Asthma (non-IBD)

Crohn's Disease Forum

Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:

Mehita

Mehita

Joined
Nov 12, 2011
Messages
2,412
For those of you with younger kids with asthma...

Just curious if you let your child (ages 4-12) carry their own inhaler with them? Or in their school backpack? What about to sports? And how do you not forget it all of the time?

What do you do if your insurance or pharmacy will only let you get one inhaler at a time when you need one for school AND home?

Any other suggestions?
 
Last edited:
I have a 9 and 6 year old with asthma. They both have an inhaler at school but are not allowed to carry it on them while there. I don't really think it is necessary (for them) because they've always managed to get to the clinic when they aren't feeling well. I keep one in my purse for when we're out and we have one in our medicine bowl (aka fruit basket, lol) in our kitchen. Our Pulmonologist gave us samples to get us started and we are able to get monthly refills, though we've never needed them that often.
 
My son had chronic asthma from the time he was 3 mos old. When he started school, it was always in his back pack and the teacher had one. I always carried one with me.
I think it depends on the child as well. He was very mature when it came to his inhaler. But again, he was diagnosed very young. He would come home and tell me about kids playing with their inhalers, either pumping them in the air or at people. It always upset him because he knew how important they are if you need them. He is 19 now and still carries one with him, even though he has not needed it in years. They expire now before he uses them. I also carry one on me at all times. I have just recently needed mine again after years of NOT needing one.
I work in a classroom with kindergarten kids and in a daycare with grades 1-2 (6-7 years old). Most of our kids have their inhaler in their back pack. We do have a few who do not carry theirs, and we have theirs in our medical pack.
 
Grace is four and her teacher keeps her inhaler in the classroom. Grace doesn't have access too it. I handed the teacher a sheet from her allergist that states when to use it and what constitutes an emergency, thus the need to get her to the hospital. Also the teacher is trained on how to give the inhaler with her spacer.

Hugs
 
My 5 year old has one which is kept at the school office, one in his sports bag and one for home, I should carry one with me wherever we go but the spacer is so bulky. In the UK you can buy inhalers if the Dr wont prescribe more than one - luckely our asthma nurse is very understanding and writes our PX for several
 
He does have one at school, so that's covered.

Our problem is that his asthma is sports induced and sometimes neither my husband or I can be at the practice or game. Just recently we started having him do a puff beforehand as a preventative measure, but the kid plays some sport or another almost every day and I'm not comfortable having him using his rescue inhaler daily. I don't think his asthma is serious enough for a daily med either though. Really, it only happens maybe once a month, if that, while playing a sport. Unfortunately, it's caught us off guard twice now when we didn't have his inhaler.

He has to have a water bottle all the time. Maybe I can tie his inhaler to his water bottle or something?
 
My son's asthma is usually illness induced. I handle all the medications when we are out, he doesn't. I haven't yet placed one at school since its an extra step through the doctor, etc, and he's never so immediate need that he can't come home for it.
 
http://www.aanma.org/advocacy/meds-at-school/

Your child has the right to self carry their inhaler in all 50 states in school.
They should always have one on their person
An asthma attack can be severe and sudden.
Try not breathing for more than four minutes or more to walk to the nurses office
Or hoping the school nurse doesn't have the door locked because she is out helping another student.

My kiddos starting carrying theirs at age 5 & 7 at school
I thought they were not allowed - school don't tell you the laws you have to know them yourself.

They self administered with help by age 8.
Also have a signed asthma action plan by your allergist/pulmo
To have the school pretreat and what to do in a emergency.
 
MLP thanks for the info but I really don't find it necessary for my kids to carry their inhaler on them at all times. Neither have ever had a sudden and severe attack without warning and their school skirts don't even have pockets. I'm glad other kids have that option though.
 
I've read that too about mild asthma. That's why I'm trying to give this more thought. His last one two weeks ago was sort of out of the blue and scared a lot of people at the basketball game. Someone even called 911 not realizing I was there with his inhaler. His rescue inhaler worked just fine, but it got me wondering what would have happened had I (or his inhaler!) not been there.

