Hi, I'm new to these kind of things but I'm a little lost after my recent diagnosis with asthma. Since august last year I've been hospitalised 4 times for more than a week each time, been rushed to the hospital via ambulance on a code red twice (one of those times was a very close call), I've visited A&E about 9 times and seen my GP more times than I can count and I feel as though it's a never ending cycle.
I'm on salbutamol, fostair and ciclesonide inhalers and was on pred for 5 months (stopped the beginning of January because I can't handle the side effects anymore) and nothing is helping. I've had the breathing tests, a laryngoscopy to check for VCD (only slight narrowing of the airways), CT scans and chest X Rays. I'm currently waiting to see a specialist about a severe asthma diagnosis as my current consultant said there's nothing more she can do as what I'm currently on should be helping.
They find I get an extremely fast heart rate when my chest plays up even the slightest, when I was in hospital over Christmas I had a monitor fitted. I'm only 23 with a 3 year old at home with me, but I feel like my lungs are 60 years ahead of their time! I struggle to walk long distances and there was a period where I didn't want to leave the house just incase something happened. I am in constant pain from coughing and sometimes it hurts so much I can barely move.
I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience? or if there is anything anyone else has tried that has helped?
Sorry for the huge story and rambling, I don't know anybody that suffers/has suffered with anything like this and it'd be nice to get some advice from people who have been through the same or similar things!
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amberx
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Hi & welcome to the forum. There are other people on here better qualified than me to talk about how it feels to be diagnosed as an adult & their strategies for coming to terms with & managing asthma, but we all recognise just how difficult it can be trying to live a life when you can't breathe.
At this stage, I'd say that the new consultant might be the best place to start making some sense of what is happening & they may want to carry out different tests. In the meantime, though, I would suggest doing some analysis of your life situation & see if you can spot anything that could be a trigger (it could be physical, environmental or emotional, as all these things bump into each other).
I'm sure eventually you will get to grips with it all, & there's a lot of people on here who can help you.
I hope the new consultant can shed some light on things, do you know what other tests they could be? I have had an allergy screening that came back all clear so I know it's nothing to do with that, I've never been able to pin point what it is that triggers it as I don't really know what to look for outside of allergies.
Hi, I have severe asthma and am under a specialist difficult asthma centre so may be able to help. Nothing like your experience though which sounds horrible glad you've been referred. In my experience general respiratory consultants often don't see much difficult asthma so aren't sure how to handle it, whereas the specialist centres focus on that.
How long before your appointment? It is worth checking beforehand that they have your notes and test results as this saves a bit of time - could call up the secretary there if you have an appt through and ask perhaps? Or the secretary for the consultant you have seen?
They shouldn't repeat the tests you have had as they are recent and they will want to avoid too many CT scans. They might want to do another set of breathing tests, with possibly more detailed tests than you had before.as specialist centres tend to have equipment for that which others may not. They will probably want to do FENO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) which sometimes gets used as a diagnostic tool but.really assesses tbe type of inflammation and whether it is steroid sensitive - that is how my team uses it.
They should also measure the eosinophils in your blood as you might be eligible for some.of the newer medications which target eosinophils and can be very effective for.some people.
Not sure where you are going for the referral but maybe see if their website has any information? If not you could try googlimg difficult asthma protocol to get an idea of the tests, even if it is not identical to what you will have. The UCLH difficult asthma centre I think has an overview of what they do which may help.
Good luck and I really hope you don't have too long to.wait! Once you are under a specialist centre they are usually very helpful with access to specialist nurses etc. You could actually try calling the Asthma UK helpline as the nurses there have often worked in these specialist centres and can tall you through it. I think there may also be information on the AUK website, under Diagnosing severe asthma.
Thank you so much for replying! It's been difficult but I'm just ready for some answers now ☹️ I hope so, I've not really heard much about specialist centres or consultants so I'm not really sure what to expect.
My appointment is next month, 22nd March. My current consultant said that she has been discussing my case with them anyway so they know most things already. I think I have an appointment with my specialist nurse before then so I could ask her?
That's good, I don't think I could handle another camera in my throat to be honest haha. I have had a FENO I think, I had a lot of tests done at the end of November and I'm sure that was one of them. I seem to do well on high dose of pred (usually 40mg) alongside all 3 inhalers but the pred is taking a huge toll on my body so I've decided to give it a rest. Is there anything you find that helps? Or do you suffer with pain too? Mainly at the back.
