Worsening asthma after flu

[ChilledLady]

This is my first post as I have never felt the need for support before when handling my asthma. My asthma was diagnosed at around 50 and is generally not a problem. I take fostair with occasional use of a reliever. However, after a visit to see grandchildren, I have picked up a flu-like illness and suffered for around ten days now. My asthma is currently much worse with tight chest, wheezing, coughing, and no apparent improvement over this period. No life threatening, I'm sure, but where do I go from here? I am in currently back in the UK after travelling in Europe. Please help.

[Hidden]

Hello ChilledLady, welcome to the forum,

The first thing you need to do is to make an urgent appointment to see your GP. Explain to the receptionist that you have asthma, and your condition is worsening as a result of a viral infection. It is very important that your asthma is checked, and it would also be a good idea to make sure that you are not coming down with a chest infection (which also won't be good for your asthma).

There are some nasty bugs going round at the moment and quite a few of us on the forum have gone down with them, including myself. I was at my local surgery yesterday getting a persistent cough resulting from it checked out.

Do you have a peak flow metre? If you do check what your reading is so that you can take that information in with you when you see the doctor. If you don't have one, ask for one (they are available on prescription I believe) and make sure that someone - doctor, Asthma nurse, pharmacist - explains to you how to use it.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Hidden]

Hi ChilledLady

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear your asthma has been getting worse. Just to reiterate the advice on the thread, it sounds like you need to visit your GP or asthma nurse to have a review of your medications to get your asthma back in control.

They will ask you about your symptoms and how you're feeling. They may listen to your chest and check your peak flow to see how it compares to normal. They should also talk to you about how often you take your medicines, and check your inhaler technique.

Sometimes it may be necessary to increase the dose of your preventer inhaler, or your GP or asthma nurse may need to add in other medicines and inhalers to help you. Sometimes when asthma gets worse it's necessary to treat the inflammation with a short "rescue" course of steroid tablets (prednisolone).

Please feel free to give our specialist asthma nurses team a ring on 0300 222 5800 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

Take care,

Dita

[Weeannie]

Go see your Doc right away. Asthma is always life threatening and that’s why you mustn’t just leave it til later. As often as not we asthmatics catch a virus that lands on our chest and nothing shifts it but antibiotics and steroids. If I were you I’d go see my Doc soon as possible x

[RSKi]

Hello ChilledLady, welcome. As per the other posts I would ask for an emergency doctors appointment stating you have worsening asthma due to a bug/flu. I had the same happen to me earlier this year when I was travelling and needed a short course of Pred (steroids), antibiotics and increased inhalers....I left it very late to see the doctors and I think that contributed to it taking ages to get over. Don't make my mistake!. I hope you get sorted quickly and feel better soon. R

[ChilledLady]

Thank you for the replies. I was travelling but made contact with my GP (on my mobile), who prescribed a short course of steroids, which I am now taking. Things have not worsened and hopefully will improve in a short while. This is something new for me. My asthma is usually well controlled, but I guess I should be aware to not delay if it appears to becoming a problem.