relative newbie with lots of questions.....

Hi,

I'm quite new to all of this having had relatively mild asthma for years and then suddenly had my first 'attack' last year. I have a fantastic GP who has been absoultely brilliant and since last year has worked really hard to get me on the best combination of medicines to settle things down. We both thought we had won until I have just had my second 'attack' this week - almost exactly a year to the exact date of last years. The GP and I are both sure it is down to the pollens - I have always suffered from hayfever, especially around this time with the tree pollens, and the runny eyes, sniffly nose and sneezing are giving it away! So I now have lots of questions as I try to get my head around things becoming more serious than they have been in the past.

First does anybody else have experience of suffering at this time of year and have they got any suggestions as to what helps them - I already take montelukast and zirtek and am currently on prednisolone to help settle things down.

Secondly the GP mentioned a kenalog injection - the only information I found when I googled it was a website full of people threatening to sue the manufacturers for all the side effects! I'm sure that there are many websites like that for many medicines so I'm just wondering whether anyone can offer an alternative view!

And finally, the GP has loaned me a nebuliser (with very strict guidelines and protocol for its use) with the suggestion that I purchase one myself, again only for use under her very strict guidance - I'm therefore after any information anybody can offer as to any particular makes/models they can recommend.

I'm well aware that you can't offer medical advice and my GP is excellent, I feel very confident in her care and very fortunate to have her - I'm just really after experiences which may help.

Many thanks in advance.

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Hi Dolphin,

Sorry to hear things have been difficult recently.

It’s good to see you get on so well with your GP. I have to admit I was slightly concerned by your post that you seem to have been given a home nebuliser by your GP (with strict instructions for use) without having seen a Respiratory Consultant. Maybe it would be a good idea to ask for referral to a Respiratory Consultant before you buy a home nebuliser. This is no way detracts from your obviously excellent GP but generally I think people on home nebs are under Respiratory Consultants too. They may also be able to answer some of your other questions.

Take Care,

STX

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Hello!

Sorry to hear you are having problems with your asthma. I to have lots of problems with hayfever with then sets of my asthma. Over the years i have tried lots of different antihistamines, now currently taking cetirizine. If you havent already done so it might be worth trying a different antihistamine. Also i take a steriod nasal spray Nasonex. Which is very good as i have found that alot of my problems are with my nose. It becomes so imflammed and bunged up that i breath through my mouth, which then causes more problems with my lungs.

Theres lots of simple things like putting vasaline around the outside of your nose before you go out, to trap pollen. Trying to avoid going out when the pollen count is high. Not always possible, and wrap around sun glasses help if you suffer from itchy eyes. I also dont hang my clothes outside to dry as i find that i can become wheeze from just folding up clothes that have been outside.

Have you been refered to an allergy specialist or respiratory consultant. If not then it might be worth asking your gp. Especially if looking at having Kenalog and having to use a nebuliser. I see both a consultant locally and at Heartlands. They decided this year for the pollen season that i can have Kenalog. Which fingers crossed does seem to be working. Im managing to control my hayfever symptoms with antihistamines. For a number of years it didnt matter what i took, i still itched, wheezed and had asthma attacks.I was told the injections would only be used short term as i have oesteoporsis. One of the side effects of Kenalog is bone thinning. As with all steriods there are lots of side effects which have to be balanced out with the benefit of the drug. Im currently waiting to see an immologist to find some way to control my allergies without having to take high doses of steriods.

Hope you find something that helps the itching and wheezing.

All the best

Sarah

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Hi dolphin,

Sorry to hear that you've been struggling, it is frustrating when you think you are getting somewhere only to have another attack.

I am a bit concerned by your post. Kenalog, as you probably know, is a steroid and is associated with the same risks and benefits as any long term steroid treatment - that is to say, it can be helpful, but can have very significant and serious side effects. It has the disadvantage that once you have had the injection, you cannot then titrate the dose up and down according to your symptoms, unlike with oral steroids. There are other treatments that are often considered before something with so many side effects.

Home nebulisers are another big area of worry, in general; I am glad that you have been given strict guidelines about using it but I would still question the wisdom of having one, especially if you have only had one attack in the last year. Based on what you have told us, I find it difficult to envisage a scenario for you in which you should be using your neb and not going to hospital. There is a very real danger with home nebs that people put themselves in danger by using them at home when they should be getting themselves into hospital. ST is quite right to say that people who have home nebs are usually managed by a respiratory physician.

I would strongly suggest that you ask your GP to refer you to a respiratory physician - both of the treatments that she is suggesting would be better managed by a specialist. A specialist can also thoroughly review your symptoms and arrange any tests necessary to see if there is anything else going on that is contributing to your symptoms eg allegies, GORD, post-nasal drip.

Hope this helps

Em H