I've recently had a pretty bad flare-up of my asthma symptoms, forcing me to be rushed to hospital last week on nebulisers and prednisolone. I'm sixteen and until last year, my asthma seemed to be pretty well-controlled. However, last June I ended up in hospital with pneumonia, and the result= my asthma has got a hell of a lot worse. I get excerbations when the weather is too cold, too hot, when there is a high pollen count, if I run for a bus, if I run at all really. I feel like it's taking over my life. Secondly, I have an awful GP who doesn't listen to anything i've ever said, hasn't written me an 'asthma action plan' and only prescribes me with two salbutamol inhalers per month! (I normally use at least three.)
I'm currently on seretide, but I'm just sick of having constant asthma attacks. My GCSE exam period has just started and yet I've had to take a lot of time off school recently and in the past year. I feel like I'm not in control and I'm juggling with my own life, thanks to the rubbish service of doctors and the 'helpful' NHS.
Sounds like it must be really frustrating for you! It sounds like your asthma is pretty poorly controlled at the moment (although i'm guessing you'd worked that out). Can you work out why your GP is so unhelpful, is it a case of him not believing you have asthma, or of not appreciating how significantly the symptoms are impacting on your life? Is there another GP at your practice that you can see? or a different surgery in your local area, so you can get a second opinion? If your GP is not helping you manage your symptoms then it might be worth seeing someone else, or going back to him to explain your concerns.
How are you managing if you are not being prescribed enough inhalers? Sometimes GPs worry about prescribing lots of salbutamol with the assumption that you *shouldnt* need more than they prescribe, but as far as im aware the advice is that if you need salbutamol you should take it, but that if you are needing lots you should have control medication increased.
I assume you are taking current medication properly, so taking all you are prescribed on time, through a spacer, and i assume someone has checked your inhaler technique? Little things can increase the amount of medication getting into your system and hopefully improve your breathing.
If you are taking meds properly its probably worth going back to GP to discuss stepping up medication. So it may be a case of increasing your dose of seretide (depending on what you are on currently, i think 'normally' the highest dose is two puffs of seretide 250, twice a day - i know cons can prescribe more of things, but i havent heard of anyone getting higher from GP). Then once you are on a high dose of ICS and LABA you can have add ons. Things like montelukast or antihistamines (which might suit you if you are affected by pollen) can be added by GPs, although obviously the specific things you would be prescribed obviously depend on your exact medical history and symptoms, but those are the *types* of things GPs can do!
If you are already on these,and are 'at the end of the line' as far as GPs can go, then it might be worth discussing referral to a consultant, who can look into more options. Although i gather from your post there is more that can be done with the GP, and so obviously that would be a first step! and for the vast majority of people with asthma a consultant is not needed!
With regards to action plans, you can get one off the AUK site, and if you booked an appt with your surgerys asthma nurse he/she can help you fill it out. In theory every asthmatic shold have a personalised plan, i currently dont because my GP currently wants to monitor me closely and so doesnt want me to step my own medication up or down without discussing it with him. However it is important to know the ""when to ring 999"" part of the plan. This can also be found on the AUK site (asthma.org.uk/advice-asthma... although as you say you've been to hospital recently i guess you probably know this, but i figure better to say too much rather than too little! lol!
Did you end up spending the night in hospital (or longer) this time? if so did you see a consultant while you were in hospital? I assume you were prescribed pred? did this help?
With regards to your exams, it is probably worth getting a note from you doctors surgery explaining that currently your asthma is uncontrolled and this can be submitted along with your exam papers to allow you to get special consideration. It may also be helpful for your sixth form to see (if you have entrance requirements they may be more lenient if you are ill at the moment). Then hopefully by he time you go to sixth form (if thats your plan) or go out to work (or any other option) you will have better asthma control and it will no longer be an issue!
