Stronger reliever?

Just a quickie, is there such thing as a stronger reliever/more effective reliever than the standard 100mg salbutamol? Is it possible that you can become immune to its effects during a severe attack?

Ta, Emz x

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I use bricanyl which is turbutaline its an alternative to salbutamol, i use because im allergic to salbutamol, but when ive been in hops the people i know that have been changed to it have so because its considered to last slightly longer? Some people just dont get on with some drugs but it call also be not as effective because of your control and you need some add on therepy or it could be down to technique?

I think you need to see GP or asthma nurse and discuss with them as they know best.

Andrea xx

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Hi Andrea,

I already take Seretide 125 2 puffs 2x daily and am needing ventolin every day. Does anyone think it might be an idea to ask for the Serevent and Flixotide components to be given separately so that the amount of steroid can be manipulated easier for when my symptoms worsen?

Is there anything else that, in you opinion, can be done to relieve the almost daily attacks which can occasionally leave me slipping in and out of consciousness?!

Emz x

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I would of thought if your attacks were that bad you'd be given a home nebuliser? rather than a (or as well as) an inhaler?

Just a thought

Tks xx

[KateMoss]

Before going down the home neb route, have you tried or are you on any tablet medication such as theophylline or Singulair - these are long acting meds which help when inhaled meds don't.

sometimes meds need to be tweeked and sometimes it can take a bit to get the right combination.

I would speak to your doctor ASAP if you are getting such severe attacks.

If you are becoming less allert you really need to call an ambulance.

Hope this helps

Kate

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No im not on any tablets at the moment, though I have had a few courses of prednisolone in the past couple years. There are times when I would give anything for a neb at home as I have found them to really help in the past, but trying to get any efficient form of medication out of my doctor is like getting blood from a stone...

Emz x

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Emz if you are drifting in and out of conciousness that could a warning that things are very bad please dial 999 and get yourself seen.

In the mean time if you are having trouble with your GP maybe see if there is an asthma nurse are your Dr's or even change GP you don't have to give a reason these days and anyway attacks like you describe where you are not getting a proper review of your meds is a damned good reason to be looking for another GP!

I hope you get some answers soon.

Bex

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Thanks for all the replies and advice guys. One more thing though...

My boyfriend (who outgrew asthma himself) has suggested, as well as some of you guys, that I should go to my asthma nurse for a ""review"" - what can I expect from this? Can a nurse actually prescribe meds?! Last time I saw her she told me she wasn't qualified enough to listen to my chest, so I don't hold out much faith...

I went to see my doctor on thursday (now tuesday) and he upped my Seretide 125 to 250 2 puffs 2x daily. How long would it realistically take for the extra steroid input to take effect? I am still constantly wheezy and short of breath, as well has having frequent attacks and using my Ventolin far more times a day than I'm sure is healthy! My peak flow is also hanging nicely around my 50% of predicted mark....hmmm.

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm getting so frustrated and disheartened by all this, I can't get any sense from the professionals so now it's time to turn to those who know best, the patients themselves!

Thanks in advance,

Emz x

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heya emz!

defo agree with kate if ya attacks are altering your conciousness levels u need help ASAP! as for meds, defo talk to your docotr about theophyillin or something alike!

If you r having no hope with the Dr's and hitting your head against a brick wall ask to be reffered to a local respiratroy consultant at your local hospital. they have a lot of expertise and have excess to a lot of different test ect that your GP may not have, one to work out y you are having so many attacks and how to deal with them!

hope this helps, look after yourself

rob x

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Em just because your nurse cant listen to your chest doesnt mean she thick? she will have done more training than some GPs if has asthma clinic?? too many people are undermining the knowledge of nurses especially speialist ones? at the end of the day they help as far as their knnowledge bcan then refer on if appropriate but they and docs are god and sometimes there arent any quick fixes?

Andrea

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sorry if i upset anyone but just gets me so mad that when there isnt a quick fix gps and nurses are the first to be blamed?

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I didn't mean to offend anyone either, but to be honest I'm so fed up with feeling the way I do - as I'm sure many other people are too - and need something done. If i had the power to assess and prescribe my own meds then I would do, but it is the job of the doctors and nurses to do that for me. If they aren't then surely it's ok to ask for help and advice elsewhere, asking people who may or may not have had similar experiences? Where there may be mutual sympathy?

