Asthma and school

[NutcrackingXmas]

Dd2 is asthmatic, has been since a few mths old i believe.

Anyway, she has both blue and brown inhalers and a blue one is kept at school with a spacer.
In reception, if I felt dd was struggling with her asthma, I would ask of a morning that she had her inhaler after every play time and this was never a prob.
Also if she coughed alot, they would give it to her.

Dd is in yr 1 now and yesterday she asked the teacher if she could use her inhaler and was told she didn't need it.
I appreciate that doesn't have the typical asthma wheeze and it can be hard to see why she needs it sometimes, but I trust dd to know when she needs it, and sure enough she spent all of last night coughing, and being sick. Dd has never particularly wheezed, but she gets short of breath and starts to cough and cough and cough, so much so that she cannot speak and cathc her breath to breath.

We had a similar prob in nursery when I told dd to ask if she could have her inhaler after playtime and dd was told that she couldn't have it because she didn't need it and when I questioned the teacher she said that she didn't see the point of giving it to her when she wasn't even coughing.

How can I get the school to see that if dd's asthma is playing up, regular puffs of her blue inhaler, throughout the day prevents her from having a full blown attack.

I have kept dd off today as she cannot go more than a minute without coughing and is having to pause when talking to me to get her breath.

[NutcrackingXmas]

bump

[ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas]

Not sure of the answer to your problem as I am relatively new to asthma myself (ds2 was diagnosed with it last spring). It just struck me as interesting that this condition is treated in so many different ways. My son has a brwon inhaler for twice a day and a blue inhaler for as and when he gets attacks (takes it to school with him). But recently, he was having to use his blue inhaler every day, mainly at night, and so the GP gave him a green inhaler to take, aslo twice a day. This has stopped him needing the blue inhaler almost completely. Why has he been prescribed this and yet your dd hasn't? The green one is a preventer, like the brown one - it works quicker than the brown one, but lasts less long IYSWIM.

[coppertop]

That's awful! How on earth does the teacher know whether dd needs it or not???
If the teacher is refusing to let dd have the inhaler then I'm afraid I would have to take it further and speak to the Head. If the Head refuses too then I would phone the doctor/nurse who monitors dd's asthma and tell them about this situation.

[ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas]

It is called SALMETEROL if you are interested in asking your GP about it.

[Icemum]

Could you get in touch with your practise/school nurse and ask them to have a meeting to educate her teachers?

A lot of poeple don't realise that you don't always have a wheeze with asthma.

[NutcrackingXmas]

Dd has also said that the teacher yesterday said she didn't know where it was

I think so far on both occasions it hasn't been dd's regular teacher, but I will be asking to speak to her on Monday morning, or even this afternoon when I collect dd2.

If she didn't still need to use the spacer then I would let her take it in everyday herself, but she still hasn't quite got the hang of it.


Lonelymum - Don't know about the green inhlaer. TBH I rarely take dd to g.p about her asthma now as they never seem that interested. Her asthma has improved alot in the last year or so, and provided she has her bown inhaler at least once a day she is fine most of the time. Once it gets a hold of her though, she can go downhill quickly.
Have just sat watching her and she is talking to her self (lol) and having to pause and take a big intake of breath after a few words.

I've increased her preventer inhaler dose to 8 puffs, but that will take a couple of days to kick in. I think I will try and get an appointment to ask about the green inhaler.

[NutcrackingXmas]

Thanks LM

If it happens again Icemum, I will have to yes.

[ItllBeLonelymumThisChristmas]

I would (ask about the green inhaler). Ds2's asthma doesn't sound as bad as your dd's but he was needing his blue inhaler every day until we got the green one, and in 2 weeks, he has only needed the blue one once, despite all that cold weather which is normally what makes his asthma worse.

[Pudmog]

I would see the head and ask to see their asthma policy. If dd has medication in school she should have a care plan written by the school nurse which has her individual symptoms written on it. The school nurse has to write this with the parent as you have to sign it. Asthma medications are generally kept in the school office- allergy stuff in the classrooms.There should also be a note on the register saying that your dd is asthmatic and has an inhaler kept in .....

Hope this helps.

[swedishmum]

As an asthmatic myself with an asthmatic daughter this is so scary. They need to sort it out NOW. It is appalling that a teacher would say she didn't know where an inhaler is. Have just started to do a bit of supply teaching again and if I didn't know the procedure I'd certainly use my common sense and contact the office immediately.

[Arabica]

I think it's worrying that your DD needs her blue inhaler so frequently, it certainly sounds like she needs more preventer medication--definitely nag your GP for a proper asthma review or get a referral to hospital. Asthma UK have a good helpline if you'd like someone to talk to about it.