Hope some of this helps! And i hope its clear, my lungs are being particularly cruel to me tonight and i suspect im rambling a bit!!
hope you feel better soon
I've recently had a pretty bad flare-up of my asthma symptoms, forcing me to be rushed to hospital last week on nebulisers and prednisolone. I'm sixteen and until last year, my asthma seemed to be pretty well-controlled. However, last June I ended up in hospital with pneumonia, and the result= my asthma has got a hell of a lot worse. I get excerbations when the weather is too cold, too hot, when there is a high pollen count, if I run for a bus, if I run at all really. I feel like it's taking over my life. Secondly, I have an awful GP who doesn't listen to anything i've ever said, hasn't written me an 'asthma action plan' and only prescribes me with two salbutamol inhalers per month! (I normally use at least three.)
I'm currently on seretide, but I'm just sick of having constant asthma attacks. My GCSE exam period has just started and yet I've had to take a lot of time off school recently and in the past year. I feel like I'm not in control and I'm juggling with my own life, thanks to the rubbish service of doctors and the 'helpful' NHS.
Hey annie
firstly try and change go would be my advice is there another drs with in you post code ? there normal is a big over lap of gp practices areas do u take over meds to help with pollen ? if so my be ask to try them ! getting pollen/hey fever under control with help you asthma big time trust me on this one Also give Asthma UK a(free from landlines 0800 121 62 44 ) call have a chat with them they are very good ! they can send you peak flow dairy and asthma action plan book lets do you have an asthma nurse at you dr if so book to see them as that mite be a better option hope u find this help fall message back if you need more info
take care hope u get better gp care and feel better and good luck with your exams
Mathew
Sounds like it must be really frustrating for you! It sounds like your asthma is pretty poorly controlled at the moment (although i'm guessing you'd worked that out). Can you work out why your GP is so unhelpful, is it a case of him not believing you have asthma, or of not appreciating how significantly the symptoms are impacting on your life? Is there another GP at your practice that you can see? or a different surgery in your local area, so you can get a second opinion? If your GP is not helping you manage your symptoms then it might be worth seeing someone else, or going back to him to explain your concerns.
How are you managing if you are not being prescribed enough inhalers? Sometimes GPs worry about prescribing lots of salbutamol with the assumption that you *shouldnt* need more than they prescribe, but as far as im aware the advice is that if you need salbutamol you should take it, but that if you are needing lots you should have control medication increased.
I assume you are taking current medication properly, so taking all you are prescribed on time, through a spacer, and i assume someone has checked your inhaler technique? Little things can increase the amount of medication getting into your system and hopefully improve your breathing.
If you are taking meds properly its probably worth going back to GP to discuss stepping up medication. So it may be a case of increasing your dose of seretide (depending on what you are on currently, i think 'normally' the highest dose is two puffs of seretide 250, twice a day - i know cons can prescribe more of things, but i havent heard of anyone getting higher from GP). Then once you are on a high dose of ICS and LABA you can have add ons. Things like montelukast or antihistamines (which might suit you if you are affected by pollen) can be added by GPs, although obviously the specific things you would be prescribed obviously depend on your exact medical history and symptoms, but those are the *types* of things GPs can do!
If you are already on these,and are 'at the end of the line' as far as GPs can go, then it might be worth discussing referral to a consultant, who can look into more options. Although i gather from your post there is more that can be done with the GP, and so obviously that would be a first step! and for the vast majority of people with asthma a consultant is not needed!
With regards to action plans, you can get one off the AUK site, and if you booked an appt with your surgerys asthma nurse he/she can help you fill it out. In theory every asthmatic shold have a personalised plan, i currently dont because my GP currently wants to monitor me closely and so doesnt want me to step my own medication up or down without discussing it with him. However it is important to know the ""when to ring 999"" part of the plan. This can also be found on the AUK site (asthma.org.uk/advice-asthma... although as you say you've been to hospital recently i guess you probably know this, but i figure better to say too much rather than too little! lol!
Did you end up spending the night in hospital (or longer) this time? if so did you see a consultant while you were in hospital? I assume you were prescribed pred? did this help?
With regards to your exams, it is probably worth getting a note from you doctors surgery explaining that currently your asthma is uncontrolled and this can be submitted along with your exam papers to allow you to get special consideration. It may also be helpful for your sixth form to see (if you have entrance requirements they may be more lenient if you are ill at the moment). Then hopefully by he time you go to sixth form (if thats your plan) or go out to work (or any other option) you will have better asthma control and it will no longer be an issue!
