Asthma again not since teenager. Now adult. Bit of support?

[Qwerty83]

Greetings. I hope you are all well

I am writing very overwhelmed. Will try not bore with all the details

I have not had asthma since a teenager I am now in my mid 30’s

My symptoms flared up weeks ago but started with a lot of sneezing in mornings shortness of breath, tight chest, difficult talking etc

Finally went to doctors and it was a nurse i saw and she could hear patches of wheezing all over chest. Prescribed Qvar and Ventolin

Ventolin really helping but having to take it 4 times a day, waiting on steroid to really start to work.

Does anyone know why I have to wait 6 weeks to see an asthma nurse? Apparently I have to go back in 6 weeks. However I’m struggling here trying to find out why this has come on again at a later age and what is causing it (and also trying not to use inhaler so much in the meantime) When I was younger it was always cold air in the winter that got me and it was never this bad.

Could it just be a seasonal passing thing? Very confused here. Already have a couple of health issues going on in which I have been working hard to come off some medication just to be handed out 2 more.

Wondering if anyone gone through something similar

[WheezyAnne]

Is this the Asthma Nurse at your GP Surgery? Sounds like she is one busy lady. Could you perhaps get a telephone appointment sooner? Or a GP telephone appointment sooner? DO IT TODAY (you don't want to risk your Asthma getting worse, especially near the weekend). It is very common for Asthma to calm down for a number of years, then come back with a vengeance. There are many people on here in a similar situation. It maybe that you need a short course of oral steroids to help calm down the inflammation in your lungs. Please note though, we are not medically trained, and can only offer you our knowledge gleaned from experience. Asthma is such a complex subject, and we all react differently to our various triggers. It will take time to sort out a new Asthma Plan and which meds best control your Asthma. There are many more inhalers etc around now to help. It will get better. Please don't struggle on without getting medical advice today. Unfortunately it all takes time. Lots I could say, but time for my meds now. To offer more of our experience we will need more info, how long have you been on your meds? What is your peak flow? Have you had Allergy Tests?

[Qwerty83 in reply to WheezyAnne]

Yes this was the nurse st my surgery. I was expecting to see the doctor when I asked for an appointment in the morning!

This surgery is awful (sorry) you can’t book appointments. You have to call in the mornings to get one.

My peak flow was not that bad. 400. I’m 5 ft 8. But I’m used to it being around 550. (Musician graduate)

I have now been on my medication since Tuesday. Since then I picked up some antihistamines which has eased the sneezing. It’s now too late to call. But I will take this advise of the other post and will go to the hospital if things get very bad. And call back the doctors Monday and speak to a GP regarding the oral steroids

Thank you

[ChrissieMons]

They may want to leave you for a bit to see how you get on with Qvar & Ventolin and your other medication. However, if it is clear to you that the asthma regimen is not working, you need to go back and see a GP. Asthma - and allergies - can change, develop, worsen and improve at any age. Your best bet is to speak to a nurse at AsthmaUK 0300 222 5800 on Monday. In the meantime, look after yourself, rest and relax as much as you can. If things get very bad, and you can't speak without a real struggle, go to A&E.

[Qwerty83 in reply to ChrissieMons]

Thank you.

[risabel59]

I would also say, you need to tell them you are a musician, as Musician have much better peak flow than average, and the doctor may not be taking that into account.

R x

[Alauralane]

Hello there, unfortunately as stated above our asthma symptoms can come and go through our lives and reappear suddenly after many years of being symptom free, you can also as stated become allergic to anything at any time with no warning, like yourself I was symptom free for years and then this year bam, back with a vengeance, I will say like you initially my symptoms needed me to take ventolin several times a day and the steroid inhaler they put me on did take about 3 to 4 weeks to make a difference, I too took an antihistamine for the sneezing and congestion, this only helped a little, it is not unusual that inflammation to your airways once it is there takes time to settle back down. I aso found that the stress made my breathing way worse, I was worried that it was COPD and not just asthma, and the relief of being assured after spirometry tests that it was still asthma seemed to help, it also took several weeks to get an appointment with the asthma nurse from being prescribed medication, I think it is because they want to wait to access any improvements, my symptoms did eventually settle to my relief, only to reappear a month ago, so I am back on the steroid inhaler. They seemed keen to stop my treatment and see how I went, in case it was all triggered by seasonal allergies, every surgery is different and as advised, if you are struggling to talk then you need to get urgent treatment and not wait. Just a quick note, acid reflux or Gerd which I am being investigated for can cause or mimic asthma symptoms as the airways become irritated by aspirated acid this can be silent and you not have any other symptoms but asthma, with the sneezing it does sound as though there is an allergy to something, has anything changed in your environment?, A new pet, moved home, decorated, started eating something new or different. All the best.

[Qwerty83 in reply to Alauralane]

Thank you. It’s been 1 day less than a week and I’m using Ventolin less and feeling improvement and very happy about this.

Nothing has changed in my environment however I’m not having to take the antihistamines now and I bought 2 anti allergy pillows to sleep on.

But what has changed is this. And I know it will sound weird. The shortness of breath started weeks and weeks ago I noticed that and fobbed it off cause nothing else was going on. But here in the UK one weekend the sun went strange and the next day I remember telling my neighbour I’m so sorry if i kept you awake sneezing and coughing.

It went downhill from there and I found out they had told people with asthma and breathing problems to stay in that weekend.

I think it may be the atmosphere. Pollution fires and sand blown over (we had a hurricane). But maybe dust. Not sure.

[etwallace in reply to Qwerty83]

I CAN TELL YOU WITH 100% CERTAINTY THAT QVAR INHALERS ARE PRONE TO CLOGGING OF THE ATOMIZER NOZZLE, WITH A WHITE POWDERY SUBSTANCE. IF IT HAPPENS YOU WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM THE INHALER AND WILL BECOME ASTHMATIC AFTER A FEW DAYS. A BLOCKED NOZZLE CANNOT BE CLEARED, GET A NEW INHALER AND CHECK IT PUFFS PROPERLY EVERYDAY. THE MANUFACTURERS OF QVAR WILL NOT ADMIT THE INHALERS CLOG UP AND ITS NOT AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM UNLESS YOU LOOK FOR IT. TRY CLENIL MODULITE WHICH IS LESS PRONE TO CLOGGING OF THE NOZZLE.

[Qwerty83]

Thank you for that advice. (All for advice) def check for that. Shall wait and see what the nurse advises in my next appointment and hopefully get to the root of what has caused this. Will keep you all informed and updated. X