I'm sure there is a topic below though haven't had a chance to skim through.

My DS#1 5yrs is developing a bit more than a viral wheeze now I think. Well I 'think' so, based on his dustmite allergy it makes sense he is following my path of developing asthma in response like me. But just occasionally ie once a week he is wheezy and i gave him some of my ventolin/respigen this morning before school and it definitely helped.
Was just speaking to our allergy specialist on another topic and he suggested getting the Asthma Society nurse to come over teach how to use spacer etc. Can someone explain more about them please? Do they help work out 'when' to use the ventolin/flixotide? And when do you actually assume it's asthma and have to use flixotide regularly? When do you see the GP then? Who actually 'diagnoses' asthma?

Anyway, am I taking the right approach at the right time? My DS#2 also gets bad viral wheeze which responds to ventolin/respigen sometimes. He's just about to turn 3yrs but should he also be onto something more regular? I've tried the flixotide for a few weeks now and maybe thinking i just need that winters until he is older.

His allergy specialist also recommended going back to him regarding DS#1, for meds, and potentially immunotherapy later since he's 4+ on RASTS!

Please share your knowledge, advice, thoughts .... thankyou!!

Hi BlueSky,

DS1 was diagnosed by Rohan at about 2 1/2 years old. Rohan initially prescribed the inhalers that DS1 needed. After the initial diagnosis and prescription the GP dealt with it from then on. DS1 is on Seretide, a combination inhaler (preventer and reliever) and occasionally needs extra Ventolin and Redipred. He has been so much better since being on the Seretide.

DD was diagnosed by the GP at age 5. She uses Flixotide (all year round...we did stop it for a while and that was a big mistake!), Ventolin when needed and occasionally Redipred.

Both of them had used Ventolin when required from when they were babies onwards.

DS1 has a history of recurrent chest infections and DD has had three bouts of pneumonia this year...for both of them, most of the time these issues start off with asthma when the are run down and then follows on with the infection or viral illnesses.

Both have high RAST results for their environmental allergies too...dustmites, grasses, cats, dogs, DD plantain and mould, DS1 horses. There are probably others I can't remember .

The Asthma Society are AWESOME! We have been using their services since DS1 was diagnosed with asthma 3 1/2 years ago. They provide a free service and do home visits. They make recommendations to your GP/Specialist about what type of asthma treatment would be suitable (although they can't prescribe). They educate you on what asthma is and how it effects the body, and how to correctly use the inhaler and spacer.

I hope that helps with some of your questions.

Thankyou so much LoobyLoo this is all really very helpful info you've given!

Haha, loving it that we bump into each other yet again, so much we have in common!!