i am my own lab rat now help..

hi is it relatively safe to drop the amount of puffs of inhalers?

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First question - why?

If your doc has said to cut down puffs, then ok.

If you are making the decision cos think you feel better, check with the doc.

If you are making the decision cos it costs a lot-of-pennies for prescriptions, you might end up seeing the doc anyway if you cut down without his say-so.

GM

I'm not on that many puffs of anything but I still wish I could junk the lot. Doc says not, so stuck with them.

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hi

there is a article on step up and step down treatment love glynis

look in green boxes xxxxr

edit-just tried find it but couldnt.sorry xxx

preventers need taking every day ,relievers as and when you need them .

Ask your doctor about an action plan and he can tell you what to take and what to

alter when asthma is good or asthma bad.

You can send for a action plan leflet on here to take to your docs when you go

unless you have one already. love Glynis xxx

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lost confidence in my GP..suffered too long with a flare up

Hi thanks guys for your replies.

I have just had such a battle with my Gp's lately seems as though they give me the strongest dose of everything. Im now embarrased by the amount of times im puffing on something.

Plan A:

1. Symbicort 400/2mg 2 puffs four times a day along with Terbutaline 4 times a day two puffs

2. Singular 10mg

3. Antibiotics (4 rounds here)

5. Antihistamines (Piriton)

This was too much - my heart palpitations and tight chest made me feel like i was having a heart attack.

Plan b: (this is current)

1. Pred ( finished)

2. Antibiotics (finished)

3. Seretide 3 times 2 puffs

4. Accolate (I quit this too many bad side effects. Liver killer!)

5. Terbutaline 3 times with Seretide.

6. Telfast (antihistamine)

this is what I want to stop.

last week was my epic moment (Ive mentioned parts of here on other posts) I ended up in A&E with a severe attack. My symptoms are getting worse im not living my life like i used to. I been on 6 rounds of antibiotics and well my GP's are NOT of the regular standard. As I was in the Ambulance and off the oxygen the paramedic was amazing he just made me wake up and realise how doctors/nurses should be and that maybe they are not the only place I should look for knowledge.

Apart from that I never put on safe older medications - Im the GP's lab rat. Im learning more from here than from what my GP's give me. On a sad note I think I have developed a permanent side effect from this medication trials - bronchospasm.

I've done two days on 2 puffs of seretide (preventer) and 1 optional puff off my Terbutaline (reliever) no tablets and back to my good old clarytin antihistamines. Am I making a mistake?

TC

(ps: GrannyMo, All Hail NHS Prepayment scheme all that money i saved from the prescriptions has gone on a new pair of Boots!)

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sorry if any of these questions are stupid, im very tired atm!

firstly, if ur asthma is getting worse and your having attacks shouldnt you be putting your meds up instead of taking them down, and surely you should at least be discussing this with your doc if your going to reduce them?

isnt bronchospasm a sympton of asthma, i thought thats basically what asthma was so why would it be a side effect from meds

also cant you talk to your doc about what meds you are and arent comfortable taking, so he/she can get it to something your happy taking and as controlled as possible

hope all goes well and you start feeling better soon!

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thats why i did follow their guidance.

Hi

Im frustrated because in a nutshell i've used such a variety of inhalers and now im almost adapting the side effects of the combinations of the changed preventers.

i have booked for a check up with my nurse as i dont think chucking in medications is the treatment now, i never had bronchospasms before. I think this sounds odd (i know) but for every preventer i have tried i seem to be allergic to everything and adopt all the side effects but never the cure. (which is why singulair was good until it increased my blood pressure!)

More than anything i am starting to develop a phobia of an attack which is scary as i no longer have any warning signs like i did before. I just think im going round in circles since July 2009 which is when this all started. I need some advice to what everyone else does to get their asthma in control I've had nine months (officially this friday!) of running back and forth between my GP's, A&E and emergency weekend clinics and Im still no where.

Am I better off being asked to be put on conventional medicines like ventolin?

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hi

I dont get warning signs also and had asthma 18 months now and not yet controled enough

but fingers crossed keeping me out of hosp this year so far,had a AnE Visit and 24 hour docs visit but

glad no hosp ad mittances.

Hope you soon find out a good combination of treatment for you as there can me lots and add on

treatments.

Have you had breathing tests sparomatry tets ? to help if not would ask your doc refure you

for some also.

goodluck love Glynis xxxx

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Hi glynis, i am just so frustrated that the practice i'm going to is doing every thing slow motion. thank god that i have an excellent pharmacist who has pointed me in the right direction all along.

i had a spirometry done and the nurse confirmed it as weak lungs and put me on the lowest dose of qvar which is where this saga starts!

i like the accuhalers as they don't tend to clog like the turbo type.