He just doesn't get a break!

[Teri7489]

That's my boy Ill again been every single month since July. Not just a little cold but bronchiolitis/asthma issues. Needing inhalers every 2 hours and possibly steroid tablets again.

He can't eat, struggles to drink, can't sleep properly but gets exhausted with having to work so hard to breath. I know there's worse he could have but I so hate it. My poor we mite

 

[sil]

I'm so sorry
I really feel for you. We've had SUCH a tough winter. My little boy has been sick literally every day except for maybe 4 or 5 since Thanksgiving.
It started with a fever at Thanksgiving which progressed to a 3 week long cold with sinus infection somewhere in the middle of that time frame. Immediately after he came down with a stomach bug which lasted a few days, and on the last day of vomiting he came down with another cold. Then he was healthy for 2-3 days, had another fever followed by another cold and got better after two weeks. Fastforward one day, he wakes me up at 5 am throwing up again. It's so heartbreaking, isn't it?

I really hope your little one feels better soon. The toddler and preschool years are so tough for sicknesses, but they are building up immunities so hopefully as he gets older he won't be sick as often

 

[zorak]

It sounds like his asthma is uncontrolled. We went through a hellish 6 months with my 3 year old with similar issues with his asthma. He was hospitalised once and needed an ambulance twice. Fortunately his consultant now has him on a stronger preventive inhalor which has calmed things down exponentially. He now gets colds and has no chest issues at all.

If you've got already done so go back to your gp and ask about better preventive treatment.

 

[Bevziibubble]

Aww your poor little boy. I hope he is feeling better soon. It's horrible seeing them unwell

 

[Teri7489]

He has a preventor and a reliever. He had his preventor twice a day and is now having his reliever every 2 hours to try keep him from being admitted, although it's looking more like that's what's going to happen. All started with the cold as usual but always goes straight to his chest and floors him. He will hopefully outgrow it but since he's still only 18 months he's got a while to go before that happens

Hope your LO is better now sil. awful when they just keep picking things up! x

 

[LoveCakes]

Poor wee man hope he's better soon

 

[Teri7489]

Thank you. He's got the doctor at 2pm but I'm guessing it will be the usual - straight to the children's ward Rather is this way then the a+e route though. They are absolutely useless with him.

 

[SucreK]

It sounds like his asthma is uncontrolled. We went through a hellish 6 months with my 3 year old with similar issues with his asthma. He was hospitalised once and needed an ambulance twice. Fortunately his consultant now has him on a stronger preventive inhalor which has calmed things down exponentially. He now gets colds and has no chest issues at all.

If you've got already done so go back to your gp and ask about better preventive treatment.

Agree with this poster--the asthma is very much uncontrolled. Both of my girls get QVAR (2 puffs, twice a day). We use a spacer (with a mask attachment) with their inhaler--it is the only way little ones can use an inhaler effectively. Follow these steps: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/ug2819. If you use it incorrectly, he's not really getting his needed doses. (Not blaming you--no one showed me the proper way either!)

ALSO, while it's great you have albuterol puffers, I'd also insist on albuterol for a nebulizer. The nebulizer helps humidify the air he's breathing and will help break the junk up in his lungs. This is HUGE. You can also get his steroids for the nebulizer, in the form of Pulmocort (at least, that's the non-generic name).

Finally, with an asthmatic child, I would absolutely recommend buying a finger Pulse Ox (like this: https://www.amazon.com/FaceLake-Oxi...qid=1486562683&sr=8-3&keywords=pulse+oximeter). For my girls, a reading of 95 while awake tells me they are having trouble. Of course, anything below that is definitely an issue. While sleeping, oxygen numbers will always be lower than while awake. Another important number on the Pulse Ox is the heart rate--a high heart rate and a low oxygen level shows your child is definitely struggling to breathe.

I also own a stethoscope so that I can listen myself for wheezing. There are tons of YouTube videos that can show you how to recognize a wheeze and how to use a stethoscope.

And one more thought: I know you've mentioned your daughter is having issues as well (not asthma related). Have you had someone come to your house to check for environmental issues (lead, arsenic, mold, etc.)?

