GP tomorrow and very confused

[Emily-G]

Hi everyone, hoping that someone has advice for me.

I have a GP appointment tomorrow (he asked to see me) to discuss the kenalog injections I started a few months ago then stopped after an appointment with his colleague when he was on holiday.

Boring background is (according to consultant) severe persistent asthma with multiple allergies. I have a home nebuliser, relvar ellipta salbutamol fexofenadine zafirlukast omeprazole and ranetidine and epipen. In the last few years I've been pretty much constantly off and on prednisolone. My own GP wanted me to try steroid injection to get better control and avoid the tablets. His colleague says that because I have osteopenia and my bone scan is close to osteoporosis I need to avoid steroids all together.

So for last few weeks I have been muddling along using nebuliser and blue inhaler. My pf is very variable (yesterday went to 150 with my 'best' 410 that's a bit of a drop but the neb always brings it back to 300/350)

I am waiting to see immunology

If my GP recommends restarting the steroid tablets or injections what should I do?

Hope everyone is managing as well as they can in the crazy pollen weather.

Sorry for the too long post

Emily xxx

[Helennn]

Hi Emily, they really need to do more tests to see how much these steroid injections will effect your bones in the long run. It sounds like without them your asthma becomes a lot worse from your pf stats.

I hope you and your doctor can get the right balance for you to live life to the full with asthma without damaging your bones!

[Emily-G in reply to Helennn]

Hi Helen, I did wonder about asking for another dexa scan thing to see if they are any worse than last time (just before Xmas) or if that's too soon.

Thank you, I ll see what he says 😊 xxx

[Hidden]

Hi Emily-G

Great to hear you have a GP appointment ready. If you'd like to talk more in-depth about medication such as steroid tablets or injections then please call our asthma nurses on our helpline on 0300 222 5800 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

Hope that helps,

Dita

[Emily-G in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your advice on here and on the phone yesterday.

My GP appointment is a long story. Short version is immunology waiting list is very long here, my allergies are mainly known and we already have Rast results, kenalog worked for me before and my bones are far from ideal but not a disaster. He thinks kenalog in April and again in July could see me through the worst of my flare ups. So I've had 80mg today to hopefully see me through this season and stronger calcium & vit D. He thinks the kenalog is better for me than repeated courses of pred.

I think I'm going with this for this year, will see how I go over the winter (hopefully all will be good)

Thanks again for the support yesterday. I felt much less wobbley about it all 😊

Emily xxx

[Sunflower_2017]

Emily-G do you suffer of GORD is that the reason why you are taking omeprazole and ranitidine ? I also take it from time to time because of the reflux.

[Emily-G in reply to Sunflower_2017]

Hiya - yes the omeprazole is to help the GORD, the ranetidine helps with that too and my GP says it also can help my allergies (tho I don't really understand how)

The reflux doesn't help with the asthma, and keeping it under control has really helped me.

Xxx

[Sunflower_2017]

GORD and asthma only is enough to think how many things you can't do to live a normal life.

Though I go over the fence sometimes with the diet, it's a good feeling when nothing bothers me. I'm worried about the cold weather. Last Christmas I was really bad because of a cold. I got better very slowly.