What are eosinophils if you don't mind me asking? I hope they find something, I have asked for a neb at home just to make it a little easier if I need it but they said no incase I turn to that instead of going to hospital.
I have one referral at the hospital near where I live and another one on it's way from a different centre but I'm not sure which yet! I'll look into that, thank you!
Thank you, I appreciate it and your help! I'll look into all of this and hopefully get a bit more insight before march.
Hi, definitely ask the nurse, they are generally very helpful so hopefully can shed some more light.
Re the FENO, it looks vaguely like a kind of hi tech microphone with a screen and you put your lips round it and have to.keep the pointer in the middle green band on the screen (very hard when I am having a flare up!). I get one done every time I go to clinic so I expect they will do it again! Mine varies in a way that doesn't seem to have much to do with symptoms - attacks with admissions have normal FENO, bit of a flare up has high.
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell associated with inflammation - they used to think all asthma had high eosinophils driving it but now are realising there are different types - ElizabethC and I both have this non-eosinophilic type. You will have had this tested because it is done as part of a complete blood count, and I have never yet been near a hospital that didn't extract blood as soon as you get in there! But they often don't mention it.
Pred and other steroids tend to suppress eosinophils so they may be interested in whether they are now high off pred. My eosinophils were pretty much non-existent on long term pred but now normal. I don't seem to always respond to pred well though my steroid inhaler (Fostair Nexthaler 200/6) does help. I am also on Phyllocontin (aminophylline) which my cons hates but I love and have asked to stay on as it helps, and Spiriva Respimat (ipratropium) which also helps. I think response to pred is associated with eosinophilic asthma though it can get a bit complex.
There are two new medications for severe asthma that specifically target eosinophils, mepolizumab (Nucala) and reslizumab (Cinqaero). If they think you would benefit from these, a specialist centre can prescribe.
Re the pain, sounds horrible! I do get some pain when things get worse but not so intense. When I started with all this and had no meds because they insisted it wasn't asthma (I had daily lower level symptoms then rather than attacks like yours; the admissions came later), I got costochondritis - basically inflamed ribs which was painful. My GP said it was an overuse injury due to the breathing and coughing! I can take ibuprofen etc ok but it can trigger asthma so be very careful with that. It may help though to think of it as a kind of overuse injury and maybe try things like heat packs? Perhaps best to ask GP or specialist nurse on that. Avoid any scented heat packs as scent can often be an asthma trigger.
Re the triggers, it can take a while to work out. Before I knew my asthma wasn't allergic I thought I was allergic to cats and wasn't happy! Turns out the problems were from sleeping in a newly painted room. Paint, many perfumes, aerosol sprays, rose and lavender plus other flowers in any form eg hand cream, smoke and cigarette smoke all set me off and are generally fairly common. If you spot any associations, definitely make a note.
Oh forgot to say, my HR goes nuts with asthma flares too - they often want to say it's just the ventolin but I know it is asthma partly because my HR goes nuts when I move around or cough. I usually end up on monitors and a couple of times it went really high (180). I get comments on it and have added it to the summary I created on how I present in A and E (I have no wheeze and good oxygen so have to tell them it really is asthma).
Have noticed recently my HR is going nuts too! Noticed that in the hosp A&E visit in Dec. Unfortunately the nurse was behaving as if I was deliberately raising it and telling me to calm down and stop coughing!!!!
Oh yes I remember this, I think mine has been one with a cloud I have to keep above a line all the way to the end? I've struggled with this also but my results seem to slightly improve each time depending on whether I'm flaring up or if I am on pred at the time.
I see, I'm guessing there wouldn't be an issue because it has never been mentioned to me whenever I have had my blood count done, this seems to be every time I am admitted.
They wanted me to stay on pred as they gave me more to use at 40mg but I was suffering with no sleep, awful swelling, bad skin and just felt terrible on them. But now I am not on them I am definitely feeling it. I started to feel a wheeze and tightness about 2 days after I came off them but I'm determined to stay that way. I am also on the fostair 200/6 which seems to be the best relief for me but it doesn't last too long and I have to take the maximum dose to feel the affect. What does phyllocontin do? There hasn't been anything I have taken that has helped long term or that I have felt a significant improvement from.
I will bring these up at my appointment if they don't already do so. I'm unsure of what tests will be carried out as I have already had quite a few.
