I am a teacher. Have been for 8 years. Absolutely love it. However... I have had so much time off due to the same reoccurring problem. Made worse by the doctors constantly fobbing me off! Here's what happens (and it did last week). I woke up in the middle of the night having gone to bed feeling fine. Felt like someone was sitting on my chest. I do suffer from reflux and I put it down to that as I had a slight burning sensation too so took a tablet. Could not stay laying down so had to sit up. Tablet made little difference but burning went. Then started coughing. I gave up and took my symbicort inhaler and it did give me some relief (but not a lot). Spent the next few hours with lots of pillows behind me and eventually got to sleep some 4 hours later. So took the day off (which being a teacher is never an easy thing to do) and spent the day doing nothing. Whenever I tried to do anything I was so tired out and got out of breath doing anything. Had to go back to school the next day. (Apparently I looked rubbish and it has now got to the point where a) people find it a joke that I am sick so many times or b) ignore me). My problem too is that my voice goes and I find it difficult to talk - husky and very little (which being a teacher is hard to do). I kept going till the end of the day and cried when I got home because I was so completely tired and fed up. Before, doctors have said it could be stress. However during my most stressful times at school I have been absolutely fine. It usually takes from 2 - 8 weeks to get over! Now I have an added symptom of an aching pain in the heart area! So (after a lot of waffle). Have you (or do you know anybody) has the same problem as me? Some say its asthma, some says it not. I realise you cant give me medical advice but just to know there is someone out there who has the same problem would help me. Please help! So fed up!
My peak flow is always normal. My chest is always clear. And my oxygen level is fine.
Sounds like reflux to me, reflux triggering asthma go to GP and ask for medication for treating reflux, think it is called omeprazole. Reflux and asthma seem to go hand in hand! You are not alone i get reflux exactly as you describe as well. it horrid and a nusance, also try eating apples first thing they see to help.
plumie
I agree wie plummie sounds like reflux. Some asthma meds can cause it. Tho can occur on it's on ESP At night.sleeping with ur upper body elevated a bit more may reduce the symptoms but better discussing treatment wie gp
Thank you both for your quick reply. I too think it may be Acid Reflux and I am already on Omeprazole for it. But why does it make me feel so tired and out of breath - is this the acid reflux or is it asthma or a combination of the both? And why does it take so long to recover from it? Oh it is so frustrating! Especially as I really don't feel well enough to teach.
I am also a teacher with brittle asthma. It can be very difficult, particularly when you get llots of colds from pupils. if your voice is regularly hoarse it might be because of the symbicort causing some thrush in your throat. This is quite common with inhaled steroids and is easily treatable by your GP. make sure you clean your teeth after using your inhaler so that there is no steroid residue left in your throat. I have had the same issue with my seretide and it can affect the voice when teaching.
Hope you sort things out soon
xxxxx
Hi LovelyMissC
Im new to the forum but hope i can share my experiences with you both personal and professional as work as an asthma nurse but also have two children with asthma. I absolutely love my job and get so frustrated with all the 'fobbing off' that goes on too!
My advice is if your peak flow is normal then its not asthma causing your symptoms and gastro-oesphageal reflux is a possibility. However if you see/ speak to your gp and get a trial of treatment and if doesn't help after 2 weeks then please stop it and get reviewed by a health professional.. So many people start treatment and continue on it when its not really helping and it can mask other symptoms.
A few words of advice... have you or or you taking any anti=inflammatories like ibuprofen/aspirin because they can cause these symptoms?. Have you looked at your diet or eating habits.. Eating late/ high fat...?
Unfortunately your profession ( working with kids and having to talk a lot) can be a problem .. im not suggesting you change it ! .. but you are in one of the difficult groups to treat well , partly due to repeated exposure to viruses( lovely children give you)and also having brittle asthma which in itself can be unpredictable.. I hope you are under the care of a respiratory consultant and get regular reviews and open access to hospital if needed.....
Sometimes longer courses of oral steroids are needed to allow time for the basement membrane to repair itself.. ( its gets damaged by repeated exposure to viruses -especially the ones kids carry...) .
I hope you feel better soon but please remember you may have to make a nusiance of yourself sometimes to get help.... And not all health care professionals have the same level of training so dont be afraid to challenge your GP/ nurse if you feel unhappy with the advice you are given...!
laura
l the fobbing off that goes on so well educated/
Hi LovelyMissC
Im new to the forum but hope i can share my experiences with you both personal and professional as work as an asthma nurse but also have two children with asthma. I absolutely love my job and get so frustrated with all the 'fobbing off' that goes on too!
My advice is if your peak flow is normal then its not asthma causing your symptoms and gastro-oesphageal reflux is a possibility. However if you see/ speak to your gp and get a trial of treatment and if doesn't help after 2 weeks then please stop it and get reviewed by a health professional.. So many people start treatment and continue on it when its not really helping and it can mask other symptoms.
A few words of advice... have you or or you taking any anti=inflammatories like ibuprofen/aspirin because they can cause these symptoms?. Have you looked at your diet or eating habits.. Eating late/ high fat...?
