely wheezes. Makes it hard to notice a problem at first, I have had to train his teachers to look for the signs like tracheal tug to know when there is a problem.

OP posts:
PeppaIsACowbag · 27/03/2015 19:53

Hope he's better now Lolli, so scary when they get admitted to hospital.

Dd has another chest infection, only two weeks since her last one! So got another course of antibiotics and some pred to see her through.

She's currently on six different medications - ventolin, flixotide, montelukast, pred, amoxicillin and calpol. I know she needs them but do worry about overloading her little body!

Original poster
Sirzy · 27/03/2015 19:54

Hope she is better soon. DS has a chest infection aswell.

I know what you mean about the meds, we are on 9 at the moment.

OP posts:
passthewineplz · 27/03/2015 20:02

My DD has had a barking cough from being about 6 weeks old. She was diagnosed with likely asthma at 8 months old. She literately had a cough ever other week, from 6 weeks old and every cold went to her chest. It's an horendous cough, she barks sounds like someone who smokes 60 a day, and gasps for breath.

She was given inhailers and Montelukast by the consultant. She had Montelukast up unil she was about 2 1/2 it did take the edge off a bit, but I stopped giving it her as the cough never really went. She's 4 now and still has the same barking cough everytime she gets a cold.

If your DC haven't tried Montelukast and suffer, it's worth asking for as it does help a bit

passthewineplz · 27/03/2015 20:08

Sorry forgot to add. We were at A&E practically every week with her. and I had to push for her to be referred to a consultant. Nothing really helps her cough, it's cough cough all night until she's sick. And the same during the day.

The consultant actually blamed me as it can be heredity...

passthewineplz · 27/03/2015 20:10

Oops sorry just seen some of your DC are on Montelukast. How do you find it? I felt it sent her a bit loopy and didn't really help. Steroids do nada either x

Original poster
Sirzy · 27/03/2015 20:21

DS has been on montelukast since he was about 18 months old, mixed in with everything else it's hard to know how much any one drug does though!

OP posts:
passthewineplz · 27/03/2015 20:53

Bless him. He sounds like he's really suffering. I try not to give my DD her inhailers now unless she's got a cold, but the dreaded never really goes away. I bet you're both exhausted.

Re the reflux could it be that contibuting to his cough?

lollipoppi · 28/03/2015 18:39

Is she on a preventer inhaler pass?

passthewineplz · 28/03/2015 18:55

Yes she uses salbutamol and the brown steroid one. I gave her them frequently when she was smaller but they didn't do much. She tends not to need them now unless she's got a cough. She usually has about 2/3 day & night bad coughing then it settles down again. I'm the same the consultant blamed my bad genes

MmeMorrible · 28/03/2015 18:56

DS7 has been on salbutamol & clenil for about 3 years. I took him back to the asthma nurse 4 weeks ago as his night cough was getting worse & we were gradually needing more salbutamol to get through the day.

She changed his meds so we are now 4 weeks in to using seretide 2puffs morning & evening and it's been miraculous - no more night coughing, and no need for salbutamol at all. Just had a review with her last Friday and will keep on this for another 6 weeks then see if we can reduce to 1 puff morning, 2 evening. So glad we went back & explained his symptoms 4 weeks ago, can't believe how much better he is!

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