Hope some of this helps! And i hope its clear, my lungs are being particularly cruel to me tonight and i suspect im rambling a bit!!
hope you feel better soon
Sophie-
I know I need to change my GP, but my local doctor's surgery only has 2 doctors and the other one always appears to be on leave. Also, my cousin (slash foster mum) doesn't want me to go anywhere else because everywhere else is a bus ride away and because our whole family go to our local GP, even though we all think he's a waste of space!
I rarely ever manage on 3x salbutamol monthly, normally I end up begging my doctor for another prescription, and yet he still seems to think my asthma is well-controlled. In fact, he's never even done a proper check of me, all he ever gets me to do is a peak flow!
Obviously my asthma is triggered by pollen but when I tried to explain this to him, he prescribed me with Piriton (which helps my hayfever but not my lungs!!!) so he assumes my asthma is well controlled with the Seretide as it is, even though the idea of it is to prevent me from needing Salbutamol and at the moment i've been on about 20 puffs a day! :/
I sound like i'm moaning here but I'm just fed up- I had two hours sleep last night and then had to go to school for 8 hours of intense exam revision, which involved about 2 puffs of my salbutamol each hour :/
I'm exhausted and have 4 exams in the next two days, how can I write exams when I can't even breathe?
And in general- do you guys ever come across people who assume asthma is nothing?
My foster mother/cousin never takes my asthma seriously, when I was in a&e last week she didn't come with me because - I Quote 'It was only an asthma attack.' When I can't breathe, she imitates my wheezing and once took to hiding my inhaler for a laugh. She makes me walk the dog twice a day in the nearby freshly-cut fields. You can imagine the result.
Oh and the Pred helped a lot by the way It always does, but this time they didn't put me on a course of pred, just the dosage at the hospital. And thanks, I'll download an action plan, I didn't know you could get them from here.
Hope your lungs clear up soon!
Annie x
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I know I need to change my GP, but my local doctor's surgery only has 2 doctors and the other one always appears to be on leave. Also, my cousin (slash foster mum) doesn't want me to go anywhere else because everywhere else is a bus ride away and because our whole family go to our local GP, even though we all think he's a waste of space!
If i were you i'd have a double check that its deffo the only option, (nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/Lo... as he really does sound pretty poor. There is no reason for any of you to go to someone who you agree isn't any good at there job, i have three GP practices within walking (well - not walking for me, but there are two that i can walk to! lol!) distance, although i guess if you are a bit more rural things might be different. I don't know how old you are, assuming you are 16 if you're doing GCSEs, thats old enough to be dealing with GPs (so they shouldnt be insisting anyone rings on your behalf or goes with you etc) by yourself so it might be a good idea to ring up and see when the other doctor is next likely to be in, to book an appt, even if you have quite a wait, it might be worth it so that you can at least eventually get the help you need, better late than never! Although, TBH, a bus ride to someone who is actually willing to help you is probably preferable!
I rarely ever manage on 3x salbutamol monthly, normally I end up begging my doctor for another prescription, and yet he still seems to think my asthma is well-controlled. In fact, he's never even done a proper check of me, all he ever gets me to do is a peak flow!
Obviously my asthma is triggered by pollen but when I tried to explain this to him, he prescribed me with Piriton (which helps my hayfever but not my lungs!!!) so he assumes my asthma is well controlled with the Seretide as it is, even though the idea of it is to prevent me from needing Salbutamol and at the moment i've been on about 20 puffs a day! :/
As Philomena says, 20 puffs a day is an awful lot, not saying ""dont take it if you need it"" just saying that that's a clear sign your asthma is not well controlled. I assume you know the guidelines for ringing 999, in fact i think i included that in my last post, don't let exams stop you getting the help you need, it WILL be sorted out, if you need to be in hospital and aren't, that can't always be sorted out! If it's any consolation apparently i do some of my best work during asthma attacks (not sure how my brain pulls that one off lol!). In theory salbutamol should be lasting at least 4 hours, in practice this isnt always the case, but it is a very clear sign of difficulty if its not lasting that length of time then you need some help. Sometimes it does help to go into the GPs with a clear idea in your head about what you would like to try, i am not a doctor, but if i were you I would do some research into Montelukast, as that tends to help with allergic asthma. Obviously the decision is up to your doctor, and he may have a good reason for not prescribing you that but it might be a signal to him that you are not well controlled enough if you make a suggstion.
