Asthma attack where to go next......

[Flynnyfly8]

Hi, 11yr old daughter diagnosed asthmatic for around 5 years. Currently taking seratide 2 x daily, montalukast each evening and an antihistamine each morning. Sent home from school on Tuesday following an attack so now on a 7 day course of pred and had 2 Nebs (Tuesday and Wednesday) at the gp. Attacks show only as persistent cough, oxygen levels always ok and no wheeze. Taking 10puffs of ventolin every 4 hour. Had 10puffs at half 4 and another 10 around 6.30pm. GO sent her to the CAU yesterday and we have open access for 24hrs but A&E don’t listen and say she just has a cough even though she has a consultant at the hospital. I am at a loss at what to do.

[Blue-Breeze]

Does she do a peak flow? If not this for me was a good indication yesterday when I had the same said to me. I have a app on my phone. Showed the doctor my before and after ventolin. If it wasn't asthma and I'm no expert in this then there would not have been such a change ( 280 to 390)

Good luck keep fighting I'm now a none wheezer it's hard work to get them to understand.

[Flynnyfly8 in reply to Blue-Breeze]

She does have a peak flow - usually around the 370 but down to around 290/300 the last couple of days (320 after taking ventolin) it doesn’t usually change dramatically lowest around 250/260 but she just has a persistent cough. We had one a&e doctor who recognised it as soon as we walked in but mostly they just say she has a cough. The gp and asthma nurse at the surgery are fantastic and pop her straight on a neb (which helps usually with just one dose of 2.5mg) however A&E say using her inhaler does the same job. She always uses the volumatic spacer too. It just seems the mist of the neb helps so much faster than the inhaler.

Has anyone used a “mist machine” without any medication in addition to the normal medication plan?

[Hidden]

Be persistent eventually you will see a health care professional who understands asthma, a lot don't.

I am a 66 year old life long asthmatic

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

And can relate to your daughters symptoms.

[Razor1]

I use Ventolin, but have always been advised not to use it too often. You may need to go to your Doctor, as your situation is not correct. Check the following website:

onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy...

[Flynnyfly8 in reply to Razor1]

Yes I agree she should not be using it so much but she is only using it as directed by her doctor.

10 puffs every 4 hours, reducing to 8 puffs on day 2 then 6puffs day 3 etc etc. On a weaning plan along side pred. This is for a week and following an attack.

It is then recommended that she can have up to 10 puffs “as an emergency” and if that does not help to seek medical attention.

She is taking all her medication as prescribed but lately is not controlling her symptoms.

When symptom free she is able to take part in all daily activists, attends judo classes, goes horse riding, football and netball after school, she is very active but over the last month or so is unable to continue the same.

[Hidden]

My Asthma presented itself as a cough but the cough went after I had Nebulizer. I really thought it was a virus but now I'm thinking it was the Asthma that caused my cough. It's so scarry. I feel so sad for your child. Maybe going to another hospital or doctor for second opinion would help. If your in the UK you can now Tex on watsapp to Asthma UK.

[Poobah]

I take it the GP hasn't referred your daughter to a respiratory specialist. Sounds like it's time to ask for a referral so that they can establish the type of asthma. It could be various things, including incorrect meds. I used to over use my Ventolin wet inhaler and this made my asthma worse when I was a kid. Turned out the propellant was making my asthma worse. But only a specialist can get to the bottom of your daughter's uncontrolled asthma. There are various forms of asthma so it's important to treat it accordingly.

In my experience very few drs understand asthma hence the need for a specialist. Good luck.

[Flynnyfly8]

Thanks for your reply, she has a specialist at the hospital respiratory clinic, I have asked them to call me, her asthma was well controlled between her last two appointments and we thought we had got the levels/types of medication right but the cold weather comes and she is very unstable. Hopefully I will hear back this week if not there is a specialist at our spire hospital so will call them and get a private consultation.

After 3 days off school and a weekend at home she went back to school today and managed nearly the whole day, they didn’t call me until just after 3pm so improvements from last week! 🤞🤞