Is a leak flowof150/200 normal?

[Denae011]

Since April my of has been roughly 150/200 continuously. I have nebulzed. Salbutamol, tipatroprium bromide. Plus fostai r inhaler and 15mg predniso!one daily. My breathing is really bad and I'm always short of breath. My of has me worried as it is so low

[Asthma-girl]

If you are struggling so much maybe you should seek medical help.

[Denae011 in reply to Asthma-girl]

O saw my DR. but all he suggested was to up prednisolone. And consultant i see wasn't to bothered either. I am worried it is so low yet medical people are not

[Spikedog66]

Hi sorry you are struggling. I have asthma and copd my reading are always around 150, I take seretide 2 puffs twice a day tiotropium at night and ventolin inbetween. I find from spring to winter of i take an antihistamine once a day it helps they are less than a £1 from most shops. forsair didn't agree with me I was poorly so back to seretide. You need to see your asthma nurse as this is stressing you which makes breathing worse. Don't struggle you might have to be a pest to get sorted so go to hospital or call 111 don't mess with your life it's precious.😊

[ChrissieMons]

Well, it's normal for me, sadly, but I suspect I am considerably older than you are! You need to talk to your asthma nurse to see if there is any reason for this - again, I'm assuming it wasn't this low last year - and what practical steps you can take to improve matters. I did a pulmonary rehabilitaion course which helped me. It is very tiring and frustrating, but I've learned to live with it. I just hope you don't have to and it improves for you.

[vissidarte]

I'm sorry you are not well and always short of breath - I know it is rather hard when that happens. (I have severe chronic asthma). I'm wondering if you could say more about what worries you about the low number?

Some general thoughts: The number all by itself doesn't mean much because even healthy people of the same age can have very different numbers. What usually matters is peak flow as percentage of *your own* healthy best.

Also people vary a great deal in their body's ability to tolerate difficulty breathing even when they are ill. Some people are safe enough to be treated at home when numbers are low (for them) and some people are not. Especially with chronic asthma it is very individual. That's why it is *so* important to know your patterns and see your doctor or talk to your asthma nurse if you become worse than you are used to.

Note that safe doesn't mean healthy - one can feel pretty awful even if one is safe. It just means that you get to stay home and live your life as much as possible rather than getting captured.