Recent asthma attack after being clear for over 4 years.

[Palmo]

Hi I'm new here. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 29, quite a few years ago now! I have had attacks before and been hospitalised. Luckily I have not had anything for approx 4 years but last Thursday, following a bad cough and cold, I had an attack. I was seen by paramedics but not dragged off to hospital. After seeing gp, I have been taking 30mg prednisilone since Friday. Things are settling down but I feel so low and have no interest in anything at all. I have zero energy which isn't helping and my emotions seem to go up and down within a matter of minutes! I am also going through an episode of depression.

Is all this normal after an attack? I can't remember feeling this bad before?

Thank you for reading x

[Hidden]

Hi I am sorry to hear that as asthma attacks are very scarey. One tip I was given (forgive me if you know this already) was despite the natural attemps to breathe through your mouth to get air, breathe through your nose instead. I never thought of this and in my last attack it really helped.

You can also learn breathing exercises to do on the net. If you do those just before bedtime it might help. Are you on any meds? I always take my symicort and blue ventolin inhaler just before bed and it has cut down my attacks. Also sleeping higher up with more pillows helps too, especially if you have a cold etc. x

[Palmo in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the tip, breathing exercises always confuse me, so I'll take a look! X

[Mark384 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I was told this I tryed it and surprisingly its working 50% better now ,

Thankyou everyone

[Mark384]

Hi , the little preds will help but with asthma you get a cold or flu its much worse than someone who hasn't got asthma , once your colds gone your asthma will clear the cold will aggravate it maybe cause chest infection but anti biotics will clear it up I always have it just allow a little longer to clear you have to be careful with asthma and germs , I put hand gel on so anything I touch don't give me colds etc , hope your better soon ,

PS I had flu and man I was in bed a week couldn't move and I had a chest infection 6 weeks ago 2 courses of anti biotics and its finally going goodluck

[Hidden]

Hi. Sounds like prednisalone has the same effect on you as it does me. Very depressing drug but does work for the chest. I find it makes me very drowsy. I asked my asthma nurse if I could take it at night insread of the morning she was shocked as most say it keeps them awake (I always knew I was weird/special ) it works for me to take around 8pm. I get sleep and the worst drowsiness and low mood has worn off by morning. Hope you feel better soon. Take care. Rosalind

[ChrissieMons]

It is not unusual. Asthma attacks are very tiring and the sense that you feel you have zero energy is going to make you feel depressed anyway. The steroids don't help this feeling either. I have found the only way is to just wait until you feel better. Don't worry yourself, don't expect anything of yourself, just encourage people around you to cosset you until you get your get-up-and-go back, which you will. Enjoy being fussed!

[Palmo]

Thank you for the replies and support, it has definitely helped xx

[Hidden]

Hi Palmo so sorry to hear you are feeling low. I would say yes it is a shock to the system. The fact that you were clear for a long time and back to square one is no joy either. We all come here to share our experiences and feelings, it is a good supportive forum I have found. I would say keep in touch with your Asthma nurse and GP so they can monitor your progress, phone Asthma UK for guidance, it will help.

Take care xx