Yes the pain is horrendous. I have been off work for months and had to change my job just recently, hopefully this will help a little bit. I usually get told the pain is just from coughing but even when I don't cough so much and just have the tightness, the pain is still sometimes unbearable. I tried a hot water bottle at one point but it didn't seem to relieve much, it's more of a sharp pain when I inhale or if I move a certain way or cough.
How did you realise that was your trigger? I still haven't been able to pinpoint mine. Whilst I had my laryngoscopy they sprayed lynx spray over my head to see how my airways would react to aerosols, it affected my chest but obviously lynx is extremely strong so I thought that was a normal reaction.
Yes I've had that too. They presume it's because of medication but my heart rate goes to 170+ whenever I have a flare up which usually ends me on a monitor. Although one flare up I had where I was rushed by ambulance, my heart rate dropped dangerously low and I required an adrenaline injection. I think I will include that on any notes I make.
I'm struggling to find my triggers and it's driving me insane because I'd love to know what it is that causes the major flare ups.
No wheeze and high oxygen - I sometimes get that too and yet it is so hard to get air in. With your experience what do you think is happening?
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador• in reply toTugun
Hi Tugun, no wheeze seems to be quite common in asthma but a lot.of doctors still think it is the same thing as bronchospasm and it is NOT!
For starters if your airways are narrowed enough there will actually be less air moving through them, hardly any if bad enough. This is my personal trick it seems - I once got told they heard a wheeze and were relieved because it was an improvement on the lack of air noises before! A quiet chest is not only for when you are turning blue ans about to.stop breathing either, as I get it with attacks that need hospital treatment but haven't had a horrendously bad intensive care one. Not.something to ignore though.
You also can wheeze in patches and they won't hear if listening in the wrong place, plus it.seems not all.drs can pick up reduced air entry. Even if you have no wheeze and good air entry it does not mean no asthma - a friend who is interested in this, knows about physics and has severe asthma pointed out there is a lot going on acoustically that a doctor cannot necessarily pick up. I also had a dr comment that I had prolonged expiration which is a sign of asthma.
Re the oxygen, some people especially younger people can compensate a lot to keep the oxygen up - I have had comments before that my arterial blood gas (taken post treatment) shows compensation, and the heart rate will also go up trying to compensate for breathing (medics please correct me if wrong). Sometimes my sats don't go low but they go up down up down up down and the nurses said it was desaturation and I definitely couldn't walk round the corner when being moved.
Also sometimes the finger monitor does not agree with the blood gas measurement. I now have a sats monitor on my phone which apparently is about as accurate as the finger ones (someone may correct me). I have been playing with it and it makes very little sense as it throws off oddly low numbers (well low.90s) with high HR when I think I am ok and may be 98% when I am struggling a little. I very much don't rely on it, just curiosity but it is weird. I suspect it doesn't work so well and the ones which do make sense are it getting lucky, so hope the hopsital finger ones are actually better!
Thanks very much for the info. I can relate to the oddly low numbers as a doctor sent me on a walk with my Step-dad to check on his oxygen levels. This also happened - but after the prescribed 5 minutes. His heart rate also seemed to compensate. Shortly after this he was in hospital and they did a 5 minute oxygen levels while he went for a walk. It showed up "Normal". I remarked that it had taken longer to show up when we had done it for the doctor. The girl just looked down her nose at me and said that 5 minutes was all that was needed and he was fine. Frustrating!
Wishing you all the best and thank you once again for the info.
Same things I'm sensitive too. I'm starting to look at home made cleaning products rather than buying as the scents just kill my lungs. Just had amazing results in unblocking a drain with bicarb of soda and vinegar and boiling water!!!
Things like Lynx and perfumes can also trigger vocal cord dysfunction but seems a bit risky to spray it around someone who has had severe asthma attacks!! My cons started asking me if my throat got tight when I told him about my spray triggers. I pointed out I never got a tight throat with anytbing and had been tested for VCD - sometimes seems like they get hung up on that a bit especially with weird types like me.
I know those things are a trigger as I react very quickly, like you did, but with some equally strong scents nothing happens! (Radox.lavender shower gel appears to be fake - it smells of lavender but does not trigger me whereas the real thing has a noisy reaction). They aren't triggers for everyone - my friend with severe allergic asthma does not react at all to deodorant or.perfumes but can't handle paint. The sleeping in a freshly painted room I worked out after I began to tighten and cough near paint. Lavender, rose etc have very quick and dramatic reactions. Cold air was always an issue for me even with mild asthma as a child. I often find moving from warm to cold sets me off. Cold air can be an instant reaction but it took me.a while to work out weather changes, humidity and pollution trigger me as the changes are often less instant. Half the time I can't point to one trigger before an admission - it often seems to be a pile up of triggers eg a couple of weeks ago I could feel things sliding after a minor attack with some dry ice at a party then cold air on the Monday. Luckily I am able to work from home when needed which really helped- I didn't go out for about 3 days, though with a child I imagine that isn't easy to do!