I sound like i'm moaning here but I'm just fed up- I had two hours sleep last night and then had to go to school for 8 hours of intense exam revision, which involved about 2 puffs of my salbutamol each hour :/
I'm exhausted and have 4 exams in the next two days, how can I write exams when I can't even breathe?
Moan away! more than reasonable response to a tricky situation! (i personally am completely awful when i cant breathe and my flatmates basically have flashbacks at the sound of my noisy lungs!) Just be kind to yourself. I know if you are sitting exams that should have been done a year ago you'll be under a lot of pressure, but it will be ok! It is likely that if the school are supportive they will be considerate of your situation when deciding whether you can progress to sixth form. It may also be helpful for you to sit back and think about whether it would be the end of the world if you had a year off to get well, and then went to sixth form. I know it probably feels like a completely awful idea, but it wont make that much difference at all. I know someone who was doing her GCSEs while i was doing my A-Levels and she's a year older than me, it doesnt mean that she wont get where she wants to go in life, it just means it'll take her a little while to get there, and loads of people take a gap year before uni, you'd just be taking it a bit earlier, and then you could spend time getting your asthma slightly more controlled (or hopefully fully controlled - you certainly have a lot more options to try before you need to have asthma impact your lifestyle) adn then taking the exams when you are well enough to demonstrate what you can do,and then go to sixth form ready to enjoy it! It sounds like a horrible idea, but it really wouldnt be that bad! And school should deffo be helping you apply for special consideration, esp as they clearly know about the A&E attendances!
And in general- do you guys ever come across people who assume asthma is nothing?
My foster mother/cousin never takes my asthma seriously, when I was in a&e last week she didn't come with me because - I Quote 'It was only an asthma attack.' When I can't breathe, she imitates my wheezing and once took to hiding my inhaler for a laugh. She makes me walk the dog twice a day in the nearby freshly-cut fields. You can imagine the result.
This is definately something you need to discuss with her. It shows clear lack of understanding into asthma that she would be hiding inhalers, i sincerly hope this is not a 'cruel' act, and more of a misunderstanding (obviously if its done with full understanding thats a whole different issue). The AUK site has lots of information on it and publications they can send you, this might help her realise it. I would say get your GP to discuss the dangers with her, but i'm guessing thats not an option? Possibly an A&E consultant could give her a ring if you have to go in again? I'd sit down with her and explain that you are really struggling and need her support, that is part of her role! or is there another adult you could discuss the issue with if you feel unable to talk to her (do you have a foster dad? aunt/uncle/mum/dad/other cousin etc?) That might help her realise its an issue. She probably just doesnt understand the horrible sensation of not being able to breathe and esp as your GP is being so dismissive that probably validates her feelings that it is 'nothing'. In the short term is there anywhere else you could walk the dog? or is it reliable enough to run around the fields alone and then come back when called? Is there a trade off you can do? so you do the dishes instead of walking the dog - something to show willing, but without endangering your health?
Oh and the Pred helped a lot by the way It always does, but this time they didn't put me on a course of pred, just the dosage at the hospital.
Good that pred helps, an option would be to go to OOH and get a course of pred to see you through your exams! stress is a well known asthma trigger, and whilst in the long term it might be worth looking into stress management techniques, thats probalby not going to make a world of difference immediately. Although is getting to OOH an option for you, obviously at your age you wont want to be travelling all over the place in the middle of the night, but if your cousin is reluctant then that might be difficult!
Hope your lungs clear up soon!
Lol! yeah me too! they are just having a big strop coz i voted for 5 days of 30mg pred, instead of a week at 40mg, and they are letting me know they disagree with that decision! sigh! Giving them plenty of salbutamol in an attempt to pacify them, but you know what lungs are like. Hoping to manage till next thursday without pred, as then i get to see the one GP who isnt scared of me (most of them have basically printed out a script for pred before ive even sat down) and so might have a proportional response! lol! Hope you feel better soon, fingers crossed for a good nights sleep, and dont forget to get help if needed *hugs*
Hi Annie,
What a rubbish situation to be in! Being 16 doesn't help because it's obviously difficult if your family isn't on board whereas an adult would have much more freedom to just change; your cousin's attitude really doesn't help and is a bit shocking - hiding your inhaler!!! Don't worry about moaning - this is a really difficult situation you're in and I think you're allowed to moan!
