Am worried breathing problem will happen again

[SmileLikeYouMeanIt]

DS (who is 3 next week) has had a few respiritry (sp?) problems in this past year.

Quick history........

Last Jan had a bad dose of "croup" NHS Direct sent an ambulance after listening to his breathing, he was given steroids at the hosp and I was told they didn't know if it was croup or ashtma.

Went to GP, as told to be Dr at Hosp and I was told it's unlikely to be asthma

Sept, he was a bit subdued and off all day, threw up at night and then started breathing oddly, took him to Go2Doc (local out of hours service) and they gave him an inhaler. The GP showedme his tummy was sucking up under his ribs when he was breathing in and told me to look out for that. We sat in the waiting room for about 90 mins, kept going back in to see the GP until he was happy with him, then went home. I took the inhaler with me and gave it him throughout the night.

Nov, he's a bit off all day, takes himself up to bed. He woke up about teatime breathing odd again, the skin between his collar bone was sucking in this time. Rang go2Doc who told us to go to A&E as he needed a nebuliser (sp?). We went up and were there for a few hours whilst they stabilised him.

Dec, woke in the night breathing odd but no sucking in anywhere. Sat in the bathroom with shower on etc for 1 hour ish and gave him puffs on inhaler until it eased.

2 weeks ago went back to GP and asked again is it asthma? They said don't know but gave me another inhaler to use and told me if after 10 goes his breathing is still bad ring 999.

TODAY- He's off colour, moping around and has just gone up to bed. He keeps telling me his tummy hurts pointing at his chest. His breathing is absolutley fine ATM but I'm waiting for it to go again. I'm a nervous wreck. It scares me so much when it happens.

Any advice on anything I can do to try and prevent this happening? Or any advice in general?

Sorry for the v long essay!!

Anybody?!

Tbh the GP sounds useless.

I know that the asthma nurse at our GP's surgery says that if the salbutamol inhaler has made a difference then the chances are that it is asthma. Coughs with other causes won't generally get better with a salbutamol inhaler. (Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional)

When ds2 was having difficulties and I suspected asthma, the GP gave us a blue inhaler and said to keep a diary of his coughing and when the inhaler was used. It can also help to write down any other circumstances, eg my ds1's asthma plays up when he has a cold but ds2's asthma was usually triggered by exercise. There might be a pattern for your ds.

I would keep a diary for the next few weeks. If you find that there is a pattern or that ds is using the inhaler a lot, take him and the diary back to the GP.

I can sympathise with you as my DS had attacks like this when he was around a year old resulting in hospital stays. I took him to the GP the first time it happens and completely freaked out when the doctor took one look at him and said 'this child needs a hospital NOW'!!

One 'old school' doctor told us DS should only be taken into hospital if he's turning blue FFS...moron.

Anyway, definitely keep an eye on the sucking in around his ribs. If that happens again then either dial 999 or get him to a&e. I've been told numerous times that the paramedics don't mind going out to children so not to feel like a paranoid parent.

If you are at all worried then get him to a GP who will listen to his chest and let you know if they can hear anything.

Sorry if you know all of the above but I didn't want to ignore your post. I hope he feels better soon