Phyllocontin is actually something of a mystery in how it works. It is an old drug, pre-steroid, and used in IV for severe attacks at times though not in all hospitals as it is a bit Marmite for.drs. My cons hates it as he doesn't like the side effects which can be bad in some.people - he said people usually ask to come.off it but I have never had problems while others are very sensitive to it. Spiriva (tiotropium) is a relative of the atrovent (ipratropium) they give in nebs - does that help you? I find atrovent nebs very good and Spiriva also helps (I didn't realise how much till my GP surgery.messed up with the prescription and I didn't have it fot a couple of.days!)
The pain sounds awful - has anyone given you advice on it? Once you have stirred things up ribwise it does really hurt and you realise how much ribs are used when you do anything! I did also find my chest and ribs hurt, though not nearly as much, when I was Vitamin D deficient - has that been tested, as it may also.affect asthma? Many people in Britain are low on it especially if dark skinned and/or indoors a lot - I am pale as a vampire but got.deficient even in summer because I always wear SPF50.
Re the summary, definitely add about the HR. Mine has how I present (no wheeze, ok sats, my best peak flow, high HR), my medications (not at the top so they have to read the other bits first haha), consultant name, my triggers, brief medical history ie number of admissions in last year and what I work as since.they always ask and.it is a long answer, and a bit where I can add what happened befoer this attack ie how many puffs of Ventolin, triggers etc. I used to.type it up and print it ready then add the bits on this attack in at the time. The A and E drs often steal it though so then I don't have it for others, but hopefully it will get put in my notes- they do find it useful! My current asthma centre developed all this on an asthma 'passport' which is a small card that folds out ans specifically says to copy and return lol.
Hugs. Many of us have had the same problems. I've had a similar year to you with 3 A&E visits and lost count of the number of GP visits.
Eventually saw a consultant after December was a constant coughing. My consultant has gone through all the tests and I've just been told its non allergic (and so far non- eosinophilic) asthma - these are difficult to manage when they go haywire. For me, colds and flu will send my respiratory system haywire - its like my immune system selects the big guns for fighting the virus but it then causes me to have exacerbations and then I get bacterial infections in the lungs - a vicious circle.
As Lysistrata has said - a new consultant is a good new start. If you can, try to spend time making a timeline of when your symptoms started and what symptoms you get. I did this for my consultant and he seems to have found it very useful.
Also, as Lysistrata suggests - do look at Asthma UK and call the nurses too. They are lovely and will listen to you.
Thank you. It's horrible isn't it, feel like I should have my own bay sometimes. I found at first I got a lot of eye rolls because I was constantly in and out.
That's good news that they have managed to narrow it down at least! I have had allergy screenings and they came back clear and I'm not so sure about the eosinophilic tests (I don't think that's been tested, I can't recall it being.) oh no, that's awful. do you find anything helps relieving symptoms when you know a cold/flu is about to start? I was in hospital over Christmas with the flu and I find when I get colds/flu/the tiniest cough I usually end up in the hospital. It's starting to affect my heart too when I have an exacerbation so I spent that time in hospital on the cardiac ward.
That's a good idea, thank you. So would this be every time I've had an exacerbation?
I have never thought about forums or even looking into anything like this but I'm glad I did now. Thank you. Hugs.
I have 12 hours or less to get high dose steroids and antibi into me. I was previously waiting a day or so to get emergency apt with doctor to get those meds but now I suspect I will have to have emergency stash so I get them as soon as I possibly can. If I don't, I will have inflammation build very quickly and stop any mucus from getting out so that will allow bacteria to grown exponentially and cause a chest infection or even pneumonia.
And then I have to STAY on them for a good 2 to 3 weeks (both meds) to prevent recurrence or reflare of symptoms. What was happening in Dec was I'd have the meds for the 5 days, would get better, stop coughing etc and within three days, it wold be back and no steroids. This is why I ended up in A&E as it was a weekend! In all, I had 4 recurrences and on the fourth one I was fortunate my Mum was able to rescue me with steroids (she has respiratroy issues too and has a stash) as it was New Years Eve! I did NOT want to be back in A&E on New Year. I then have to very slowly reduce the dose a bit per day to come off the steroid or my system will go into panic mode and I'm back to square one!
