I had 1 week GP appointment today. So basically:
- we will start tapering off the prednisolone (decrease by 5mg every 3 days)
- no other changes to meds yet (no Spiriva, no different eczema cream) until we have established where I'm at with pred (in other words, not until I'm either off it completely, or until I cannot decrease the dose any further)
- if my symptoms come back while we are tapering off, then to go back and see him
Bit of a shame about the Spiriva having to wait, but as he said, one thing at a time; that way we can see clearly what is or isn't working.
For instance, if I started Spiriva whilst tapering off pred, and my symptoms returned, we wouldn't know if that were down to the decreased dose of pred, or if I don't get on with the Spiriva. Likewise, my skin could be suffering because I'm on the pred, but we will never know if it is the Dermol or the pred if we change two things at once!
I did manage to completely forget to ask him if I have brittle asthma (I fit the description for Type 2, and a couple of the nurses at the hospital used the term 'brittle' to refer to me) but I guess that is something for the respiratory nurses on..oh, Christmas Eve. Good thing I'm not feeling christmassy this year!
So that's basically it peak flow is 310-330 (personal best: 350) so not where I want it to be at but heading in that direction and a good sight better than last week!
-- Matt