Asthma Review with a Matron

I have completed an asthma review with a totally new community matron who has never met me before.

It went well but I definitely knew more about asthma than her.

I am to continue on 40mg prednisolone until peak flow stabilises.

I am to continue on Symbicort 200/6 two puffs six times a day.

I am to start blue inhaler ten puffs every hour. (question my blue inhaler is 200mcg so is that only 5 puffs)

The new research states taking blue inhaler hourly is better than a nebuliser four times a day she says. I will humour her since secondary care have yet to ring me.

At least this community matron actually works weekends 9 til 5 so if i am worried i can phone. Reassurance is a blessing!

I have had an asthma review within the 12 hours 111 recommended I saw primary care. Miracles do happen.

[Sammie1980]

Hi,

Ihavf has the advice about your blue inhaler if you don’t have a neb or if your having an attack as 10 puffs is the equivalent of 1 neb.

I have been on prednisone for 5 years, it is normal to be put on 30 or 40 to start, I’m sure they will monitor you and don’t be afraid to call or ask if your not sure.

Personally I would say the inhaler maybe too much for 1 hour, I would just double check to be safe.

Hope it gets under control soon for you.

[Thompson_2009]

That does not sound right to me at all, if you are on steroids, you should not hardly need to take anything else, just a normal preventer at night and in the morning. couple of puffs would of thought. Peak flow is the best way to tell if the meds are working, it should always improve after taking steroid and especially a neb. the main thing is to try and find out what your triggers are, it will go a long way to helping, practically cured mine.

Taking a blue inhaler is good for a while only if taken with a spacer, 3 or 4 puffs in the spacer then inhale, what i have been told in the past.

[tk11]

I think you need some further advice. I have just been changed from the Smart regime with Symbicort 200/6 which is what you are following... it did not stabilise me either.

I hope you are not relying on your blue too much. I was told use before I got into difficulty. I feel it's my safety net

I am now on Flutiform 250/10 two puffs twice daily as a preventerand for the first time in about two years I am controlled. Here for more chat if you need me. Good luck

[Hidden]

Glad you got seen Julie.

Ok sounds like a good interim action plan till you get your appointment. Yes there is a new research about nebuliser versus inhaler.. My lung specialist told me an aerochamber with a proper use of inhaler is a better choice. I always use the aerochamber.

Did she suggest peakflow or oxygen monitoring? I’d take my peakflow 3 times a day to see how you are coping with this amount of meds.

You take good care Julie x

[Hidden]

there is actually no limit on a blue inhaler see NICE guidelines.

[Hidden]

It really seems everyone of us is told something different. I normally check everything I am told with NICE guidelines. It is ten puffs of an 100mcg inhaler as I suspected. So I only take 5 puffs of my 200mcg ventolin each hour. I am already starting to feel loads better. I still find my asthma responds better to blue when it has become grumpy. I have been put on a waiting list for breathing and lung volume tests. I have also been put down for lung research as I respond differently.

[Chloe2057]

I was given the same advice in a very large teaching hospital by a very senior in fact The Senior Consultant, 10 puffs of Ventolin up to 6 times a day rather than 6/8 nebs of 10mg Salbutamol and 1mg Ipratopium mixed! Oh yes! In a spacer of course. Strangely l recently spent a while in the amazing clean air up in the North of Scotland walking when l could! Reduced asthma meds’ felt much better???