If you've had blood tests to test for allergens they will have also tested for Eosinophils.
Always have a summary/diary of your visits and what you had done and also brief outline of YOUR typical symptoms etc.
This last A&E visit, I grabbed my Samsung Tablet and in between violet fits of coughing, I typed up latest issues and what Steroids I'd already had etc. My husband drove me and a friend up (who insisted on being with me as my husband had to be elsewhere). Once I was in a bay in A&E - I handed the tablet over and they could use that instead of questioning me.
They found it very useful. So have it where you can easily grab it and hand over. It will be a comfort for you whilst you concentrate on getting breathing under control with whatever help is given.
I'm very techy so prefer that. If you prefer it on paper, then do that as long as you can grab it quickly before you go to hospital. Ensure you update that paper regularly.
I'd also suggest if you are likely to be admitted, then have a small overnight bag permanently packed with only last second items to be added. I'm not yet at that stage but I might get there so that may be something I will organise. It means you aren't needing to spend time and expend energy getting stuff together - its grab the back and go. You should only need to add a phone (have spare charger already in it), purse and keys. Nightwear, underwear changes, spare clothing, spare toiletries (including sanitary ware if needed), spare medications, books/something to do when you're feeling a bit better, bed socks, cardi or jumper/dressing gown and any other personal stuff you want with you should always be in the bag. Including any summary sheet/Asthma Action plan/Peak Flow diary etc.
As you have a 3 year old, if you don't have anyone else at home with you, then put in place emergency contact who can come to look after your child if you have an emergency A&E visit. You won't have time to deal with that as well and if you are admitted you need to be happy in the knowledge that your little one is safe. Have all that on your sheet or tablet or whatever (phone is ok but its a bit small to read).
Really, waiting a day seems a long time for an emergency appointment when you're suffering doesn't it? The GP has given me an emergency stash of pred incase I change my mind about taking them.
Do you suffer the side effects from those being on them for so long? My mum has asthma also and has often questioned the doctors about why I was on pred for so long and if it will have a long term effect on the amount my body makes naturally. I get that, the same happens to me! I'm off them for a few days and it just starts again. That's lucky, I'm not surprised you wouldn't want to be there NYE! I was in on the 21st December and came out Christmas Eve, I had to beg them to let me go home because I didn't want my son to spend Christmas without me, although I wasn't much fun. I was practically housebound for almost a month, I caught the flu and it set me back a ridiculous amount.
I will start to do that! There have been times I've been unable to speak by the time I get to hospital which doesn't help when they're asking questions that I physically can't answer. I prefer to write things down so I think I'll get a notepad and keep it packed in a bag like you have suggested! On the occasions that an ambulance has come out for me, luckily the paramedic grabbed a few things for me to put in a bag knowing it wouldn't be a short stay. My peak flow has always been quite low, getting to approx. 260 at best.
Yes it is just me and him at home, it worries me more that something would happen if he was at home with me. I'm lucky the times an ambulance has come that he has been with family members so he didn't have to witness it. He also suffers with asthma (not fully diagnosed because of his age), but we have spent every year in hospital for days during winter as he flares up. I don't like missing out on things with him and being away from him for a week at a time is difficult so I'm hoping the specialists I see next will help to find something to get it under control.
I've had to learn the hard way this past 12 months how very little time I have to get steroids and antibi. And doesn't it ALWAYS happen close to a weekend when your only option is hospital?
This past year has been particularly bad and I've not managed to "spring" back after getting over whatever infection I had. I suspect I've had the infection there all the time and it just starts to flare back up at the slightest provocation but trying to get GPs see that pattern has been very difficult - as I've never managed to see the same GP twice!
I've had steroids on and off all year due to the flares. I think I have been getting a bit of the puffiness look but apparently I have lost a bit of weight (or so the Asthma Nurse said.)
I am very aware of needing NOT to fall into the vicious cycle of constant steroids and without my Consultant I think that is exactly what would have happened. What we are now looking at is probably a low, constant dose of antibi but I want to see how I go at the moment for the next 6 weeks with Resp and Voice Rehab and Physio. If the mucus I have continues then I may consider seeing if the antibi and/or mucus reduction meds will help.
I had osteoporosis when I was 11 so I need to be very careful not getting it back. Constant steroid use can trigger it as it thins the bones.
