(More) advice re DS2's asthma please.

[Saturn74]

DS2 (10) has asthma, which mainly seems to be allergy induced. Allergy testing revealed problems with grass pollen, gluten, wheat, dairy, sweeteners, some colourings.

Had another asthma attack on Saturday; his second in a month.

He's on 2 x puffs of Beclometasone (Qvar 100) in the morning, and 2 at night.

And 2 x puffs of Serevent in the morning, and 2 at night.

Plus Ventolin if req, obviously.

Was put on nebuliser and given yet another course of prednisolone at hospital on Saturday.

Advised to put him on Montelukast, but the prescription he was given last month contained aspartame, so he can't have that. Dr looking into alternatives.

His peak flow is usually around 330.
On Saturday night it was 150.
After being nebulised it was 240.
Yesterday it was around 200 all day.
This morning it is dropping again.

He is bouncing off the walls and most obnoxious from all the steroids, yet also exhausted.

Have doctor's appointment this afternoon.

We do see the doctors at the specialist allergy clinic at the hospital, but they are the ones who recommended the drug that contains something that he is allergic to - so my confidence in them is quite low atm.

Should I be demanding that he has a chest xray? He has never had one, despite being hospitalised three times in the past couple of years.

Does his background medicine regime seem OK - I wonder sometimes if they counteract each other?

Are there any other treatments/medications that have proved effective for other children?

We do everything we can to help his environment, eg: spray soft furnishings with eucalyptus oil, change bedding frequently, vacuum regularly, have removed all but two soft toys from his room etc.

Is there anything else we could do?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Sorry for the ramble, but I feel I need to get on top of this situation, as DS2 has been feeling under the weather for so long, and I don't think his asthma is being properly controlled.

Thanks.

bump

one more bump before the appointment

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Thanks, Ruby.
Yes, his symptoms are much worse if we've been away to the seaside and then come back.

We are in a rural area - he has a grass pollen allergy - there is only so much antihistamine one boy can take.

We need to move really, but finances won't allow it.

The doctor we saw today was very good.
She really listened to him, and has given him all new peak flow meter and a different spacer.

I questioned the frequent use of prednisolone, and she pointed out that although it is not ideal, it is better than not breathing.

DS2 has to go back on Thursday.

My children have a similar reaction to pollen and the dust on the crops. I almost long for a dry cold winter because they can come off their steroid inhalers.

aww HC sorry to hear ds2 is bad again
what antihistamines is he on? Is there anything that can eb done with them?
I know how it feels to eb reluctant about constant use of steroids as dd1 is on a course nearly every month which for such a tiny body seems like an awful lot.
Montelukast has helped tremendously with stabilising her but obviously possibly not an option for you!
Would ask about a chest xray as dd1 has had 3 in the last year.
Sounds like you are doing all that you can.

im not sure that chest xray will be at all helpful tbh.
It wont show up anything other than established infection and is an unecissary exposure for a child.
As you admit that your child is susceptable to allergy, its unlikely to be pnumomic or infection in origin.
I would not be keen to push for xray.

thanks for all your replies.
lots of advice and lots to think about.