Quick - remedies for ds's possibly asthmatic breathing difficulties (not *that* serious)

[Pruni]

Ds (2.4) has developed a chesty wheeze - he's got a cold. He had bronchiolitis this winter and was hospitalised, given an inhaler etc. So I have the wherewithal to help him but a) he hates it, it distresses him terribly to have the mask over his face, and b) I don't really want to resort to steroids if I can help it.

What quick fix things can you do to loosen up a tight chest?

He is up, dressed and not in need of medical attention at this point, but does need a bit of help. I have no real idea what to do.

have you tried a steamy bathroom?

probably only the inhalers

mine didn't really like it much at that age but have got into now and quite happily have the mask on

have you got the short tube or the big spacer? could you do it on teddy/favourite soft toy first and let him help you? he might be more willing to let you do it if you turn it into a big 'let's play nurses and doctors' game

other than that, I found sitting in front of the TV with chocolate buttons after each puff done properly worked quite well!

I really would try and get him to take his inhaler if at all possible - they help so quickly. Also, don't worry about giving lots of puffs - dd2 was on 8 puffs every hour after being hospitalised with asthma last year - we'd been fannying around giving her two puffs every four hours and she just got worse and worse .

Anyone??
Really don't want to have to get the inhaler out.....

oops sorry was delayed in posting that!

foxinsocks's ideas re teddy/bribery are good too.

OK good ideas about the bear and the choc - thanks

caffiene helps with asthma

as a child i was always given hot coffee and an asprin.

maybe if my nan got rid of her 4 cats at the time- it would have helped

You might already know this, and I know it's a bit late in terms of time of your OP... It sounds really awful, but if they do cry/get distressed when you use the inhaler mask it actually helps get the medicine down into their airways better. If you concentrate your mind on this (after showing him the bear trick) it might seem better psychologically to you IYSWIM. And then there's the chocolate afterwards to show what a lovely mummy you are
Hope he feels better soon. My DS has suffered these problems too, but haven't had to reach for the inhaler (yet).

Well the bear and choc combo did work and he sat there very stoically hating every second but taking the medicine.
However I now am not sure that the inhaler was full? It didn't seem to make the puffy noise it did before. We have only given about 6 doses (10 puffs a time) from it. How do you know when it's done?
Anyway after a bit of running around he's wheezingly asleep in his cot.
They told us in hospital about the crying being better for taking the medicine - I cried too...

at you crying too!
Don't know about the inhaler, but this will keep it at the top of active convos for a second or two and someone might see who knows......

Put him face down on your knee, and play a bongo rhythm over his back - it really helps, especially after steamy bathroom bit. Sleeping propped up may help - when my asthma has been awful I've slept in a chair. A non-chocolate bribe might be better - many people's asthma is irritated by choc/dairy. Are you in the countryside? Oil seed rape is a big irritant - put bowls of water on windowsills or use a plant spray with water to dampen down the pollen.

Inhalers can be really hard to use with little ones - have you asked nurse/HV or someone used to them to check you're doing it exactly right? That's not meant to sound patronising btw!

you will know if it's empty because you won't see the puff coming out (you can normally see a fine spray). Also, if you shake it, you can normally hear a small amount of liquid shaking around. There's normally 100 or 200 metered doses (it should say on the box) or something like that in an inhaler.

as swedishmum said, there will probably be an asthma nurse at your GP practice. They are normally very good and incredibly helpful.

Thanks everyone. They showed us how to do the inhaler thingy at the hospital, and I think I'm doing it right. Good tip on choc/dairy, thanks. This is often what happens now when he gets a cold so I think that's the cause. He's too young to get a proper diagnosis of asthma but it looks like it might be.

Ca I just ask, by 'metered doses' do you mean one puff, or 10 puffs (as the instructions tell us to give)?

have you got a ventolin inhaler (salbutamol) - is it blue?

yes that's it

sorry, I should have used the right terminology. Have just grabbed our box and it says 200 metered actuations i.e. puffs (rather than metered doses). It's called a metered-dose inhaler but the puffs are called actuations. If you check on your box, you should be able to see how many puffs yours has in it.

10puffs??

i'd go back to the GP if the inhalers arent giving him relief. dd1 had the blue salbutamol to start with, but needed the brown becotide as well.

they do regularly cart out the 'they are too young for a diagnosis' thing but if he needs 10 puffs to stop him wheezing, he needs to be assessed again.

Thanks, that is a bit clearer.

Misdee, he's a bit better, sleeping now (most out of character) and I can hear him on the monitor.