Problem is, if you have asthma which can't be controlled any other way except by steroids then that is what is keeping you alive.
If you did have an asthma attack when your little one is at home with you - just do what you usually do and get emergency help. The Ambulance will bring him with you. That is where having a contact on your notepad/tablet or whatever you decide to use will ensure someone will be able to collect him and look after him. Have a second bag packed with his things too so its literally a pick up and go (label the bag with his name, age, home address and the contacts to call).
I was asked to keep a Peak Flow diary for 2 weeks by my consultant. I hate using paper based ones so looked for computer based ones. None were available (why???) so I created my own excel spreadsheet which is also a daily symptom diary as well as peak flow recording (AM and PM) which is creating a graph as I update. I've found my average is around 265. My personal best has been 300 previously. In December my PF went down to 150!
Keeping a PF diary is good though as you can see patterns emerging and identify with the symptom diary for each day whether you are getting sick or something has "upset" your lungs. Asthma UK have a PF paper based diary that you could use.
Glad my experience and suggestion can be of help. Really its getting as much in place as you can *in case* you have to go to hospital so you don't have to worry about picking up this or that or trying to answer questions when you are desperately trying to get air, not worrying (in your case) about your little one as you know he will be safe etc.
That's a great tip about child care. There is a range of phones made by Doro, designed for older people mainly, which can automatically send a pre-written text to (I think) up to 10 people by pressing a button on the back. Assuming you don't need it as a phone, you'd pick one up on PAYG from about £50 or so. There might be apps as well on smartphones that do the same thing?
Hi, you've some wonderful replies by more experienced people than me that I can't really add to. I wanted to send some empathy your way and say I take my hat off to you for exploring every avenue. You will get there, keep looking, keep asking & keep learning. It must be so hard having a three year old to cope with too but lots of joy as well.
Some of things that really help me & my family: We have a 'Buff' or two, a fine fabric little snood to pull up over mouth & nose to prevent the cold air getting in - also help with prevention of other people's bugs affecting you & using up your precious immune systems. You can get baby size, child & adult. I prefer the fine wool ones, I've a small head so wear child size. Have a look on Amazon. The best thing I ever bought for travelling on the Tube & filtering out London pollution Get your flu vaccination - it's not too late for this season. I'd advise a pneumonia vaccine for yourself too, I'd had it so many times it's taken years to rebuild my immune system. Regarding your immune systems, take as many vitamins & minerals as you can afford plus a high billions probiotic (expensive but we're worth it, I asked for them for Xmas)! At the mo I'm taking 20 billion of 5 strains as I've been on antibiotics for two weeks. I'll continue I think, to March. I also have effervesant Vit C handy & drink a pint of 1000mg at the first sing of a sore throat or snuffle.
I do hope this helps a little and I wish you the very best with new cons and for the future. Peege
ooo, one more thing, breathing tecniques, I use pursed lip breathing to help with shortness of breath, walking & exercise & deep diaphragm breathing to calm when endless coughing. Last evening I managed to avoid extra Fostair & Ventolin by breathing. Something my son taught himself as a child. There's something called Butekyo which I'm told is brilliant for asthmatics, particularly children. X
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador• in reply topeege
I forgot to say above they may well send you to a respiratory physio. Asthma often gives people bad breathing habits! I have done Buteyko with a physio trained in it and it didn't do a huge amount but did help with the bad habits. Others have seen more improvement. Even if just general breathing habits it may be useful as an add-on and could possibly help with the pain issues.
Amber, It must be a shock to delelop Asthma if you didn't have it from childhood. It sounds like you have been examined well from a medical perspective. I've had various levels of Asthma since childhood. In my case I know there is both a physical and sometimes physological aspect to an attack. Anxiety can be a factor, obviously and allergy triggers you can identify. I try to keep my meds down to a min as in my case inhaling to many different inhalers seemed counter productive, but that jut me. I've never not been an asmatic so it's just part of my life. Keep your general health as good as possible is important, diet, vitamins, light excercise. Smoking/Alcohol not a good idea. Always have a supply of spare reliver inhalers in various locations in case of a bad episode. If you get a bad attack try to stay calm, sit upright, breath slowly trhu your nose and out your mouth, use your reliever as nesessary. Panic will made it worse. Obviously these are just from my experiance, obviously follow your medical advice.
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glad you've been referred. In my experience general respiratory consultants often don't see much difficult asthma so aren't sure how to handle it, whereas the specialist centres focus on that.
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