DD's asthma seems to be getting worse as she gets older..am i doing something wrong ??

[nutcracker]

My dd is 4 and was diagnosed with asthma (after a ten month battle) at 14mths old.
At first she was just given the blue inhaler and she did seem to improve, she stopped coughing and we got some sleep at last. Just before her second birthday though she had pnemonia and was very poorly for a week or so.
When she returned home the nurse at the asthma clinic gave her the brown inhaler which she now needs to use every morning and night. Most of the time, that is enough but about every 4/5 weeks she will suddenly have a couple of days where she cannot stop coughing long enough to speak and nither inhl=aler seems to work.
She has had prednisolone a couple of times but the g.p seems reluctnant to give it very often.
As i have been typing this i have had to go in to her twice and she has been sick from coughing. When i talk to her she hasn't got the breath to answer.
Would it be worth buying a nebulizer machine ???
I just feel as though somethings not right, and that her asthma seems to be getting worse.

That sounds awful, nutcracker. I think you need to get the doctor to take this a bit more seriously really. Does she have a peak flow meter? My ds only started using one a year or so ago (he's 9) but it really helps to judge things. Our doctor said once you know the normal peak flow, a rule of thumb is that if it's down to 70% call the doctor, and if it's 50% call an ambulance. It would be a good way of making the doctor register how bad it is, maybe?

Tanum - She is only 4 so i don't think she could use a peak flow.
Is there any other way of doing it ???

I just seem to be going around in circles at the mo.

Or even Tamum, sorry.

I don't think so . The reason my ds started was that we were given a new sort (new to me, anyway) that is much easier to hold and blow into. It's hard to describe, but it's kind of a quarter circle with a finger hold. It's easier than using an inhaler, to be honest. I'm really sorry she's having such a hard time.

Oh well, i'll have to try to get her into the docs or asthma clinic.
I can't seem to find a particular trigger for her asthma, although extremes of weather does start it off.
We don't have pets, and don't smoke.
Can't think of anything else i can do/try.

Aha, found a pciture of it here . It's on the top row in the middle. I'm sure a 4 year old could do it.

Oooh that looks a lot better than the old ones. Cheaper too.
The nebulizer is 115. I think i will ask the doc if it's worth me getting one. They would then have to perscribe the srtuff to use with it though wouldn't they. Not sure they would do that . Thing is it would save us having to take her to hospital so much.

God, would you have to buy it yourself? That seems outrageous. I would certainly have a go at getting one on prescription. If she can manage the peak flow you can keep a diary and use it as ammunition. I do think if she can't reply to you through breathlessness they should be trying a bit harder with her medication. Poor you.

Well she's just been sick again, and is breathing through her neck (thats what we cal it). Thats when i can see the skin over her trachea being pulled in when she breaths. She's had 12 puffs (not all togther)so far and doesn't seem any beter.

Poor little girl. I've btdt with ds2 and it's ghastly. If dd doesn't have enough breath to talk then you need help tonight, Nutcracker. Re a nebuliser, we had one for years from our hospital loan service. They would come and replace it every year and drop off the masks and tubing we needed, a very efficient service. Our gp prescribed the medications for it. Maybe your hospital has a service too? Some gp's also have loan nebulisers - I'd definitely explore that avenue before buying. Good luck, I hope you both get some sleep tonight.