 

[Teri7489]

Our house was fully assessed a year ago just before we moved in so no issues there (granted I posted about it being messy but it's not dirty dusty or unhygienic in anyway)

I have a stethoscope, pulse oximator, nebuliser and aerochamber for him I'm also a registered nurse so can 100% he gets his medication correctly, on time and regularly. He just has severe asthma and eczema. He takes prednis tablets fine and responds really quickly to them so don't think the doctor would prescribe them for his nebuliser as I bought that myself.

This only ever happens when he gets the cold. Normally he is fine but as soon as he gets a cold his is floored. Thankfully it doesn't last long but just seems to happened so often. Just wish he could get a break

 

[SucreK]

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry if I implied I thought you lived in a dirty house! I live in the US and lead in the water in some cities has been big news, so it's in my brain. I also totally didn't mean to insinuate you don't know what you're doing--I'm totally projecting here because I'm not a nurse and had to learn all of these things myself, and didn't know what I didn't know until one of my girls was in the PICU with an asthma attack for 4 days. So I definitely put all that info out there a lot, in case someone doesn't know.

I'm so sorry your son hasn't caught a break this year! It feels so unfair sometimes. I can tell you, my girls are 3 now and the wheezing and attacks are MUCH less frequent.

 

[Teri7489]

oh goodness no. I was referring to my other post "how messy is your house" lol. Was just meaning I do have a tip of a house but it's not what's causing my son to be ill, he's just unlucky like his daddy has been all his life with Asthma.

Also the info you put up was excellent and will really help others that will come across this so thank you. I hope I didn't come across rude last night and I'm so sorry if I was!

He was diagnosed the first 3 admissions with bronchiolitis, then one time just a "viral induced wheeze" then decided it was asthma the last 2 admissions. He got given both the preventor and reliever and even though he has been given the preventor and not needed the reliever up until now, he suddenly just got so poorly. Just so frustrating. xx

 

[zorak]

oh goodness no. I was referring to my other post "how messy is your house" lol. Was just meaning I do have a tip of a house but it's not what's causing my son to be ill, he's just unlucky like his daddy has been all his life with Asthma.

Also the info you put up was excellent and will really help others that will come across this so thank you. I hope I didn't come across rude last night and I'm so sorry if I was!

He was diagnosed the first 3 admissions with bronchiolitis, then one time just a "viral induced wheeze" then decided it was asthma the last 2 admissions. He got given both the preventor and reliever and even though he has been given the preventor and not needed the reliever up until now, he suddenly just got so poorly. Just so frustrating. xx

It's great he's got a preventer but if his asthma is still uncontrolled you might find he's not responding to it or it's not strong enough. With my 3 year old we had to try a couple of different things to work. He's now on a flixotide preventer and a daily tablet (begins with an M can't remember the name off the top of my head). Maybe worth discussing alternatives with the doctor.

 

[SucreK]

oh goodness no. I was referring to my other post "how messy is your house" lol. Was just meaning I do have a tip of a house but it's not what's causing my son to be ill, he's just unlucky like his daddy has been all his life with Asthma.

Also the info you put up was excellent and will really help others that will come across this so thank you. I hope I didn't come across rude last night and I'm so sorry if I was!

He was diagnosed the first 3 admissions with bronchiolitis, then one time just a "viral induced wheeze" then decided it was asthma the last 2 admissions. He got given both the preventor and reliever and even though he has been given the preventor and not needed the reliever up until now, he suddenly just got so poorly. Just so frustrating. xx

Oh my, you didn't come across as rude at all!

One cool thing my pulmonologist did for us was to give us a prescription for liquid steroids, so that if my girls ever had trouble over night, we could call his emergency line and he could suggest a dose over the phone. My understanding is that the tablets aren't quite as good (but that could just be my doctor's bias).

 

[Teri7489]

The tablets for now anyway seem to work really quick but he's got an appointment on Monday to discuss any emergency pack for home. Hopefully will get one to reduce the need for urgent appointments or a&e trips. We have discussed other options with the consultant but since he's only had a 'true' asthma diagnosis for 2 months they won't change anything yet x