ON the other hand, being 16 is better than being 15, because unless I'm mistaken you should now be responsible for your own medical care so you might be able to change GP whether your family likes it or not - obviously there are social pressures and I might be wrong, but I have an idea that you now don't need permission from a parent/guaardian for this. I'd agree with Mathew though re ringing the adviceline as they will know much more than I do; they don't just advise on asthma but also on the practicalities like how to approach drs etc, so they should be able to suggest what you can do about changing GP and also what you can do right now given that you're having problems during exams. You can ask a pharmacist to check if you're taking the inhaler properly - the asthma nurse can and should do this but pharmacist is quicker so if there are any problems with technique you can get that sorted at least.
20 puffs a day is really really high as you know, there is no way you should need to be on that when current advice is A&E after 10 - and during exams! Is there an asthma nurse at the surgery you can book in with? Perhaps ask for an urgent appt if you can explaining that you have exams? Or is there a walk-in centre anywhere you can get to (exams may make this difficult but if you're on study leave presumably you don't have to be at school when you don't have an exam?) tbh if you are needing that much Ventolin I'd be inclined to say just go straight to A&E again - what did they say about your GP's care? I know you don't want to miss your exams but it's not safe and there must be some process if you have to miss them because of illness - I'm with Soph here on getting a note.
How is your school with all this? Do they know about your asthma/are they supportive in general? Do you have a school nurse you could see, as I would think she might know more about the procedure for illness and exams?
Hey Philomela~
I turned sixteen two weeks ago so yes you're right, I can now attend appointments and make health decisions of my own accord, so I may just end up trying to sort something out myself in the next few days/weeks. My surgery is T I N Y, it looks like some sort of large garden shed and consists of two doctors and a part-time nurse, so I don't think it's even possible to be seen my an asthma nurse there.
I know at the moment I shouldn't really be in school, but this time last year I was off school for a fortnight with pneumonia, missed all of my gcses and it just messed everything up- I'm still doing exams I should've done last year! The thought of missing school kills me especially as in my school i need 93% attendance for sixth form, and i'm currently way below that as it is.
My school are pretty supportive about my asthma (my school nurse called the ambulance last week and came with me to a&e), but I don't think anyone else, at least not in my year, has had to have so much time off, so they get touchy about it especially as i'm in y11 and desperately need my attendance for 6th form
I think half of the reason my asthma has been so bad is because of the stress of my exams. I'm juggling school/exams/asthma/blood problems/orthodontist/things going on at home, and it's not going too well. But i'm gonna try and sort things out in the next week or so, once my main exams are over, so i'm trying to look on the bright side!
Hi Annie,
Just thought I'd hop on board this. I am so sorry that you are having a rubbish time at the min, both with asthma and other issues.
Firstly I'd like to second what other people have said about changing gp/going independently. Not a nice thought, but you might get further? Or even visit ooh/a&e again!!
Regarding exams, I'm a teacher and also have done a lot of pastoral work with GCSE and a level kids. Your school sound as if they are good and supportive, they should waiver the attendance due to extenuating circumstances and you could even get a gp note to say why your attendance was lower. The reason attendance is important is to show commitment, which no one can doubt due to the state you've attended school in!!
Really hope things work out, try not to worry about exams etc - at the end of the day, what's the worse that could happen? Resist y11? Your health and happiness is much more important!!
Good luck, Laura x
Hi Annie,
Just thought I'd hop on board this. I am so sorry that you are having a rubbish time at the min, both with asthma and other issues.
Firstly I'd like to second what other people have said about changing gp/going independently. Not a nice thought, but you might get further? Or even visit ooh/a&e again!!
Regarding exams, I'm a teacher and also have done a lot of pastoral work with GCSE and a level kids. Your school sound as if they are good and supportive, they should waiver the attendance due to extenuating circumstances and you could even get a gp note to say why your attendance was lower. The reason attendance is important is to show commitment, which no one can doubt due to the state you've attended school in!!
