Hi, been through a similar thing with my youngest about two months ago. We knew he had mild asthma but it has developed into something much worse this year. We were really shocked, he got a cold, we battled with the ventolin trying to get it under control and in the end we ended up in an ambulance on the way to hospital. I wasn't aware how quickly this can progress and how potentially deadly it can be. Just a side note too the big doses of ventolin can cause the kids to throw up but obviously the most important thing is to keep them breathing.
What we've learnt is that asthma is an inflamation of the lungs and the preventer helps to reduce this inflamation. The ventolin helps the episodes but the preventer is by far the best long term prevention. The best thing we've done which I haven't seen mentioned in this thread is to take the peak flow reading everyday. My boy has become really good at this, he is 9 and usually blows around 320 but its all relative to the childs size. By doing this everyday and recording it on the calendar we can see when he needs to increase his preventer. it really works well, he had a day last week where he could only blow 240, at this point he shows no physical difficulty breathing, when I asked him if he'd taken his preventer he very sheepishly said no. We've also now got an action plan which specifically shows what action needs to be taken when the peakflow gets to a certain level. Hope this helps, its made our life a lot easier and we're not so fareful of when an attack might occur.

Hi Haygin, Your boy sounds like he's had a really rough time. Very scary to change like that all of a sudden.

That's really good advice about the peak flow.
I've got one somewhere so will have to dig it out.

The more I read of stories like yours the more I am convinced my son does not have asthma. It's more like there is something irritating his airway rather than anything else.
Cough syrup is working wonders. I think it must settle the irriation. But medical centre said not to give it to him - not recommended for children now all of a sudden.

He doesn't ever seem to not to be able to breath. Just cough cough cough for days on end. No fevers, nothing they can hear on his chest. When he gets croupe he wheezes at the end of each cough, but not inbetween. Can breathe fine.

We're not really sorted here at the moment.
My lad was 100% well for ten days after the last episode but got crook again 2nd week of holidays with a very slight cold lasting only a couple of days. And as per usual he's back to cough cough cough again - still is two weeks later.

I've taken him back to the doctor but that was a waste of time.
The doctor hadn't seen him before and just treated him as an infectious kid with a cold.

Doctors were reluctant when I suggested allergy testing.
But a friend who was also fobbed off locally had her boy to a specialist over the holidays and it has changed their lives.

After a few tests it came out that the Kid had reflux and allergies... been diagnosed with asthma for years. It probably isn't.

Out today and my lad was cough cough cough because of the cold air. Strangers were saying stuff like "that's a very bad cough you have there sonny" As if to say "Your mother needs her head read you're probably giving us swine flu".
I'm continually justifying his cough.... "It's asthma"... "He coughs 24/7 has done since a baby".


Thanks again for the peak flow tip
Hope your boy's asthma is under control from now on. And you don't have any bad episodes in the future.

N

HI gutz-cmum2
Hope your boy is well.
Ours has been crook again for weeks.
I've made an appointment with a pediatrition/allergist for the 16th. He's been to the local quack 3 times this episode without any luck.
A trip to CHCH but the cost will be worth it.

Haygin- Wow we have never been offered a peak flow tester to take home. I might ask about that next time I am at dr's/ Wonder if pharmacies have them to give out??? Sounds like some scary moments with your DS and awesome to hear you have found a way that gives him more control. Brilliant.
Hi ya Nickaz- Oh yah about the pead appointment. I really hope you get some results that can help your DS. it def sounds like more than asthma going on. It frustrates me when some dr's just don't wanna dig further to give a parent more answers. Weather they think there is no other answer I am not sure. But if a test can rule out (or in) a solution why wouldn't you. Yes I understand some test cost a lot of money..but in the long run wouldn't it save a lot of money to not wasting un needed scripted meds that don't work.
Interesting about the cough meds working...I think it would help my DS for a night or couple of hours if that.
Best of luck with your appointment. I hope your DS doesn't get too under the weather til then

Ok...a mother is always right? Yes!

Son has just been to specialist. No referal we had to go private.

NO flixotide and ventolin does nothing much for him because he doesn't have asthma....

BUT He does have reflux. I've been putting this idea forward to the doctors locally for months. 10 days ago a local GP told me kids don't get reflux. What a load of codswollop!!

He's been coughing for 6 years and for 6 years they have fobbed us off with asthma diagnosis. And we've never really believed it.

Reflux is a common thing. I wonder how many other GP's believe kids don't get it?? Scary to think of all those steriods they're prescribing??

Wow Nicnak...Did you son have reflux as a baby? What is your treatment for him now and how is it all going?
I am not sure if I said above that my son had it badly as a baby..and still can have flare ups when really unwell.
So pleased to hear you have an answer and someone listened to you!
Let us know how its all going.

YAY for being listened too!!!

He did have reflux a little bit and on thickened formula for awhile as a little baby.
He wasn't ever a power chucker like his sister was.
Just coughed from 4 weeks and hasn't really stopped.

By 4 1/2 months they put his coughing down to his bad ears. When grommits at 12 months didn't stop the cough they came up wth asthma. And have continued with that ever since.

He's on losec for a 6 week trial and he is very much improved after only 4 days.
Coughing a little bit but NOTHING like he has been.
Doctor wants a report back in 6 weeks and we'll go from there.
He's being tested for gluten as well (but I think he's ok).

I've been looking at health books and they tell me what foods to avoid.... pretty much the stuff we were already avoiding... white sugar, chocolate, too much dairy etc, fatty food like pies.... His Dad has recently developed reflux and that's what gave me the idea the lad could have it too.

He's currently outside riding his bike in the cold air. Previously an impossibility (without endless chucky coughing fits)! So it is already giving him his life back!

So glad I made the appointment. Thanks gutz_cmum2 for the encouragement in that direction

Yah so happy for you..I so understand the stress/worry and frustration of dealing with children that have issues but no one can find them or the cause. I am so pleased an answer has come your way hun! I will look forward to a 6 week report to hear how fab your DS is. Bet he is feeling a million bucks too!
You made me smile

p.s Forgot to say he was tested by the specialist and he didn't have any allergies. Gutz_cmum2 I'll come back in 5 weeks with an update. So far all fantastic!! Cheers!!