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Asthma again - totally conflicting advice from GPs

8 replies

IlanaK · 20/12/2005 19:24

I am getting totally confused and fed up. Ds1 (4.5) was put on Ventalin about 5 weeks ago. SOme of you may remember the thread I posted then about how tired he had been and how this solved it. He was on it for three months and I had to push the GP at the time to give it to him at all even though I was SURE he had asthma (nightime coughing and really severe extreme tiredness and osteopath telling me repeatedly that ds was not getting enough oxygen). After three weeks another GP (locum) reviewed. She seemed excellent and agreed that he probably did have astham. She said to start the preventor (beclomethosone) and to slowly reduce the ventolin over a period of a few days. This was two weeks ago. The last week, ds hsa returned to being extremely tired (terrible behaviour as a result) and I am sure the preventor is not at a high enough does. The GP had said to start at a low dose and then review. Went back to GP today and saw a different locum. He clearly though ds did not have asthma (not helped by ds bounding into the room with apparant energy - but he had been exhausted earlier). He said that I should continue with the ventolin indefinately and it was the preventor that should be phased out. This is total opposite to what the other GP said. He said he would not increase the dose of the preventer without him seeing the Asthma nurse for proper diagnosis, but refused for ds to do this.

Grrrrrr!! So, I have started the ventolin again as well as the preventor. The question now is what to do. I have no confidence in the GP's. I do have the option to go privately as we are insured. However, my friends who go prvately for their children's asthma have not fared much better and have also had conflicting advice. I have previously been told on MN about asthma Uk and plan to try calling them tomorow. Any better?

I am really confused now!

OP posts:
Twiglett · 20/12/2005 19:27

Firstly refuse to see any more locums

Make another appointment tomorrow with your GP and insist DS sees the asthma nurse

Ring up the Asthma UK helpline (staffed by asthma nurses .. tell them the whole story and get their advice before confronting doctor

HTH

foxinsocks · 20/12/2005 19:28

Can you book an appointment with the asthma nurse?

I would stay on the ventolin if it's working (at the dose you were on before) and then leave the beclomethasone dose as it is until you've seen the asthma nurse. The beclomethasone can take a few weeks to kick in because it has to build up in the system (or something like that).

Yorkiegirl · 20/12/2005 19:29

Message withdrawn

Twiglett · 20/12/2005 19:29

details here of Asthma helpline

Twiglett · 20/12/2005 19:30

oh and ask for spirometry .. its a simple test (but not sure if they do it on kids) where you breathe out 3 times into a machine .. then take ventolin wait 20 mins and do it again .. it can show if definitely asthmatic (but doesn't rule out if not)

foxinsocks · 20/12/2005 19:33

I seem to remember (though may be different in each GP's surgery!) that the last time I went with dd, they don't do those breathing tests till they are about 6 or 7 (or that's what they told me - dd is 5).

The asthma nurse is your best bet - I have often found them to be more clued up and helpful than the GPs to be honest.

foundintransleightion · 20/12/2005 19:43

yorkiegirl is right. high use of blue inhaler indicates poor asthma control.
Beclamethasone worked a treat for me but I do remember it taking time to kick in.
I currently take a combination inhaler which is suitable for children 4 and up.

IlanaK · 20/12/2005 19:59

Thanks everyone. I was sure this GP today was wrong about just using the ventolin. The thing is, I am losing faith in any of them. I am not sure whether I can see the asthma nurse without the GP say so. The impression I was given was that ds needed to have an actual asthma diagnosis before I could see her, but the GP's won't give him one. I will definately call the asthma helpline tomorow.

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