Really hope things work out, try not to worry about exams etc - at the end of the day, what's the worse that could happen? Resist y11? Your health and happiness is much more important!!
Good luck, Laura x
Thanks Laura, I will try to change my GP, as I am kinda sick of the way things are going with my doctor. I'm going to speak to my head-of-year tomorrow to explain that I may have to miss quite a bit of school at the moment.
I have a sociology exam tomorrow morning, yet i'm up at this time of the night, unable to sleep and currently on my 6th puff of ventolin.
fun! xD
Sophie I only just saw your message- I'm gonna call the AUK helpline tomorrow,
i am not a doctor, but if i were you I would do some research into Montelukast, as that tends to help with allergic asthma. Obviously the decision is up to your doctor, and he may have a good reason for not prescribing you that but it might be a signal to him that you are not well controlled enough if you make a suggstion. - thanks, I will deffo bring it up next time i go to the doctor's.
The thing is, i'm confused about my allergies really-
my triggers are:
pollen
aerosol spray
weather too cold
weather too hot
running- exercise
chemicals i.e. in science lessons
dust
-yet i have 3 cats and a dog who I don't get reactions to.. does that make sense, because to me it really doesn't.
And i'm definitely going to speak to my head-of-year when I can about special considerations.
By the way, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone here for their support and helpful advice! I am completely new to this, and only looked at the AUK website yesterday, damn I have wasted 16 years! xD
it makes loads of sense - allergies are very specific to the individual, its just that you arent allergic to cats or daog, that doesnt mean you cant be allergic to other stuff!! I have very high igE levels, suggesting i am an allergic-y type of person, but i dont have any specific allergies!! That i find weird!!
Your list of triggers sounds pretty similar to mine TBH!
Good luck with your head of year! i see no reason why you'd have any issues
good luck getting to sleep tonight, really dont be afraid to go to A&E, better to go early and avoid needing a long admission than to go late and need to stay in for a few days (if i go fast enough i can sometimes avoid admission altogether!!) x
I don't know what to do, I've had far too many puffs of my inhaler tonight and still can't breathe at all. I really really really don't want to end up going to hospital tonight
Oh and you too, hope you manage some sleep if any
Sadly, as i cant see you i cannot advice you on whether or not you need help,what i can say is that once you reach the point of ""i don't know what to do"" that to me suggests you need to at the very least ring NHS direct, but actually i suspect that you may as well just ring 999. This forum cannot be a place for the kind of advice you want,as nice as it would be if I could tell you exactly what to do it isnt possible, people don't tend to post asking for immediate advice as it is hard to convey the exact tone and situation across the internet and so it can be upsetting to read, many people have had bad experiences when they have left things too late, and no-one wants anyone to have to go through that, which is why posts can be distressing if people are concerned you are in danger.
may be helpful if you want confirmation of what to do.I suspect both of these sites will agree that you need some help tonight, and as i said in my other post, its better to go too early rather than too late! Hope you are feeling better soon!
Well Soph you were right and once again I find my lungs have given out on me, I'm currently in the paediatric a&e (dont know why as I'm 16) but I'm feeling much better after pred, my peak flow is now 230 so I'm hoping I'll be able to go home later today
Thanks for your help and advice that I stupidly tried to ignore, well I'm here now anyway, but thanks x
Ahh no hope you're ok!! Are the hosp going to give you a note for the exam board as to why you couldn't do exam? Just a thought, but I've found that if you are ill and can't do an exam and have a note from gp/hosp/cons then they can calculate your final grade based on coursework, mocks and teacher recommendation!!
The pollen count is a nightmare as well as all the usual triggers!! I find that I still get symptoms (which can be managed at home) eventhough I am on long term pred!
I'm glad you went to the paediatric a&e they're much nicer there than in adult one!!
This might push them to get your meds sorted out - perhaps you could discuss an add on which deals with the allergic component of your asthma which is obviously what is causing the problems at the min?
Any idea when they'll let you out? Make sure you look after yourself and go back if you're not right!!
