DS2 is asthmatic. What can I do to help him?

[BethAndHerBrood]

DS2,3, has been diagnosed as asthmatic. While we wait for our appointment, does anyone have any tips on helping him? The worse thing is the coughing. He coughs till he is sick. Twice this afternoon. What can I do to help him? He's exhausted, poor lamb

We have a blue inhaler, with a spacer. The breathing isn't really the problem, it's the cough. It's almost constant, relentless and exhausting. The inhaler doesn't seem to be doing much for him, tbh.

I am waiting for them to call me back. Thanks, you've been a real help.

Well, NHS rang back. Told me to open windows, use wet towels on radiators and give him some cough syrup.

I was already doing that, but hey ho!

Just put DS2 in my bed, he promptly coughed and puked, cue rapid change of bedding! He's gone quiet, so fingers crossed.

Back to Dr's first thing, to camp in reception if needs be!

Got a dr's appt for 3.40pm, so we shall see how that goes.

We now have a brown inhaler to use twice a day. and an appt for asthma clinic in a fortnight. He hasn't been sick today (yet) but neither has he had much to eat. I wondered what to give him for his tea, needed something non staining, for when/if it comes back, so made him some porridge.

He's had a much better day than yesterday, though it would have been tricky for it to be worse!

RubysReturn Don't make me have wooden floors nd a leather sofa!!! I hate both of those things in equal measure!!

are you sure it is not swine flu? If the cough came on suddenly? Is he wheezing? I only ask as over here they will only diagnose SF with a fever whilst in US they say a third without fever.

With asthma coughing until you're sick is unusual, IME, unless you are wheezing too. The coughing, if it came on suddenly and recently, makes me wonder. I might be wrong tho.

He's had the cough since august, at least. Gradually getting worse and worse. He's gone to bed now, in his own bed for the first time this week! It wont last till morning though!

He doesn't have a wheeze I can hear, but Dr said there was a bit of a one when he listened to DS's chest.

I've had something like this since beginning of October, wheezing very badly too, just sounded familiar and sounds like it might have been virally triggered that's all. Glad he's ok.

if its worse at night it can be an allergy to bed bugs and dust mites. DS2 had that for ages. Got covers for all his bedding and it has really helped.

air purifier really helps, it take the nasty bugs out of the air, dust myte quilts and pillows, help decrease his chance of taking asthma attacks and getting eczema (which can often be asociated with asthma)

when i was a child i has chronic asthma and the hospital was my home (no joke) needless to say i know a lot about this condition.

asthma attcks have a tendency to creep up on you through the night so keep his inhalers close by him. get him to breath deeply though his nose and out through his mouth (the little hairs in your nose help purify the air he breathes) do breathing exercises every night before he goes to bed. if in doubt dont fanny about with nhs 24 go astraight to the hospital.

hope this helps

caffeine helps