I think I've got him comfortable enough now where he can do it himself and he doesn't get as scared when the symptoms hit. I was just wondering how you all manage it.
 
Do you have an asthma meter? It can help decide whether you need to premeditated before,exercise. Once they know there normal reading and the reading is low, you use the reliever medication to get the reading up before exercise. If you can't get the reading to acceptable level (which has been worked out with medical professional) you don't part in exercise.
 
Mehita
Have you talked to his doc about the attack?
For a plan forward.

As far as only one inhaler
Your doc can write a script that calls for three inhalers or four etc...
Then the insurance has to cover one "fill" even if that is four inhalers .
There are a ton of carriers that can be worn around the waist ankle wrist etc...
These work better than pockets since pockets tend to press the inhaler and release the spray in the pocket without the kid knowing it.
We practice at home.
Also keep a chamber or lite air with you

http://www.asthma.org.au/Store/tabid/89/CategoryID/11/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/158/Default.aspx

You can get them at a us pharmacy just need a script and they are flat ;)

That increases the amount of albuterol inhaled into the lungs by 40%.
My kiddos have had asthma since they were toddlers so....

Medic alert for asthma is also key
Since emt will know to protect the airway if your not there

Big hugs
 
Thx, MLP. Disposable spacer. Who would have guessed?

I just ordered a couple of carrying pouches from Etsy and he can use my Spi belt if needed. Contact sports (football, basketball)... not sure. The Hubster is the coach so I have time to figure that out still.

He was dx'd four years ago and has never had any attacks until this past October, so he hasn't been seen for asthma in quite awhile. His ped just refills the Rx whenever I call and I only called when the expiry dates were up. I should probably take him in.

I was thinking about the medic alert too. DS has one, but I'm not sure DS2 would go for it. Maybe I can just get a tag and make something cool with the Rainbow Loom :)
 
MLP - thanks for the disposable spacer info - I had no idea!
Mehita - Maybe you should talk to your Doc about the asthma - our asthma nurse says they should not have to use the rescue inhaler at all! - and if they do it is a sign that things are not controlled enough (mind you she is quite scary). Does your practice run an asthma clinic? Maybe they could come up with a plan?
 
If that's the case try a visit to a pulmonologist .
They can get him on a good controller med which should decrease his risk of a sudden attack.
Controller meds are Flovent , qvar , pulmocort etc...
They are used daily.
Here is a sample asthma control test :
http://m.asthma.com/

Good luck
 
Medic alert bracelets are expensive and you have to buy a new one every time medical issues change as they are engraved. We bought our 5 yr ok'd a bracelet from IDonme, you can write on the paper inside,they are waterproof and are inconspicuous unless you recognize the medic alert symbol.
Our 5 yr old has asthma, she has an inhaler kept in the school office, if she goes on a field trip etc she takes the inhaler from home in het pocket.
 
Few things
First medic alert is a 24-hour service not just a bracelet.
The bracelet is free with your subscription to the service.
Kidsmart is cheaper and you can get discounts ( PTA etc...)
Or financial aid if needed
Or join during a sale (we paid $30 for three years )
You get an electronic medical record which you can anytime anywhere with all doc info and medical conditions plus medicine that you are taking .
Plus scan in medical documents .
You get an engraved bracelet that all emt are trained to look for.
We. Bought one for DS at age 5 . Still has it .
Even with 4 years of swimming . He does not take it off.
24 hours a day someone will answer the phone to give the docs the right medical info if you can't speak for your child .

The medical staff always look at DS bracelet when he is in the ER .
 

Similar threads

C
Colonoscopy Sutab/Suprep prep
Replies
3
Views
1K
Maya142
Maya142
WindingRs
Insurance Question
Replies
24
Views
3K
momsa
M
B
Convinced of Issue that Creates the Crohns/Colits
Replies
2
Views
486
Aaahs
A
M
7 year old in pain not diagnosed
Replies
4
Views
1K
my little penguin
my little penguin
A
What would you do?
Replies
22
Views
2K
Delta_hippo
D

Latest posts

Back
Top