Still a puzzle - what type of asthma? Annoyed and confused....

hi all,

going to my doctors again tomorrow, been off for 5 weeks this week from work and seeing occupational health once ive discussed with my doctor. which is good at least my work are working witgh me some way towards this, however im confused.

after my chest infection i am stronger now, been out more recently without feeling dizzy or tired, however if i still get dizzy and tired, and 'catching my breath i.e big gulp of air every 4 breaths or so, yet my sats and peak flow are good 400. I don't understand??

I live in london and the air of course polluted, blow my nose and its all black, yuk.

can anyone help are these symptoms asthma, yet my readings are fine?

im taking my preventative steriod inhaler 2 puffs morn and night and salbutomol the same.

thanks in advance.... im giving up on whats wrong... btw ive had bloods, thyriod etc.. and they are all clear...

kel xx

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Hi ya,

Everyones asthma is different. Even people who have brittle asthma have different types and it affects everybody differently, although of course there are many similarities.

Are you measuring your peak flow yourself? or is it just being measured by the doctor? I now measure my peak flow first thing in the morning and last thing at night before meds. Peak flow is only a really useful measurement when you know what it is when you are really well. I used to go to the doctors and they would say oh you're fine your peak flow is 380 thats in normal range. I now know that my normal peak flow is 540. I take steroid pills at 380!!! now. It took me a long time to find out how bad my asthma really was.

If you have been sick with asthma for some time it takes time to recover from a really bad attack / go. A gp mine once said that it can take 10-12 weeks for the lungs to settle down after a bad go.

You sound as though you are now getting things under control with your medicines even though you have been very sick.

I like to use both Pilates and Yoga exercises to help my breathing. Yoga breathing exercises are particularly helpful, these are not a treatment, but they do help in getting things back to normal. Swimming is also good if you are not allergic to chlorine.

I am very lucky at the moment as for me things seem to be really under control (cross fingers please) due to a range of changes I have made, So I haven't been really really sick for nearly year. I cannot believe how much better my lungs feel but I reckon it took at least 6 months of no bad attacks to reach this point

I hope this is of some help

Best

Ri

PS. I saw that you also have acid reflux. You should ask your doctor when you go to see him/her if you can try a proton pump inhibitor drug. (there are a few types). You can now buy some of these over the counter if you ask the pharmacist. If you take seretide sometimes the broncodilator in it (Sameterol) causes some acid reflux as well as helping lungs. + If the hayfever is starting to be bad nasal sprays, Flixonase and Nasonex are great in combination with anti-histimines, or Singulair.

Ri