Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

HELP PLEASE, IT'S URGENT

67 replies

greensleeves · 25/07/2007 08:00

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.

OP posts:

fishie · 25/07/2007 08:23

good i think that is the right thing, hope it is a false alarm though! good luck.

throckenholt · 25/07/2007 08:23

in the mean time keep him upright and as calm as possible - sit in a steamy room as well if you can.

If it isn't croup I don't think any of the above will do any harm, if it is it will help.

DiagonAllieBongo · 25/07/2007 08:31

let us know greeny. hope you're both ok.

Whooosh · 25/07/2007 08:31

Does you local GP have a home visit option?

Best of luck-poor boy.

Leati · 25/07/2007 08:31

It sounds like croup. Does the cough sound like a seal barking? If it does try this... Take him into the restroom, close the door, and run the hot water for 20 minutes.

GibbonInARibbon · 25/07/2007 08:32

do let us know how he is greeny x

Leati · 25/07/2007 08:33

One other thing whether it is Asthma or Croup...cold air helps.

Crotchety · 25/07/2007 08:36

I have had DS1 taken to A&E for breathing difficulties in an ambulance about 3 times. The first couple of times I thought it was OTT and took him myself in the car but realised that was pointless, stressful and slow. They are happy to do this for a child with asthma. He chatted happily to the crew all the way there. They will not harangue you for wasting their time. They just won't.

Crotchety · 25/07/2007 08:37

If you rang the out of hours GP that's probably what they would advise.

Tiggiwinkle · 25/07/2007 08:38

Breathing difficulty is one thing you should call an ambulance for. Good luck-hope he is soon feeling better.

tribpot · 25/07/2007 08:39

Best of luck - hope ds1 is okay.

LilRedWG · 25/07/2007 08:40

Please let us know how you get on Greeny!

Twiglett · 25/07/2007 08:40

if his chest is still tugging in after salbutomal and you don't have a car I'd call 999 without any hesitation Greeny

don't think twice but don't panic either its just common sense

Original poster

greensleeves · 25/07/2007 11:08

RIGHT I am really quiet annoyed now.

I called 999, described his condition, they sent an ambulance. The ambulance crew looked at him, asked him some questions, litened to his chest, measured his breathing volume/sats and said there was absolutely nothing wrong with him, I was imagining the tracheal tug, there was no wheeze at all, he's fine, etc etc. I said I would make an appt with the gp surgery in case he needed a nebuliser to be on the safe side. The paramedic smiled and said "look, there's really nothing happening, he certainly doesn't need a nebuliser".

I wasn't happy at all (I know how he normally looks/sounds fgs!!), so I made an emergency gp appt and took him along, bringing with me the sheet the paramedic had filled in saying there was nothing wrong with him. The GP took one look at him and said "no need to ask what you're here for, I can see he's wheezing and coughing". He examined him, noted intercostal recession and tracheal tug, listened to his chest and confirmed "widespread general wheeze" and immediately sent him for a nebuliser. It helped a lot - when the nurse took his breathing volume it was 130, whereas when the paramedic did it it was 75, which she said was fine!

The gp has told me to make a complaint, and he is going to do the same.

Anyway, I have got to give him his inhalor every two hours today, and if he gets worse get him into hospital (which I will do by carting him off the the gp, so as not to be fobbed off by idiots again)

OP posts:

chopster · 25/07/2007 11:11

omg So glad you got the second opnion. Hope he is better soon.

LilRedWG · 25/07/2007 11:13

That is atrocious! I'm glad your GP is sorting him out though!

inamuckingfuddle · 25/07/2007 11:15

that's apalling greensleeves - thats the sort of attitude that puts people off calling 999 in the first place on your behalf

Whooosh · 25/07/2007 11:18

How fecking annoying!
However,glad GP has taken over-hopefully DS1 will be on the up now.

belgo · 25/07/2007 11:20

greensleeves - I'm shocked at the response from the paramedics. Definitely write a letter to complain.

Glad your GP was able to help.

bundle · 25/07/2007 11:37

gosh this doesn't sound right. dd2 had a terrible viral thing which closed down her bronchials and they just looked at her SATs when we went into A&E and shoved her straight onto a nebuliser. I would definitely ask some serious questions re: protocols with regard to children with breathing difficulties

Tiggiwinkle · 25/07/2007 11:47

How awful! Make sure you get that compaint in-imagine if it had been someone with less confidence and presence of mind-their child would still be suffering.

Crotchety · 25/07/2007 11:52

I'm staggered. Thanks goodness you went to the GP.

Original poster

greensleeves · 25/07/2007 11:55

have just made formal complaint and asked for a copy of it to be sent to me, which I will amend as necessary and then sign, then an investigation procedure will commence in 25 working days, apparently

Honestly, when it takes me all my stubbornness and debating skills to persuade my ostrich of a dh to let me call for help in the first place....this Does Not Help!!!!

OP posts:

stoppinattwo · 25/07/2007 11:59

greeny..........all I can say is thank goodness your DS has a mum who is able to stay convinced of her instincts. That isnt a slight on any other mum btw, but how many times do we feel silly about worrying when our kids are sick and almost dont want to bother anyone or waste anyone time!!!

Good for you greensleeves and im sure now your DS is getting the treatment he needs he will make a speedy recovery XXX

Countingthegreyhairs · 25/07/2007 12:18

Well done Greeny. Hope your ds is feeling better soon.

Hope not hi-jacking but had a situation a year or two back when my sister started throwing up blood and passing out. Called ambulance. I swear they virtually sneered at us when they said "oh it's just a stomach upset, we see it all the time" and I just knew something was seriously wrong. Situation got worse overnight until b-in-l and I drove her ourselves to a&e (we literally had to carry her in to the car). She was admitted immediately for emergency endoscope and was found to have a bleeding blood vessel in her stomach wall which required two weeks of hospital treatment. Still fuming about this as you can prob tell although I didn't do anything about it. So good on you for writing a formal complaint!

Flip

1 2 3