Hi folks. Since coming down with a cold at the weekend I have developed a chest infection which's made my asthma flare up so I am coughing and wheezing much more than usual. My asthma, which was only diagnosed towards the end of last year, still isn't under control which doesn't help. I am now on my 4th lot of antibiotics since Christmas but they don't seem to make any difference as I feel worse today than I did yesterday. (I started taking the antibiotics on Tuesday). I have been coughing and wheezing virtually all day and my peak flow dropped by about 15% this morning although it's crept up since to just below my usual reading. I am going to get an urgent appointment tomorrow with my surgery as I have maxed on my ventolin today but it's not done a great deal to help. My preventer is a cheaper version of seretide. I had been on Duoresp Spiromax till three weeks ago but it was useless! Before that I was on Seretide 125 and before that Clenil. Should I be on a short course of steroids to try to knock this on the head as I'm off sick yet again with the same problem... I don't have an action plan as the nurse is trying to get me on the correct treatment so I'm not 100% sure what to do. I'm also on Omeprazole??; Montelukast which doesn't seem to help; & Vitamin D to help stave off colds (ha). Any advice would be appreciated. Flossie 
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Hello sorry to hear you're having problems with continual chest infections and getting your asthma under control. I too was only diagnosed in June of last year and it's only now that I feel I'm in control of it - but every now and then it flares up and I'm back again on antibiotics and steroids. It's so frustrating.
It took them ages to get my medication right - I'm on seretide 125, montekulast, fenofexidrine and now spirvra- I might not have spelled them right! If your peak flow is dropping then perhaps you need steroids as well or stronger antibiotics.
Take care of yourself, keep up your fluids and definitely go back to your GP if you don't improve within a couple of days.
Stacey ❤️
Hi Stacey. I am glad to hear that you are now on the medication you need to get control of your asthma. I'm just hoping my GP can do the same for me too! Thankfully my surgery is excellent and I managed to get an appointment for later this morning as I feel I need something on top of the antibiotics etc I'm already on: besides, I don't fancy another day like yesterday... Take care
Unfortunately the nature of asthma is that these flare-ups will happen from time to time, especially when you get colds & viruses. Once your medication & prevention regime is nailed hopefully that will reduce the times it happens though. In the meantime, keep talking to the nurse & tweaking your medication until you get settled.
With regards to omeprazole I assume that's for reflux oesophagitis or something similar? My wife has suffered with that on & off for a long time. She suffers occasional wheezing & shortness of breath which her GP says is caused by the reflux acid inflaming her throat (or something broadly similar).
I haven't been diagnosed with reflux but I think it's part of the trial and error of trying to get my treatment sorted! It's certainly helped where my heartburn is concerned but has made no difference to my asthma symptoms sadly.
Request the nurse to prescribe you with inhaler Forstair 100/6mcg 120 dose. First, try it with One Dose Twice eaach day - One morning and One before bedtime. If you do not receive an instant relief, take Two doses. During the day use the Ventolin and as many puffs until you relief. Ventolin is non steriod and it would not harm your health. Now, make sure you power exhale your lungs and power inhale the dosage. Power inhale through the mouth several times after the dosage. If your chest is tight to breath you ask your doctor to prescribe 30 tablets of Prednisolen. Take Six tablets at a time for Five days and it should clear your chest after Two days. But do complete the Five day dosage. I was born with hereditary serious Bronchial Asthma and suffered with it for 63 years. I also suffered several serious health problems with age. I innovated the only simple and easy therapeutice system in the world. It provides your body a permanent relief to an Asthma attack and Free your body from any aches and pains. Now in my 70th years and I never had a serious attack since or suffer any aches and pains. My body is also free from any bruise causing accidents.
Thanks for the info I'm seeing the GP shortly so will see what ideas we can come up with. I am think of asking for steroids though as I'm fed up feeling unwell and being off sick. All the best
Hi Flossie let us know how you got on at the GP steroids will help you dry out that mucus so you will breathe better. Antibiotics without steroids are useless for us asthmatics told me my specialists they can't do their work if bronchia is filled up with mucus. Take carexx
Unfortunately my GP didn't prescribe steroids 
I am on another lot of antibiotics instead- doxycycline this time, but I really need something more effective as I was coughing /wheezing and spluttering while putting our groceries away tonight! I just don't want to keep getting colds and ending up with yet another chest infection / flare up. I wish they would just give me something to knock it on the head as I can't keep taking time off sick each time I have a flare up but as a nursing assistant caring for elderly patients in an acute ward I can't take the risk of being the means of them picking up my lurgy. I am rather frustrated though as I have had so much time off sick but my GP and asthma nurse don't seem to appreciate that...
Anyway : how are things with you? xx
Hi Flossie I feel for you. Doxycycline is good, drink a lot I mean a lot of water with it.Thyme tea is a good anti-inflammatory take a thermos to work.
I would go to A&E at the wkend, if no better, monitor your peak flow, they'll give you steroids and nebs, don't hesitate tell them about the 4 previous courses of antibiotics and all.
I'm ok on my 40mg, a little excited with it I drink nightime herbal tea! Weather is fine but pollen is high we can't have it all!! Thank you for asking and keep in touch :)))
I think the chappy who delivered our shopping tonight was anxious I was going to keel over as I was coughing so much! My hubby was worried too... You're right about drinking LOTS of water with the doxycycline as it gives me awful indigestion- but it's preferable to coughing my lungs up!
I trust you keep "well" on your 40mg and keep in touch xx
Hi Flossie you made me laugh with the groceries and your hubby 😃😃 I can picture that scene. Do you have omeprazole 20mg take it first thing or lots of camomile tea till you are prescribed. You can buy it at boots over the counter but check with the pharmacist for any interactions.
Yes my peak flow is back to 320 after 3 days and they have announced rain and cold for a few days so I think I should give the spiriva another try as the doc asked me, considering I now have 2 different types of natural eye drops to put up to 20 times a day 😂😂 i tell you those side effects are a joke!!
Take care Flossie hope today is a good day xxx
You say your peak flow IS UP to 320??! That's when I start worrying about mine as it's usually about 380...
I'm sorry you have things so tough, but I am glad I was able to brighten your evening with the Waitrose delivery!!
I'm not on Omeprazole any longer- it was just a one off to see how things went- but today will be my first without it so we'll see...
I may try the camomile tea if things get desperate!
I trust you have a good day too- take care xx
My surgery changed me from Symbicort to that duoresp because it is cheaper! I found it useless too and it was changed back to Symbicort. That is a good med and I find it helps me a lot. Have you ever been on that? x
No, I don't think I have been on symbicort yet but watch this space!! 
Take care
Hi! I'm glad that you are better. Try medical alert system, maybe it can be easier for you if you have that, check on reviewsbee.com , I'm using one that I found on that site.
Increasing seretide 
New(ish) to Asthma
Problem with DuoResp Spiromax inhaler