I was not suggesting by any means that the nurse is thick - I think the work of nurses is some of the hardest work on this Earth, and you wouldn't catch me doing it, they deserve medals, the lot of them.

Never mind, I'll watch what i say. Sorry

Emz

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if there was one would want it myself as using buckets of ventolin at mo but have to say costa asthma nurse has been great they just bothered they can't do more for me but wouldn't change him at all.

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Hi Katherine,

I'm glad that you have a good asthma nurse - it's just a shame that you, along with others I think, don't think there's a stronger reliever: it would make so many lives easier!

Saw a different GP yesterday after a week on Seretide 250 rather than the 125 as I'm still taking far too much ventolin to be healthy lol, and my peak flow is still all over the place. She suggested that I continue with the 250 for another fortnight then if I'm still using the same amount of reliever then she'll re-shuffle my meds. Phew! Might be getting somewhere! I asked about salbutamol alternatives, and she said they are only generally used for those allergic to salbutamol, which is fair enough. She advised that in an attack I take 10 puffs through a spacer for the same effect as a nebuliser....

However, had worst attack ever last night with my boyfriend watching me helplessly as i kinda swam between consciousness and unconsciousness (I'm far too stubborn for an ambulance, I've only just come out of hospital after a 7 week stint on ICU). When i was able, I did my 10 puffs routine only to get worse and have to repeat it 20 mins later, which finally got the message to my lungs to behave lol.

Anyone got any ideas as to what to do about situations like these? I REALLY don't want to go to hospital (complicated parent-not-believing-i'm asthmatic issues here), so is take my reliever all I can do, even in such great amounts?

Really sorry for all the questions guys. but I have very little idea about what to do and why all this happens in the first place and how severe my asthma is (or isn't!?), and not knowing is scaring me a little!

Cheers, Emz x

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Hi Emz

sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time at the moment and I'm very suprised that your parents don't beleive you have asthma after being in icu for so long, but I think it sounds like you need to be reffered to a respiratory specialist especially as you are having so many attacks. maybe try talking to your gp again, sometimes it takes a few visits before they actually listen. my gp messes about with my meds all the time and it can be really frustrating, inless I walk in there and I'm actually having an attack or am really porley they just assume everything is ok! and my asthma nurse isn't qualified to listen to my chest either actually I am her first asthma patient as she is a midwife who is training to be an asthma nurse, so basically she is learning from me lol!!!

also if you are loosing consciousness that is very serious and you really should go to hopital if it happens again, anyway I hope you feel better soon and feel free to pm me if you want a chat

lejaya

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Hi lejaya, thanks for your reply.

I was not on icu for asthma - unfortunately, i had severe double pneumonia, pleurisy, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and respiratory/renal/liver failure. I now have empyemas in my lungs (previously infected abcesses) and also had ""pleural effusions"" - fluid in my pleural lung spaces, as well as my lungs still being semi-collapsed. I am 18 years old.

However, I am confident that these problems are not what's causing my symptoms, I am sure it is my asthma (having been diagnosed about 6 years ago).

Just the constant feeling of being out of breath, tight-chested and wheezy is starting to annoy and worry me everso slightly lol!

Emz x

[KateMoss]

Emz,

You should get a personal Asthma action plan ASAP! from your GP or Nurse.

Infections and other lung related issues will have an impact on your asthma and can excaserbate it!

If, after taking 10 puffs of ventolin you are still strugging or are unable to talk, loosing consiousness you MUST dial 999!!! I cannot emphasise the importance of getting help ASAP with Asthma! Ask your boyfriend to call if you become less allert! Being stubborn could have very serious consequenses..... especially with all the other complicated lung problems you have on top of the asthma!

I don't like going to hospital, I am brittle asthmatic BUT, I have learnt that if I leave it too late, I end up very ill. Hospitals prefer to see concious asthmatics not unconsious ones so don't worry about making a fuss.

Please get sorted with your GP ASAP!

Kate

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Kate's already said it really - thanks.

