111, 999 or nothing?????

[Paininchest]

Hi, thank you for letting me join your site. Around 3 weeks ago I had the pleasure of flu. Since then for the last 9/10 days I've been struggling to breath, coughing, gasping and pain in middle of chest. Went to nurse and she gave me a ventolin inhaler. Went back 2 days later as had got worse and she gave me a brown steroid inhaler. My peakflow was 340, should be around 440. 2 days ago I had an emergency sit and wait appointment with gp. My peakflow was 250. She gave me 5 days worth of steroid tablets. Thing is I'm gasping to try and get air into my kings, when should I worry and think about possibly going to A&E. I don't want to waste their time.

[chronicallyfabulous]

Hi lovely,

If you’re struggling so much but worried about going straight to A&E, give 111 a call. They will be able to do a basic primary assessment and get a doctor to call you back who will then give you advice on the best course of action for you.

Your peak flow has been decreasing rapidly and you’ve said you’re having to gasp for breath, in my eyes that warrants a trip to A&E as persistent struggling to breathe with no relief from your inhaler will be putting your body under strain.

It’s your choice though. Please keep us posted on how you’re doing x

[WK51FOD in reply to chronicallyfabulous]

HI chronicallyfabulous.

Sorry to hear you are struggling so much to breathe I know what its like and it is v frightening. Maybe you should phone 111 and see what they suggest.

My wheezy chest and cough started on 5 Dec after a viral infection it was then diagnosed as Bronchitis and I was put on antibiotics which did not work, i was then sent to see an asthma nurse who put me on Fostair which made me worse and oral steroids which didn't help. The Fostair made me v shaky so when my GP came last thurs he put me on 2 weeks of stronger antibiotics and a brown stereos inhaler called Clenil.

Thought I was less wheezy in the night and coughed less but am as bad as ever this morning so I know how you feel.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Best wishes WK51 FOD

[Paininchest in reply to WK51FOD]

Thank you for your reply, bit graphic but we're you coughing up anything?

[WK51FOD in reply to Paininchest]

My husband took a sputum specimen to the surgery but it came back negative but when the GP came last thurs he thought my chest was crackly.

[chronicallyfabulous in reply to WK51FOD]

Hello @wk51FOD

It’s not actually me who’s struggling to breathe. I was just the first person to post offering advice.

Hope you’re well now

[WK51FOD in reply to chronicallyfabulous]

Sorry. Sadly I still don't feel v well although at the moment i am not struggling to breathe as much as sometimes but this persistent hacking cough and wheezy chest is getting me down big style.

[chronicallyfabulous in reply to WK51FOD]

Has your GP provided you with any treatment?

[Paininchest in reply to chronicallyfabulous]

5 day course of oral steroids which I finished today.

[WK51FOD in reply to chronicallyfabulous]

My GP has started me on a steroid inhaler called Clenil 2 puffs twice a day and 2 weeks worth of Clarithromycin 500 MG one twice a day which i started on last Thurs.

A while back he put me on Doxycycline which did not clear the Bronchitis up and 2 lots of oral steroids which again made no difference. The nurse put me on Fostair inhaler but i had to stop that as it ws making me v shaky.

[Scoobs87]

I would got to A&E and especially go if you can’t speak a full sentence.

[Paininchest in reply to Scoobs87]

When it's bad I can only string 3 or 4 words.

[Scoobs87 in reply to Paininchest]

I have always been told if you have to stop and start to take a breath. Then it’s not a good place .

[ameljoelmarcus in reply to Paininchest]

please go to your doctor Now had same thing last month and the flu aggravated my asthma and had to spend five days on oxygen and nebulisers feeling awful do not leave it

[elanaoali]

I would definitely say this is a trip to A &E.

[loulouliss1]

I agree with others, a trip to a&e! Better to be safe

[Paininchest in reply to loulouliss1]

Thing is, when I saw the gp and got the steroids she listened to the whole of my back and said it was fine. Nor am I coughing up anything. I'm only coughing to try and get a load of air.

[loulouliss1 in reply to Paininchest]

Do you use your own peak flow and do you have an attack plan?

[Paininchest in reply to loulouliss1]

No and no. X

[loulouliss1 in reply to Paininchest]

I would advise going to your gp/nurse and getting an asthma action plan which will help you understand when you should be dialing 111 or 999, a couple of months ago i was very confused about when i should be phoning, even to the point where i had a severe attack and didnt phone until people phoned for me as my lips turned blue! I would say if you have a bad time breathing at any point phone 111, they will assess you and help make a descision . Best of luck to you and hope it all gets better!

Also remember that just because you are not wheezing/ they hear no wheeze doesnt mean its not an attack.. people dont always wheeze during an attack

[Paininchest]

Thank you all.

[hypercat54]

HI I agree with the others and I hope by now you have called 999. I know it's a real pain going to ER but it's better to be safe than sorry. Don't forget not being able to breathe is a medical emergency and too many asthmatics die when they wouldn't have with proper care. Not trying to scare you or anything. x

[Hidden]

Hi Paininchest

Just to add to the advice already given about going to A&E. There's some information here about when to go to A&E: bit.ly/2Eo9P84

In general the Asthma UK advice is as follows:

YOU NEED TO CALL AN AMBULANCE IF..

Your reliever isn't helping

Your symptoms are getting worse (cough, breathlessness, wheeze or tight chest)

You're too breathless or it's difficult to speak, eat or sleep

You're feeling exhausted

When you go to A&E, if you have a written asthma action plan, take it with you.

YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO YOUR GP OR ASTHMA NURSE IF...

You're having asthma symptoms, and/or...

You're using your reliever inhaler more than usual

Hope that helps,

Dita