Getting ds to use his inhaler...help!

[happymerryberries]

Ds has had an inhaler with a spacer device for a little while. He has 'suspected' asthma....I'm seeing the doc today and I am sure that it is asthma. The trouble is that he will not use his inhlaler. The last twice we have tried he has become so worked up he vomited. I try using it when he is sleeping, but this often wakes him and he gets upset.....not helpful with his breathing problems. He is almost 5.

Any ideas would be very helpful!

(such a bad night last night he is off school and so am I , so insted of catching up on house work I am 'wasting' time on MN!)

I've heard there's one you can buy from pharmacies called an aero-something, thats around £7 that's easier to use...

My ds (9 months) has the spacer volumatic one and hates it. Our local pharmacies don't stock the other though

Apparently if you let them play with it, and give 'puffs' to their teddies etc they get more used to it.

We already have tha aero spacer, the Dr prescribed it for us when we got the inhaler. I've done the 'teddy has a puff' line. Ds is quite happy for teddy to do it, throws a wobbly when he has to do it....little toad

Hmb: could you go back to your GP - there are different type of inhalers, maybe he could suggest one that is easier for your ds to use? Good site for information is Asthma UK

Oh, other thing I used to do with ds1 is loads and loads of bribery (you can have 2 chocolate buttons if you take your inhaler, etc) - although ds1 was a bit younger than your ds and it was only needed for a short while.

I second the bribery and also try to time it for before telly time (ie have your puffer then you can watch X). The other thing that sometimes works for me is to tell ds (3) that I'm going to make a funny face everytime he has to take a breath, or that everytime he takes a breath I'll do a big blink. That kind of thing. Failing all that I just get really MAD! It's a nightmare though, isn't it?

Yes! I'm taking him to see the doc today (originaly had an appointment for Thursday but after last night I don't want to wait). I'm quite worried about the poor little spud. He is quite happy today, but he was awful last night and worried me and dh so much.

The difficulty with his is that he gets so worked up he vomits.....and the stress *isn't good for his breathing, I'm sure!

DS has had the same inhaler since he was a baby

He is 9 now.

It has a rubber/silocone mask thing in the end and he has to breathe 10 breaths per puff.

We had to buy this puffer it was about £20 {9 years ago}

But it has valves in it so all he needs to do is breathe deeply.

We put stickers all over it to make it look more friendly.

What I mean is he doesn't have to co ordinate his breathing

Sounds like the one we have. There is a very soft silicone mask with a 'teddy bear' Aero spacer.....all very child friendly......bugger all use in helping him to use it. Fell so worried and upset as I know it would help him and I'm failing to get him to use it.

Also, the residual taste of inhalers can be quite nasty and might be the issue - it's a good idea to have a glass of water or squash/juice on hand to take the taste away afterwards - might be part of the issue?

Personally, I hated the spacers as a child, found them far more frightening than just an inhaler as it covered so much of my face. Another option might be a double session with an asthma nurse for a friendly chat/tutorial on how to use an inhaler without a spacer as that might be less scary?

I know not using a spacer isn't recommended at this age group, but if he can master using without then surely the amount of drug he'd get in his lungs would be more than pinning him down with the spacer

ask your ds if he likes being sick, or if he'd be happier running around with his friends. may work.

dd1 has had an inhalor since she was baby, and we always made it a bit of fun when using it, like i had a pretend go, so did daddy etc, and now its just part of our lives. think dd1 has a volumatic 2 piece spacer, and at school has an aerochamber as its smaller and easier for her to use.

dh uses the dischalers, kinda like the old powder capsules.

THis is great advice, and thanks for all the help...you are wonderful people. Part of the problem is that we have no family experience of this, and our ignorence of all the issues isn't helping. For example I had no idea there was a nasty taste......that could be a key fact

Right , been to doc, still no 'formal' diagnosis and ds would not do the peak flow test. But I now have a steroid inhaler as well as the salbutimol. With luck and your advice, having to do it each day will make him calmer about it. And I have a bag of bribes

DS does evening puffs in bath cos then captive audience same with teeth.

Good luck

morning ones in front on morning TV?

Just took it......gobsmacked. Blimey, chocolate buttons must be magic!

brill

Also have a appointment with the asthma nurse in a few weeks to see how things are going. I'm hoping that the steriods will calm things down....fingers crossed. I was worried sick last night

Ds1 was dx'ed with asthma about 18mths ago. To start with he used to go into massive meltdowns whenever he had to have his inhalers. Making it part of his routine really helped us. Make sure that ds uses it at the same time(s) each day so that it becomes as much of a habit as brushing his teeth. We also told ds1 (who was into spaceships/space at the time that it was his space-mask. He still asks us "Can I want mine space-mask?"

DS (age 4) has just changed to a spacer without the mask which makes it much easier and only 3 or 4 breaths per puff instead of 10. Is that an option? It's got a mouth piece like the peak flow meter and is much smaller and less scary looking.

Hi HMB. My dd frequently has to use her inhaler (where we live it's called a BabyHaler) & at 1st she struggled & screamed. It was a total nightmare & I so sympathise with you. Dd is 4.5 now & is used to it. I don't remember how we "tamed" her but maybe if you sit down with your ds calmly (when he doesn't need it) & have practice sessions together, it might help. Put it over your nose & mouth to show him that it's perfectly safe & nothing bad will happen. Explain to him how it works, & in basic terms what the medicine does for his lungs. Failing that, bribery usually works, although many parents are dead against it. I use it when I'm desperate. Both dh & I have had asthma & allergies so have pretty good knowledge & experience with this kind of thing. HTH & good luck!

Coppertop....the new inhaler is one used by the THunderbirds!!!!! Boy can I lie well when needed!

LOL at Thunderbirds mask!

ds said, but Mummy the Thunderbirds don't cough.

Yes, said I, because they use their masks!!!!!

I was proud of myself!

You're a devious woman, hmb.