Anyone else awake?

[alexanderosman]

Is anyone else here? I’m still coughing 😐

[Minushabens]

Hi - are you feeling any better? Did you speak to anyone? If not, please do today. Don't make me have to send the boys round

[alexanderosman in reply to Minushabens]

Hi, feeling about the same - not too bad for about 6 hours around the middle of the day, coughing loads morning and evening and peak flow is low unless I've just had ventolin. I did go to minor injuries on Saturday (they can treat chest infections) and they said I had a virus, which I already knew, but they can't prescribe steroids. Then this morning my ventolin inhaler ran out, so I saw my GP. She said again not a chest infection but to go back for prednisolone if I don't get any better.

I find it so frustrating, as if it's persisted this long, there's not much chance it will just go away on its own, although that would be great. Also I feel fine in the middle of the day if I sit still so I then start doubting there's anything wrong with me.

But at least I have inhalers now!

Thanks for asking.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to alexanderosman]

I'm not seeing the logic here of you needing a chest infection for pred! I really would have thought the asthma was enough at this point.

I really sympathise as it is very tricky when yiu're in thid in between stage and it feels like they don't get it or grasp how long it's been going on. Did your GP give a time limit re going back, or actually ask how long you have been like this?

If Minushabens's boys have pred maybe you should take him up on the offer I will accept enforcement squads with chocolate since pred often doesn't help me and the little ******s are doing similar to yours.

Hope it goes soon or you get pred!

[alexanderosman in reply to Lysistrata]

My GP did ask how long I've been like this, but I think it's the classic thing of being seen in the middle of the day. I was coughing when she saw me, but think that was actually counterproductive as she put my low peak flow down to the cough. I'll try just taking loads of ventolin and hoping it goes away and just see how I get on.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to alexanderosman]

But then if you are coughing and you have no infection she doesn't wonder why?! Aggh sometimes dr logic - I often get some very odd comments about coughing and how if I don't have an infection I must be ok despite still having asthma and barely being able to talk.

Maybe give the AUK nurses a ring? They are very helpful and have definitely heard this scenario before (I have asked them about it more than once!) so should be able to advise on how to approach your GP, re pred etc.

[alexanderosman in reply to Lysistrata]

I know, I did think but the cough is a symptom of asthma. It did start with some sort of mild virus as I had a scratchy throat and temperature early last week before the coughing started. As the cough subsides almost completely with ventolin and during the middle of the day when resting, it must be mainly asthma-related I would think. I'll see how I get on tomorrow and then consider going back as I don't think my GP works on Tuesdays anyway. I'm able to go to work just with constant coughing and regular ventolin.

[Lindahj203]

So sorry, I know how you feel, as been to dr before, and told it will go as it's a virus, however last two occasions then been told don't wait so long, and in fact this last exacerbation, told off for not calling out of hours dr out. Now onto my 3 rd course of antibiotics for this present infection, and 3 rd course of steroids for exacerbation. Pf improved only after being on nebuliser last Friday, by Saturday afternoon, started to improve. Feel half dead from lack of sleep with steroids, now can't stop eating, and tight sore chest muscles from the constant coughing. For years, kept being told as I did not wheeze it was not asthma. Last two exacerbations, I have coughed and wheezed, felt like I had to have serious exacerbations before being believed! Think you need to pay another visit to your dr before the weekend and you worsen. Best wishes.

[alexanderosman]

I can’t really tell what’s happening myself - last night I woke up around 3am and still half asleep took 6 puffs of ventolin due to coughing. Went straight back to sleep, woke up coughing again around 4 and took another 4 puffs then went back to sleep until my alarm went off. Obviously not good but then today has probably been my best day since last Tuesday so I’m totally confused.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

Sometimes my asthma does that too. A beast in the night but relatively well behaved in the day! Occasionally the other way round though I have learned it can disrupt my sleep without me waking up or being aware.

The night symptoms are very much a sign something is up but then you know it is! I hope your GP gives you pred when you go back - tell her about the night symptoms, she ought to listen to that as it is meant to be a sign of poor control.

[alexanderosman]

I just don’t want to have to have more time off work to go to the doctors again, which was my reasoning behind going on Saturday when I was bad.