Laura x
Hey Laura, I'm feeling Okayish now, thanks. The thing is, last year I missed my history exams and instead of putting my coursework/mock grade together, my teacher decided to enter me for the exam this summer instead, which sounds simple but I now haven't studied history for a year and Am obviously going to fail.. after how messed up everything was last year, I really have been put off the idea of the same happening this year! :/
Glad to hear you're feeling a bit better.
With your exams and school, there are always things that can be done to help you to get the grades you need. There are loads of different options for you, dont stress, it could make your asthma worse!! i know that you are in hosp at the min, but is there my chance that you could talk to your head of year about the different options you have, whether its over the phone or when you're discharged?
Make sure you look after yourself!! X
So I'm out of hospital and on a course of pred
And just my luck, I tried to call my head of year and she wasn't in today.. Hmmph!
Today I managed to finish my sociology unit 1 exam whilst unable to breathe (never finished any of the mock exams in which my asthma was fine)!!! Go Annie!!!
Yay well done how much/how long you on pred for? Just asking cos you sound like you're still struggling!! Will it see you through the weekend?
Have you had a follow up apt with gp/asthma nurse? Recommendation is that you have an apt within 48hours.
If you don't pick up soon, you really should go back to ooh/a&e. not what you wan with exams etc but you need to look after yourself!!
Laura
They only gave me a 3 day course, but I'm also on antihistamine tablets which should help the pollen allergies fingers crossed
I am struggling so may consider calling NHS direct if things don't improve.
The school were really helpful today, letting me revise in the key stage office instead of the stuffy classroom, and tried to send me home and postpone my exam, but me being a stubborn so-and-so, I forced them to let me sit the exam, accompanied by my trusty ventolin and spacer, but I was put at the back of the room on my own so I could wheeze and cough without annoying people who were doing the exam
I'm just happy I now have the weekend to rest and try to improve
Argh!! Sounds a nightmare well done though
Do you have enough pred for tomorrow?Please book a gp appt/go to ooh tomorrow Before you come off it, you need to be stable and not symptomatic otherwise you'll go back to square 1. I talk from experience. Here flares are awful and exhausting. I wish I would listen to my own advice!!
Laura
Erm yeah, enough for tomorrow but not Sunday. May I ask you, is it worth going to a&e if i'm already on pred? will they just send me home regardless? Cause I'm really struggling but I don't want to go to a&e if they'll ask what i'm taking and then dismiss me.
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Erm yeah, enough for tomorrow but not Sunday. May I ask you, is it worth going to a&e if i'm already on pred? will they just send me home regardless? Cause I'm really struggling but I don't want to go to a&e if they'll ask what i'm taking and then dismiss me.
Struggling when I've been on pred for more than 24 hours is exactly when I *do* go to A&E. It suggests that you need something extra - especially if that's not a 'normal for you' pattern.
Cx
They will ask you what meds you're on. I have found when I've been before that I've felt like they're thinking ""why are you so ill when you're on so many meds?!"" but that might just be paranoia!! If you're struggling, they have a duty of care to treat you and look after you!
What is your pf at the min and what is your best? I am not a medical expert, so can't give medical advice, but I would urge you to get treated and certainly don't come off the pred if you're symptomatic!!
Laura
Soo.. I just don't know what to do anymore. Dialled 111 and paramedics got sent round. They said as I wasn't wheezing from the bottom of my lungs, it wasn't an asthma attack. They then tried to tell me that I probably don't have asthma, but anxiety. This didn't entirely bother me, but my cousin listened and in the space of a few minutes, her conclusion was this: I don't have asthma, I'm very good at faking it, I'm a hypochondriac and a drama queen. When we went to a&e, they stuck me in the waiting room and my cousin was going 'you f****** idiot, bringing me here for nothing.' I'd had enough and walked out of the hospital . She ran after me, slapped me around the face and said I'm an attention seeking little b****.
So now I can't even wheeze or cough without her saying I'm flipping faking. I just want to cry...
Annie, that's awful!! Hugs.