Unfortunately your profession ( working with kids and having to talk a lot) can be a problem .. im not suggesting you change it ! .. but you are in one of the difficult groups to treat well , partly due to repeated exposure to viruses( lovely children give you)and also having brittle asthma which in itself can be unpredictable.. I hope you are under the care of a respiratory consultant and get regular reviews and open access to hospital if needed.....
Sometimes longer courses of oral steroids are needed to allow time for the basement membrane to repair itself.. ( its gets damaged by repeated exposure to viruses -especially the ones kids carry...) .
I hope you feel better soon but please remember you may have to make a nusiance of yourself sometimes to get help.... And not all health care professionals have the same level of training so dont be afraid to challenge your GP/ nurse if you feel unhappy with the advice you are given...!
laura
l the fobbing off that goes on so well educated/
Hi LovelyMissC re reflux?
Hi LovelyMissC
Im new to the forum but hope i can share my experiences with you both personal and professional as work as an asthma nurse but also have two children with asthma. I absolutely love my job and get so frustrated with all the 'fobbing off' that goes on too!
My advice is if your peak flow is normal then its not asthma causing your symptoms and gastro-oesphageal reflux is a possibility. However if you see/ speak to your gp and get a trial of treatment and if doesn't help after 2 weeks then please stop it and get reviewed by a health professional.. So many people start treatment and continue on it when its not really helping and it can mask other symptoms.
A few words of advice... have you or or you taking any anti=inflammatories like ibuprofen/aspirin because they can cause these symptoms?. Have you looked at your diet or eating habits.. Eating late/ high fat...?
Unfortunately your profession ( working with kids and having to talk a lot) can be a problem .. im not suggesting you change it ! .. but you are in one of the difficult groups to treat well , partly due to repeated exposure to viruses( lovely children give you)and also having brittle asthma which in itself can be unpredictable.. I hope you are under the care of a respiratory consultant and get regular reviews and open access to hospital if needed.....
Sometimes longer courses of oral steroids are needed to allow time for the basement membrane to repair itself.. ( its gets damaged by repeated exposure to viruses -especially the ones kids carry...) .
I hope you feel better soon but please remember you may have to make a nusiance of yourself sometimes to get help.... And not all health care professionals have the same level of training so dont be afraid to challenge your GP/ nurse if you feel unhappy with the advice you are given...!
laura
l the fobbing off that goes on so well educated/
Hi LovelyMissC re reflux?
Hi LovelyMissC
Im new to the forum but hope i can share my experiences with you both personal and professional as work as an asthma nurse but also have two children with asthma. I absolutely love my job and get so frustrated with all the 'fobbing off' that goes on too!
My advice is if your peak flow is normal then its not asthma causing your symptoms and gastro-oesphageal reflux is a possibility. However if you see/ speak to your gp and get a trial of treatment and if doesn't help after 2 weeks then please stop it and get reviewed by a health professional.. So many people start treatment and continue on it when its not really helping and it can mask other symptoms.
A few words of advice... have you or or you taking any anti=inflammatories like ibuprofen/aspirin because they can cause these symptoms?. Have you looked at your diet or eating habits.. Eating late/ high fat...?
Unfortunately your profession ( working with kids and having to talk a lot) can be a problem .. im not suggesting you change it ! .. but you are in one of the difficult groups to treat well , partly due to repeated exposure to viruses( lovely children give you)and also having brittle asthma which in itself can be unpredictable.. I hope you are under the care of a respiratory consultant and get regular reviews and open access to hospital if needed.....
Sometimes longer courses of oral steroids are needed to allow time for the basement membrane to repair itself.. ( its gets damaged by repeated exposure to viruses -especially the ones kids carry...) .
I hope you feel better soon but please remember you may have to make a nusiance of yourself sometimes to get help.... And not all health care professionals have the same level of training so dont be afraid to challenge your GP/ nurse if you feel unhappy with the advice you are given...!
laura
Thanks
Thanks Laura for your help. So much of what you say is very true - I was taking neurofen and my diet could be improved. I will be going back to the doctors as if I dont I may be at risk of losing my job. If this problem just lasted a few days I could cope with it and the fact that it is so unpredictable really irritates me. People telling me that I look and sound awful doesnt help either! Oh it is so frustrating!
Thanks
Thanks Laura for your help. So much of what you say is very true - I was taking neurofen and my diet could be improved. I will be going back to the doctors as if I dont I may be at risk of losing my job. If this problem just lasted a few days I could cope with it and the fact that it is so unpredictable really irritates me. People telling me that I look and sound awful doesnt help either! Oh it is so frustrating!
hi
I work in a school and can be draining and puff me out.
Hope you feel better soon with your meds and try make a little ME time each day so you can chill and look forward to it and space to reflect your day and relax.
Hard to do as you all work so hard,take care love Glynis.xxx
ps-back to work after 6 wks off sick not asthma related but I get puffed out so quick and asthma crash fast xxxx
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