Update since last one when sleep was being murdered...

[ElizabethC]

Since I last posted about a month ago, I've been moved to Fostair and I'm loving it. For the first time in 6 months I can breathe. More, if I do get breathing probs, I reach for Fostair first (am on 2 puffs am and 2 pm and up to 4 extra in a day) and within 10 - 15 minutes I am breathing *and I stay breathing*. This I cannot say happens with Ventolin.

I've had a couple of wobbles in the past month but generally I am improving at long last (and the feet and leg cramps I had when on Symbicort are lessening.....co-incidence??).

Something I do want to ask - don't know if anyone else has this or can suggest something...

I had a dental appointment today. I have some old amalgam fillings that really need changing and now I have found a dentist I can trust, I need to get them sorted. Visited hygienist first and we had to be careful that the water that is used to help clean the teeth isn't flicking to the back of my throat because I have a very, very super sensitive choke reflex. When I was at my worst with the asthma, I could literally move my head down or to the side and the act of doing that would trigger violent choking attacks. When that happens, the lungs and lower airways decide to join in.

Since being on Fostair the sensitivity has lessened, but though we managed to avoid it triggering in the hygienist, when I went to the dentist and had the needle in my mouth administering the anaesthetic, the gel used to numb the area managed to trickle to my throat and.....yep - one full blown choking attack. Managed to hold it off long enough for my dentist to remove the needle but it was a big one. Fostair got me breathing again but my dentist was not happy about continuing with the removal and then making a new filling as my throat was being so twitchy.

So, has anyone else had this problem, and are there any suggestions on what I and my dentist can do to prevent/limit if happening? I really do need to get the fillings sorted out but if I am likely to go into a choking attack at any point in the treatment this is going to be a problem.

Thanks folks.

[beech]

I would suggest leaving the dental treatment for at least a couple of months to allow your new Fostair treatment to take better effect.

I had a similar problem of a twitchy over-sensitive cough response, but this improved greatly - well, has pretty much disappeared - within a couple of months of starting Symbicort, in my case.

I too needed several long dental appointments, and was able to cope without once needing to cough or feel smothered by breathing lying flat for a long time with my mouth open and someone covering my mouth, which is a particular hate of mine these days! I was dreading that, but was ok.

I hope you feel the fuller beneficial effects before too long.

[ElizabethC in reply to beech]

I'm loving Fostair! Symbicort didn't work for me unfortunately but there has been a huge difference with going on Fostair. I don't have a voice that sounds like I have permanent laryngitis and the Ventolin useage has dropped to maybe 1 dose in a week rather than 3 - 5 in a DAY.

I'm thinking I may have to delay the dental apts for a while but one is rather urgent as the filling has cracked. Its been temporarily repaired but it won't be long before it breaks again and I get toothache again. Don't want to end up with a root canal in that one.

I can lie back ok but its if even a teeny drop of water goes too far into the throat which normally shouldn't be a prob or at worst only triggers a small cough. I don't understand why the throat should become so sensitive. I tried to explain this to my doctor a year ago and he dismissed it as nothing to worry about at all. Clearly that is not the case.

I may be able to wait till August. Maybe using the Hygienist for now will get my throat "used" to it, but I daren't risk waiting till the winter and possible flu/colds being caught again - they are my biggest triggers. Its what caused the last 6 months of asthma hell for me.

Thanks.