HELP PLEASE, IT'S URGENT

[greensleeves]

ds1 has woken up coughing and coughing, and he has the visible sucking-in at the stirnum and throat thing ('tracheal tug'??)

He had a night in hospital with oxygen/steroids etc a few months ago following a virus, and they sent us home with inhalor/spacer, but we haven't had to use them since.

But he is coughing and coughing (dry cough) and has that sort of breathy sound in his voice.

What should I do? Dh has just given him 10 puffs on the inhalor and it's helped a bit, but still has the tracheal tug thing.

take him to A&E and explain that he has difficulty breathing and that the inhaler hasn't helped much.

did you give the puffs individually? how old is ds1>? If the 10 puffs wear off quickly ie ten mins call 999 or go to a and e. if they hold him off for an hour or so, you can wait until GP open and he will need more steroids possibly, and they may give a nebuliser to relieve the symptoms

if he can't speak, eat or move about much got straight to a and e.

agree, take to A&E, just to be safe!

dh is insisting that ds1 is "less uncomfortable" than he was before the puffer, he says the tracheal tug is "notas bad as it was" and he thinks we should hang fire and wait and see. Is he right?

he is moving about fine and chatting, he is just coughing a lot and his speech is very breathy

take him straight to a & e.

Hope he is ok.

I would you'll know in your gut if you think he needs A&E greeny - if you feel he does, then do it.

Do hope he feels better soon x

A&E here too - and I am normally and wait n see girl

I would say - sorry missed out a word there

its best to err on the side of caution and take him to a&e. Those symptoms need assessing by a doctor.

go to a and e greeny. they are always happy to see lo with asthma

You could compromise and go to your nearest Walk In Centre? (Which might be at the hospital anyway). But I think I would go to A&E.

I don't have a car, I don't even have car seats any more, and it's 2 bus journeys to hospital

should I get them dressed and go on the bus, or should I call an ambulance? Will they be pissed off if I call an ambulance for a child who is able to talk/walk?

Fucking hell, I could do without this!

nearest walk in centre is attached to A&E anyway

I wouldn't take him on a bus, that's likely to execerbate his condition.

Can a friend/neighbour give yoou a lift? If not, and he's still having difficulty breathing,then call an ambulance. That's what they are there for.

should I
a) give him more puffers
b) wait and see how he goes
c) take him to the gp surgery
d) get him dressed and take him to hospital on the buses
e) call 999

help! I need to convince dh too, he is doing the ostrich thing

agree with belgo, see if you can get a lift, if not call an ambulance.

what is your gut telling you greeny?

ring a&e? you wouldn't feel bad about calling an ambulance if they told you to. i think you should anyway.

If he is having trouble breathing at all i would call 999 its best to be safe than sorry. Your know him betterthan anyone else if you feel he needs medical attention then take him. I hope all goes well.

could you call your surgery and talk to a GP for advice on whether to go to A&E?

right am going to get them dressed and then call 999. DH can do as he fucking pleases, I don't need him there anyway.

to be fair dh is on support and has been working most of the night, and I have been ill most of the past week, so it is a bit of a bind, but it's just tough, fgs! You can't schedule kids' illness

ds1 thinks he feels worse than he did when he got up, and his cough is really bad.

greensleeves - you're doing the right thing.

Dh and I disgreed about going to hopital after dd1 fell off a chair - I insited we go - and a&e were very helpful and understanding, and dh finally agreed with me that a&e is the best place.

sounds like croup - call 999 - they can give steroids and nebulisers on the journey into the hospital.