You're not faking it, you're genuinely ill. They don't give the meds you're on lightly an without reason. The ""no wheeze, no asthma attack"" drives me mad!! I know I (and a lot of other people on this forum) don't always wheeze. A few weeks ago I had an attack which I managed at home (stupidly!) and got an out of hours appointment for the following day, attack was under control then, but pf still yellow. The gp said they heard me wheezing then, but I always get the ""you're not wheezing"". This annoys me because the last thing you want while like that is to have to try to explain your normal patterns - especially when you can't talk!!!
Are you still struggling today? As curiouser says if your still struggling on pred that's when you need to go back!! Can you get a friend to take you to a&e/ooh?
Sorry you're going through such a rough time
Laura x
I'm okay today. I just feel like the one person who I need support from refuses to give me any, and I'm 16 and struggling on my own.
Just had my last dose of pred, just hope I'll stay okay throughout the next couple of days at least
Do you have a social worker that works with you? Being in foster care etc I'm assuming that you do? Perhaps it's worth talking this through with her/him? You need support, which it doesn't seem as though you're getting from your cousin.
If you start to go downhill again then you need to get sorted again, a 3 day course seems really short!!
Hello all, hope you well and not struggling at the mo!
So i've recently been in hospital, sweating profusely, unable to breathe.. the usual, brought on by pollen, damp walls and stress. When i'm not in hospital i'm normally sitting in my damp hostel room, slowly struggling and wheezing, haven't had much sleep reccently.
I saw my GP yesterday for a review of how i'm getting on with pred, been on it for 2 weeks on the go now, every time I try and ease it off, my lungs don't take very well to it. GP said even through I had a wheeze which he said he could hear, he wanted me to come off the pred (which i've been trying to do but it doesn't seem to work!) so now i've only got enough pred left to see me through the weekend, and i don't reckon he'll prescribe me with any more :/
Unsure of what to do, is he right? or should I get a prescription from somewhere, OOH if need be?
Annie xo
If you've had a certain number of short courses or been on it for 3 weeks or longer they tend to taper you off it, which means that you gradually reduce how much you take.
I have been on pred for ages now and am tapering off it. I am unfortunately on maintenance pred though anyway (lungs refuse to cope without it), so hopefully your gp will able to taper you off it quickly.
Alot of people seem to be struggling with the pollen this year, I certainly have been doing.
Re the damp, could you request alternative accommodation?
How were your exams?
Laura x
Well I suppose if I worsen throughout Monday, I'll just request an emergency appt with my GP. I'm not too worried about the damp at the moment because they're moving me in 2 weeks.
Got 2 exams left; history and chemistry.. then all done till results day! Fingers crossed!!
I've recently had a pretty bad flare-up of my asthma symptoms, forcing me to be rushed to hospital last week on nebulisers and prednisolone. I'm sixteen and until last year, my asthma seemed to be pretty well-controlled. However, last June I ended up in hospital with pneumonia, and the result= my asthma has got a hell of a lot worse. I get excerbations when the weather is too cold, too hot, when there is a high pollen count, if I run for a bus, if I run at all really. I feel like it's taking over my life. Secondly, I have an awful GP who doesn't listen to anything i've ever said, hasn't written me an 'asthma action plan' and only prescribes me with two salbutamol inhalers per month! (I normally use at least three.)
I'm currently on seretide, but I'm just sick of having constant asthma attacks. My GCSE exam period has just started and yet I've had to take a lot of time off school recently and in the past year. I feel like I'm not in control and I'm juggling with my own life, thanks to the rubbish service of doctors and the 'helpful' NHS.
Hey Annie
I hate pollen having a flare up this last week to not to bad atm but using a lot of Salamol and my over asthma meds!
Mite be with moving gps I did as my last gp was very rubbish and gave me a drug that they know sets of my asthma ! last year it was very had to see them 2 weeks time to see them ect I moved gps now easy to see my new dr she has asthma to and understands more so try to move surgery's that's how I got better care for my asthma and over medical conditions
Take care hope this pollen level goes down soon
Maty
Hey Maty,
I rarely have to see my gp anymore as I've been referred to see a respiratory consultant every 3 weeks. (still in hosp at the mo)
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Refused Salbutamol 
Went out for the day sunday & still paying for it coughing - I have allergy asthma (pollen) Feel so sad.
Terrified 
Extended Asthma Issues
Bad asthma flare-up - looking for advice
