Peak flow - new to asthma

[pinkberet]

Beginning the asthma pathway with my 9yo who is about 140cm tall and 4 stone 10.
Peak flow is ranging from 200-230 pre inhaler and can reach 250- 300 after 20 minutes since inhaler use. I have no idea what is normal for him or other children. He's less breathless (very active child) still coughing lots and struggling to recover from the cough.

We go back to the drs in a week to discuss. I'm just feeling a bit lost and clueless with it all and googling makes me worry more!

Any friendly advice would be gratefully received

the Asthma U.K. website is pretty good - saves googling and getting old hits. They have peak flow information here -

www.asthma.org.uk/e1a84207/globalassets/health-advice/resources/adults/your-peak-flow-diary_may22_cc_editable.pdf

Basically there is no normal - keeping a peak flow diary will help you work out what’s normal.

Don’t worry. It will be okay as you get used to how to manage it. Call the doctor for more advice and a quicker appointment if you need to.

@Everylittlethingsgonnabealright thank you I will look into that.

He has had one day where he used all his doses (first day unmonitored by us as he was in school) the rest of the time he's needing it 5/6 but he does still have a cold so I'm assuming that will hopefully lessen as his virus passes. It's so frightening to see such a profound change in a very (hyper)active child. I know we're doing the right steps and I appreciate your kindness in reaching out

Just to check, what inhaler have they been prescribed and what do you mean by using all his doses?

When was the inhaler first prescribed?

Oh, and if it is an aerosol inhaler does he have a spacer?

Meant to say ‘any old hits’!

It is frightening when out of control - please contact a doctor if he’s struggling. MN can only help so much.

Does he have a preventative inhaler? It can take time for that to build up effectiveness so please contact a doctor if he’s not recovering by using the blue/treatment inhaler.

He's been prescribed salbutamol - the basic dose - in a kid friendly air triggered dose so no timed squeeze or inhalation required. Dr said he can have 8 a day if needed and yesterday he had all 8.

I wouldn't not give it him after 8 obviously if he was struggling. But I would then follow up with gp

I think you should speak to the GP again if he’s using that much. He might need a preventer as well.

My 8 year old has never got past 200 on the peak flow, when she’s got a virus she’s usually around 140.
If she was having to use it 8 times a day I’d be going back to the GP, though. Does he have a brown inhaler?

No brown inhaler yet. He's down to 1 or 2 puffs a day now the worst of his virus has passed. It is such a relief to see him run again (although I could live without the jumping for a few more weeks)