Hi I’m pretty relieved to have found this forum. My son has had asthma since he was around 2/3 years old and suffers pretty badly with it. Unfortunately any sign of illness affects him really bad and we are just home from a hospital stay.
It has really affected me this time round, I feel like I don’t want to leave him and have been unable to sleep due to watching and checking he’s ok. I’m sure it will get better in time but seeing a child have an attack never gets easier does it?!
Hi Lisabaxter, welcome to the forum,
No, seeing your child suffer with this condition is never, ever easy.
I have two sons, the elder of whom did not develop asthma but the younger one did when he was three years old. He started having symptoms aged three, having had mild eczema flares aged about 18 months. We were fortunate in that our local doctors were aware there was a possibility that any child of mine might have the condition: I developed asthma also aged three (having had eczema for most of my first year of life).
As you have experienced with your son, even before he started having asthma symptoms my younger son seemed to have a much worse time of it when it came to infections. I'll never forget the time my elder son went down with chickenpox. My elder son had just ten spots over his entire body; when my younger son went down with it (having picked it up from his elder brother) he was covered with them. They were everywhere: in his hair, his ears, etc. He had a really miserable time of it. We also went through the frightening reality of just how quickly a young child can go from being seemingly OK to being blue lighted to hospital. On that occasion he was fine at breakfast, began to complain of not feeling very well as we left the house to go to school; just over half an hour later I was tearing him round to the doctor after he started fitting and began to go blue round his lips. Between leaving home and arriving at school his temperature (which had seemed OK when we left home) had rocketed to a level where his body couldn't cope with it, resulting in a febrile convulsion. The doctors who treated him reckoned it was as a result of a viral infection.
He's grown up now (25 this year). And I'm delighted to be able to tell you that although he does have inhalers, he rarely needs to use them. Things definitely got better as he got older and stronger. The schools where he was educated were all made aware of his medical history and we had a very good working relationship with them as far as his asthma was concerned.
Hang on in there. Yes, it's very hard to watch them suffer. I suspect that with my son the fact that I had some idea of what he was going through helped me to deal with it. There are plenty of other mums on this forum who understand exactly how you feel.
Wow sounds like you’ve had a time of it! I feel so helpless for him but also feel like I don’t want to take my eyes off him! He has had many many attack’s but that one was by far the worst I’ve ever seen him. And it happened so quickly this time too whereas before it’s gradual over a fair few hours or days even.
Just waiting for a GP call back to discuss things so hopefully that will put my mind at rest a little.
Thanks for your really it’s reassuring to hear things could get better as he gets older
Xx
I feel for you and know exactly what you’re going through. xx
GWS
hope your son gws.
This is such a common experience when your child is ill and I feel for you. However, my mother was like this when I was ill as a child and it made me fearful - took a long time to gain confidence about anything much. However scared you are, you have to try to be positive for your son and encourage him to do as much as he can when he is well - within and out of your sight. You are probably doing everything the doctors told you to do and he has recovered before, so he is very likely to recover again. Your calm manner and being in control of your feelings is vital for his confidence. Children are so sensitive to an adult's mood! Talk to your consultant, talk to the GP or the asthma nurse at the practice or to the one at Asthma UK. I do know this is easier said than done, but you probably should try.
Be strong!
Absolutely agree with you ChrissieMons, you do have to be strong for your little ones, but my word, it's hard to sustain sometimes.
The incident I refer to above when my younger son had a febrile convulsion and started to go blue is a case in point. When he started to fit and I noticed the blue tinge on his lips I remained quite calm and strong (even though I didn't know what the cause was at that stage) all the way to the doctor's surgery. As I got him out of the car he was unconscious. I still had no idea what had happened (febrile convulsion didn't enter my head). The only thing I could think of was that he had had crunchy nut cornflakes for breakfast that morning and (although this had never happened before) I wondered if he had had a delayed reaction to it; he was a known asthmatic by this stage. I remember running in with him in my arms and describing what had happened to the receptionist (fortunately there was no queue). The next thing I knew was that a doctor emerged from a nearby room at a run, took him off me and took him straight to a treatment room. It was at that point that I broke down - presumably because I had got him to an experienced pair of hands and so could react to what had happened. The doctor, I have to say, was unimpressed. I was told quite smartly to stop it and that crying wasn't going to help my son. She managed to bring him round and not long afterwards the paramedics arrived on the scene and took over.
I was fine after that - and not just on that occasion. There were other incidents that ended up with a trip to A&E, but through all of them I managed to remain calm. It was just that one. In my defence I will say that febrile convulsions are very frightening to witness, particularly if you've never seen one before.
As for my son, he didn't remember any of it. When I asked him the following day if he remembered going in an ambulance - he remained conscious after the initial doctor brought him round - he shook his head and said no. That's still the case now, over twenty years later: he can't remember any details of that morning:-).
Yeah I do agree with you, I know I am strong or I have been before- but this time it has really hit me hard for some reason! I couldn’t get to sleep last night as I was so worried about something happening to him I think it’s just these few days it’s still very new. I’m sure thins will improve a little bit. And he’s absolutely not really phased! Not up and about yet but still ok none the less! X
Hi, my son had first admission to hospital a few months ago with asthma. I felt so worried after discharge from hospital. I set my alarm for the four hourly inhalers through the night and initially slept with him in his room we have a bed with a bed underneath. I think this reassured him and he slept and I did more than I would have in another room. A few months on I am less anxious, I'm not saying the worry has totally gone but I don't worry anywhere near as much. Asthma UK nurse, GP and practice nurse have all been a real support in giving me practical help and reassurance and confidence. The biggest thing I wanted to say is it is ok to worry, it shows how much you care look after you.
It can be hard to get the balance between anxiety and being worried enough. My sons asthma also reacts to illness, he is rarely symptomatic outside of an illness, cold, tummy bugs, chicken pox etc. I almost lost him 2 1/2 years ago and I have no doubt that if I hadn't been worried enough and trusted my guy he would not be here now.
If you are still super worried then do keep a closer eye on him and trust yourself, hopefully both they and you will feel better soon
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