There is no such thing as a ""stronger"" reliever. Just a different one.

You need to be asking your GP or respiratory consultant (and you must have one, if you have effusions, empyemas and collapsed lungs) what to do in these circumstances - people on this board are not (in the main) medically qualified and cannot advise you on such important matters as this. Yes, this board is for mutual support and understanding, but what you are asking for is specific medical advice which can't be provided here.

As has been said several times, you should be seeking help IMMEDIATELY if you are ""drifting in and out of consciousness"". This is DANGEROUS and should be acted upon, and is certainly not a time to be stubborn! Even I recognise that actutely I cannot reliably judge my own condition. You have just spent 7 weeks on ITU, you say - you need to get your asthma under control so that you do not end up paying a return visit.

CathBear

(Moderator)

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Ok, I can definately see a pattern of calling an ambulance emerging here!

Thanks for all your support, I will definately take all everyone has said into consideration.

Thanks again,

Emz x

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Crazybaby, you can see a pattern for calling an ambulence cos asthma can kill. If you are struggling to talk/can't talk drifting in and out of conciousness that is a really bad sign. Frankly it sounds as if you are lucky to be alive now bearing in mind you stubbornly refuse to allow anyone to get you help.

To other users reading this thread please do not think you can get away with being ""stubborn"" when you are stuggling to/unable to talk and or drifting in and out of conciousness, not getting yourself at to A&E at that point would probably end in tragedy, be safe, be sensible and call or let others call 999.

Bex

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In situations when you are really bad you really need to call 999 ASAP.

I know when i am at the stage where i need further help and i have told people around me when i want them to call for help.

I hate hospitals and ambulances, i ate causing drama's and having people fussing but my life is important to i will go through what i feel is embaressing to keep it. My problem is if it happens at my work (and i am a workaholic!) i am more upset about scaring other people etc than myself and i want it hidden as much as possible and obviously everyone looks when an ambulance arrives and paramedics come in but i'd rather go through that than lose my life.

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im sorry 2 laff abt this as i av asthma bt re t reply 2 call an ambulance if ya loose cocnciousness bt ow d o u call an ambulance wen uve lost conciousness lol x

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Hmmm yes. Hilarious.

Mandy, I will ask that you are somewhat more sensitive in your posts. A number of board members have been upset by your post. Having such a severe attack that you lose consciousness really isn't any laughing matter at all. Please bear in mind that quite a few board members have been in this situation themselves and it's incredibly scary. I don't think it's fair to make jokes about it.

CathBear

(Moderator)

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I have been in the situation before where I have phoned for an ambulance but not been able to speak (though not been at the stage of unconsciousness at this point). If you do find yourself in this position, as I did, they will trace the call and send the police. Okay, so your door gets kicked in, but your life gets saved as the police then get the paramedics. I certainly do not suggest leaving things till they reach this point, but I thought I'd reassure you all that the system does work and you can get help even when you can't breathe enough to speak. Oh, and I now have the community care alarm in my flat, which I can definitely suggest to others who live alone and have severe and brittle asthma.

Becky.

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My Ventolin has Not been working well so I am off to See Asthma Nurse Tomorrow.She is going to start to think i am a hypochondriac!(WOOHOO FOR DICTIONARIES!)

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thanks for that becky had wondered about that does that go for mobile as well? only asking cause my house is through after bout 8 months and have to admit that don't usually go for help until breathing struggling as well as speech (mm lesson 1 katharine don't leave it so long) and thought that if got to stage where needed to dial 999 but couldn't talk much how i wud manage. Though maybe if am on own may not leave it as long.

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Don't think it works for mobiles but i tend to text or ring my mum if i have have a sudden drop and can't speak or get to house phone and she calls ambulance for me so they have clear instructions on where to come.

It's best to get help before getting that bad noGP/ A+E or ambulance crew will ever ridicule you for going/ringing sooner rather than later. If your not sure if you need medical help you probably do.

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Hello again!

Have been to see a doctor (a different one yet again who I hadn't seen before) and have now been put onto montelukast, as well as staying on the seretide 250 and salbutamol. Fingers crossed should be getting somewhere now!

Emz x