Hello everyone.

[LittleZebra]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum and pretty new to the world of inhalers, at least on a regular basis. I am in my early 50's and, although I have had a blue inhaler which I have used every now and then for about 26 years I have not had a major problem until I had a nasty fluey cold/chest infection at the end of last November which exacerbated my asthma. After a course of oral steroids I was started on Clenil Modulite 100, 1 puff twice a day which has gradually been increased to 3 puffs twice a day and I am now also taking 2 puffs twice a day of Salmeterol. Strangely, I thought before I had all this trouble that my best peak flow was 420 (I am only 5 foot 1). However as my asthma has been treated this has gradually risen and is now about 450 with a weird peak a few days ago of 470!!. This is way above the predicted level for my age and height which I believe is about 392 but explains the seemingly not too low level at which I felt really in trouble. I also have generalised Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and all I can think is that it must be down to that. According to a paper I found peeps with hypermobility type conditions have a potentially greater lung volume but our airways are more prone to collapsing. My asthma nurse has advised me to gradually reduce my dose of Clenil to 3 puffs twice a day (I have just been on two puffs three times a day) then try 3 in the morning and two at night and if that is O.K. 2 in the morning and two at night. After seven days of feeling great I tried to just have two puffs at night and 3 in the morning but my tight chest symptoms returned and I needed 4 puffs the day before yesterday and 10 yesterday (very disappointed ). Now back to the 3 and 3. All the inhaler use kept my peak flow apparently O.K. but, having delayed taking my blue inhaler (in a church service, I also use a spacer so feel very self conscious) I felt almost as if I was going to faint when I did get to the 'ladies' to use it. Stupid of me I know! Anyway I have gone on long enough. I wonder if there are any more bendy 'Zebras' Peeps with EDS or a Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder) on here who might be able to identify with my experiences. My chief asthma symptom at the moment seems to be going from feeling completely fine to feeling as if I am wearing a tightening corset (not that I ever have) within the space of a few minutes-very odd.

[risabel59]

Hi there,

Welcome to this forum, I am not a bendy person, but wanted to say that the tightening corset feeling you are getting is pretty common in those of us with asthma. I can go from feeling tight to feeling as though someone is putting concrete blocks on my chest.

If you are having symptoms with the medications you are taking you should go back to your doctor again.

Ask for a written Asthma plan. There are some good blank ones you can print out from the Asthma UK website under resources.

Also the Asthma UK helpline is fantastic, and may know more about the combination of your disorder and asthma. The nurses are fab.

R xx

[LittleZebra in reply to risabel59]

Thank you Risabel, I have just been speaking to one of the nurses on the helpline she was SO helpful and patient! She has suggested that I try Fostair as she thinks it would give me better 'coverage' as well as simplifying my inhaler regime . My own Asthma nurse mentioned it last time I saw her but I had just ordered a new Clenil and didn't want to waste it plus I felt having Clenil and Salmeterol gave me more flexibility dose wise. However I feel my Asthma is so unpredictable at present and I have used my blue inhaler more times than feels desirable over the last few days so I would now be willing to try it. I have had about three asthma plans since December as my personal best peak flow and my treatments keeps changing!