Hi all,
Our nurse team are back and ready to talk to you about colds, flu, winter triggers and getting ready for winter with your asthma. Please add your questions here and they'll be online on Tuesday 10th at 2.30 to answer your questions and concerns.
There’s no such thing as a silly question. The more you know about your asthma, the better your chance of staying well, so don’t be afraid to ask.
Thanks,
Dita
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Hi Dita. Is that 2.30 UK time? If it is Eastern time zone again can you please give us the UK time so us Brits can join in. Thank you. x
Hi Hidden
Yep, that's 2.30 UK time, feel free to post anytime before then and they'll be able to read them through.
Thanks,
Dita
Sorry Dita thought I had deleted my reply. I realised after posting it that it was a different site who used Eastern Standard Time and didn't give us Brits the UK time. It wasn't this one. Sorry again. x
When I press the "Post your question" button, I simply get back to the same page with this reply box, so I guess this is where I post the question.
I have had the flu jab yearly since before I was 60 (I'm now 67). However, despite the jab, I had my first ever case of flu in January; it was quite scary (I almost passed out), but it didn't affect my asthma which is quite mild anyway. I have read that, although older folk are in more danger from the flu virus, rather perversely the vaccination doesn't work so well as you get older. I wouldn't want others put off having the jab, but I wonder really how useful it is at my age?
Hi Superzob
Here's a reply from the nurse team. It's important to have your flu jab because your immunity gets lower as you get older. While the jab doesn't cover every type of flu, it sounds like you were unfortunate to catch it last year. Every year, new strains of flu virus emerge and it was particularly bad in Australia and New Zealand a few months ago and the NHS is expecting more cases of flu this winter.
Hope that helps,
Dita
Dita
Thanks, I'll get it done. My brother lives in Australia, and they have had a bad time with the flu this year.
My asthma seems to get worse in the autumn, i.e i go from hardly need my blue inhaler to needing it on a regular basis. I keep myself fit, always doing some sort of gym class. So, my asthma can kind of creep up on me for a better word (without exercising), i.e. i can go about for a while before i realise that i am not breathing correctly and/or end up feeling out of breath. How many doses of my blue inhaler is considered enough to warrant, me getting my asthma checked out?
Hi Croft40
If you're using your blue inhaler 3 times a week or more, it's usually a sign your preventer inhaler needs to be reviewed and you should make an appointment with your GP or asthma nurse. Cold weather can be a trigger so some people's asthma medication needs to be stepped up in the winter. If you haven't been to your GP for a review recently, we'd recommend going for a review of your medication.
Hope that helps,
Dita
Hi all,
Do leave your questions here for our nurses today. They'll be online in a couple of hours,
Thanks,
Dita
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Should I have the pneumonia jab? 
Asthma and pregnancy
Prednisolone every other day 
