2 Year Old HELP!!

[KLAnakin]

My daughter is 2 years and 3 months old. We have ALWAYS had trouble with her breathing, when she was 6 weeks old we had an ambulance out for subcostal retractions and wheezing. From about the age of 4/5 months she has always coughed, worse over night but even during the day. After she turned one (November 2016) we had 3 severe chest infections on the bounce which ended in her being given a blue inhaler by the walk-in centre (because despite multiple visits to my gp he insisted she was healthy). In June/July time last year she was given a brown (clenil 50) and blue (ventolin) inhaler. Initially this was great we had maybe 6 weeks of her sleeping soundly. Mid-August the coughing returned and it hasn't stopped. She has had her clenil up to 100mg 4 times a day, and has just recently been started on Montelukast 4mg at night. She is still coughing non-stop, she is exhausted and miserable. I don't know what to do for her but I am getting to the point of wanting to sleep in her room so I can be there if something happens. We have had a referral to a consultant but the appointment isn't until 30th of April. Most of the time she is coughing so badly her lips go blue. I'm at a loss as my GP will do nothing when we went to get the montelukast he didn't even listen to her chest. I have a 2 year old little girl who is fighting so hard to be happy and is so tired, and I'm so worried about her. Any advice or tricks to help ease her overnight would be greatly appreciated at this point.

[Frin9e]

hi, have they look at reflux, or post nasal drip, if she as one of them it will trigger the asthma, worth looking into, my 15 yrs old has been coughing continuesley since November, he been referred again too, its a nightmare he lucky to get 4 hours sleep.

[KLAnakin in reply to Frin9e]

As I say my GP won't really do anything he just looks at me condescendingly and says there is nothing wrong with her, as if I'm just some paranoid young mum being stupid. When she hasn't slept a night through since AUGUST! I have started taking witnesses in (mother-in-law, statement off nursery) to prove I'm not just being stupid!

[Wheezycat]

Hi! It sounds to me you need a different doctor. Is Your go the one who prescribes? Or do you need to change her gp?

[KLAnakin in reply to Wheezycat]

at my GP's there are 2 doctors, one who is sh*te who I always end up seeing and the other who is great but you have to book about a month in advance to see. I have started moving to a different GP at the moment tbh because I couldn't believe the last time I went in and said it hasn't improved since the increased Clenil, and then said I had been told to ask about montelukast and he just said ok, prescribed it and we left. No form of health check at all.

[Wheezycat in reply to KLAnakin]

Good luck with finding an a,ternative!

[Matrix]

See aa other Gp in you’re practise !this is disgusting behaviour especially as we know Asthma kills .I can’t believe he didn’t examine her .I really think you should see a different doctor or if she has an attack take her to A&E they will deal with it .I wish you all the best and pray you can get some help for you’re little girl .Please let us know how you get on .😇

[KLAnakin in reply to Matrix]

Thank you. Have printed forms for a new doctor today and will be taking them in this afternoon to start the move, fingers crossed for a better GP.

[Matrix in reply to KLAnakin]

Good for you , you’re child a little one needs special care , she should be bounding with help , running round having and she can’t because he can’t be bothered to examine her and take care of her, SHAMEon him it’s discussing , they get paid very well for doing a job which is is not doing . You can tell I feel very strongly about this , my son had and has Asthma and always had the help he needed. Bless you sweetie hope it’s goes well for you .Keep in touch would love love to know how you get on 😘🌹🌹🤗🤗👶😇

[Spikedog66]

Hi sorry to hear your little girl is unwell with her chest. Please take your little one to your A&E dept or ring an ambulance if she is struggling especially if she has any colour change don't wait. I am shocked to read this. I was a children's nurse for nearly 40 years my advice is to seek help now. she will be examined from top to toe and hopefully get the help to make her a happy little girl again. Best wishes to you both.😊

[KLAnakin in reply to Spikedog66]

I think next time I'll have no choice but to take her to A&E, I find I end up in the walk-in center (we have a specialist children's one here) more than my GP as they seem to do more. Thank you.

[hypercat54]

Hi I agree with the others. This is disgraceful treatment of a little girl who obviously needs help. Doctors are too keen to label mothers as 'over anxious' when in reality you know your little one and you know she is not fine. I would definitely find a different doctor.

Also it is quite a long wait for a consultant so can you push for a more urgent one? Or maybe be willing to take a cancellation? I think as she is so young she ought to be seen a lot quicker.

Finally don't hesitate to call an ambulance or take her to A and E if she is having problems and don't take any chances with her. If she ends up there then maybe they can put pressure on your doctors to take you seriously. All the best. x

[KLAnakin in reply to hypercat54]

I get that paranoid mum look a lot!! This is why I have taken other family members with me to prove it's not just me. My mum came down from Scotland once to say that she had never seen my daughter healthy and with out a rattle in her chest. I'll try calling up for a sooner appointment, or ask to be bumped up if there are any cancellations. Thank you.

[Hidden]

Hi KLAnakin

It sounds like it's been really frustrating getting help. Do give the Asthma UK specialist nurse team a call. They will be able to advise and support you and have some tips. They can be reached on 0300 222 5800 (M-F, 9-5)

Take care,

Dita

[KLAnakin in reply to Hidden]

I have phoned a few times and received a great amount of help. It was one of your nurses that mentioned Montelukast and advised us to ask to be referred to a consultant. Really great help, especially on a day when I was crying over how miserable she has been.

[Hidden in reply to KLAnakin]

Hi KLAnakin

Glad to hear they've been helpful. I had a quick chat with Caroline, one of the Asthma nurses here. They may have already talked through this with you on their calls.

Has your daughter got acid reflux, this can be a trigger and can be a particularly bad irritant at night, when she lies down. The other thing would be allergies. If she has a runny nose she might benefit from antihistamines.

Here's a link to indoor triggers, bit.ly/2sJHyCK so you can maybe identify what might be causing it? Pets, damp etc.

When dealing with your doctor, have you tried taking photos or videoing your daughter, that might help explain her symptoms. If you don't get anywhere you can always go to a walk-in centre. If you feel the referral is too far away, you can always call the consultant's secretary to see if there's any room to move the appointment.

Let us know how you get on,

Dita

[KLAnakin in reply to Hidden]

She had reflux as a baby and was on special formula for it, so it might be causing her grief still... How can I confirm she has it though?

[Hidden in reply to KLAnakin]

Hi KLAnakin

From what the nurses say, treatment is normally given to see if it works rather than doing any tests as she's quite little.

Dita

[vampress]

Oh I'm so sorry your little one is suffering. Glad your in the process of going to a new doctors too, yours sound rubbish. I found montelukast took over a few week too start working with me, hopefully it'll help her soon. There's also a lot of different inhalers out there that a better doctor might swap her to (depending on what's safe for her age). And as everyone's said, a&e if she gets really bad. Try keep her sat up as much as possible when she's sleeping and using a humidifier might help too (I can't do winter without one). I'm sure you probably know all this though. Your poor baby.

[Spikedog66]

You are welcome. Skip the lot and ask for a paediatric consultant at a&e. I was always taught to listen to the mam she knows their child best and if many of these health professionals just listened maybe the health service would be better all round. You are definitely not over anxious you are worried about the welfare of your little girl and rightly so. Any blip or deterioration just go you will be seen and hopefully she will be better soon.😊

[Sparkimoore]

A&E!! This is appalling “care”!