I got some publications in the post today from asthma uk. One of which is the asthma action plan. In it it talks about ""when my asthma gets worse"" how to know if my asthma is getting worse, etc and what to do. Part of this says ""and also take _______ puffs of my blue inhaler every for hours""
Does anyone/your child take the blue one regularly during tough times? Does it help?
Hi Fiona, from my understanding all asthmatics can go through rough patches where rescue meds are needed more often, but if you regularly have to use it more than twice a week, then it's a sign that it might not be as controlled as you could be and might need to start/step up preventer meds. This is not particularly because rescue meds are dangerous, but that asthma symptoms are horrible and impact on your quality of life, especially if they are experienced frequently.
I also *think* that during an attack you can take upto 10 puffs of salbutamol through a spacer is needed. If after 20mins it's not worked then you can do it again, however that (or or symptoms get worse/don't improve) that is when to call for help. I wasn't told this, I found it out on the Internet and then discussed it with my gp.
Do you have an asthma action plan?
It might perhaps be worth asking gp/asthma nurse!
Laura 
I take a minimum of 2 puffs of blue inhaler 4 times a day, and step it up to 4 puffs every 4 hours during exacerbations, plus extra reliever on top. But as Laura says, it needs to be right for you / your child, so I would go with the advice of your GP or asthma nurse. (I also take seretide and tiotropium and a bunch of pills).
As Laura says, you can take a large quantity of salbutamol via spacer in a bad attack, and generally they say that it's better to take more than less than you need, but basically if any situation is 'not normal for you' then you should be seeking help from your GP / OOH / A&E as appropriate.
Thank u both. I have an appointment on Thursday for my daughter with her own doctor. My hubby and i are like blind leading blind. ... we haven't got a clue what we're doing and only through posting on this site have we come to realise our daughter's asthma is not controlled, and what she is having twice per night for the past 2 weeks 2 days is probably asthma attacks!
Laura what u say about seeking help is what the info all over this site says. If we followed that rule of thumb I'd be phoning nhs24 every night for the past 2 and a bit wks now but they don't and won't help her. ""Her chest is clear, It's not asthma, go home"".
I didn't know about action plans until last week. I intend to take the one I received today to her app on Thursday and ask the doc to complete it. My poor girl is really struggling right now but I have no medical support, I don't know how ""bad"" her asthma is as I have nothing to compare to nor do i know what a serious/acute case of asthma is like or what an attack is like. I just know this is abnormal for her and no one is listening to me except you wonderful people here! 
It's unpleasant as an asthmatic having an attack, but I can't imagine anything worse than watching your child have one!!
If your little girl is not responding to 10 puffs of salbutamol in 20 mins then that is exactly when to call 999 and get her the urgent help she needs. Sounds as though she needs a decent course of pred to sort out these nocturnal symptoms. I am currently on it and though I'd rather not I recognise that it's the only thing keeping me stable at the min!!
I am a nightmare for not following my own advice, but if you rang 999 (after 10 puffs) then they might even be able to nebulise her in the back of the ambulance!! They can make the world of difference during an attack!
I personally don't have an action plan, but have clear guidelines about what meds to take and when and when I need to call for help. This is a recent thing and stops you worrying that you are ""wasting time"".
Asthma is not something which can be fobbed off by medical experts, it's very real and you should absolutely keep going back until your little girl gets the help she needs!!
Thinking of you!! Laura x
For Thomas we have been told you can give up to 10 puffs every 4 hours. We do 2 puffs, wait 2 minutes - do 2 more, wait another 2 minutes up to a maximum of 10 if it makes no difference its straight to A&E. Or if he is needing it more frequently than every 4 hours he should also be seen by A&E.
She had a 3day course of pred a week&half ago and today finished her 5 day course so hopefully this will sort things out.
Thanks girls. I had to get an app for myself this morning as I've got an ear infection. The nurse mentioned there's a bad virus going just now with a cough which is lasting around 6+ wks, this has me lost as to whether kirsty is suffering asthma symptoms or this virus.
Either way she's not right. Thankfully she slept right through til 7am after her attack/whatever it was, at 1030pm last night. It took approx 10 puffs and 45 mindsto calm things down.
In generalised terms, if an asthmatic' s symptoms suddenly worsen and take, for example, 1hour and 10 to 20 puffs of blue inhaler, would that be classed as an attack?
It's difficult to say because people are different but I know if Thomas has had 10 puffs and that's made no difference he needs to be in hospital. Thomas's asthma deteriorates very quickly and he will usually have very pronounced intercostal recessions and tracheal tug. He needs oxygen for most of his bad attacks as this tends to dip too.
I really feel for you I'm suffering from an inner ear infection at the moment when you are feeling naff doesn't make it any easier to deal with a poorly child does it.
X
Thanks Jenny, I don't feel quite so bad today compared to yesterday. I'm just so exhausted. The past few weeks have caught up with me now.
Is your daughters asthma cough varient? As if it is her symptoms will be different to Thomas's as well. He doesn't cough at all during an attack. Whereas i have cough varient and when I used to have attacks I couldn't stop coughing it is truly awful! And I was always told my chest was clear too
Yes I'm pretty certain she is cough variant.
I had her at her own GP this morning, he's really fab. He's filled out the asthma action plan, and if anything has come from it, it's that we need to phone NHS24 sooner and more frequently. Also that all these ""episodes"" of coughing are indeed asthma attacks.
He was reluctant to mess with her meds at she has been more settled the past 2 nights. Last night she had a small bout of coughing but didn't need her blue inhaler and the night before she had nothing. If things kick off again, they might look to try serotide or seritide, not sure how to spell it.
She's booked in with our asthma nurse in a month's time to see how things are.
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