SMART pals and cold air

[Wheezycat]

Hi!

Compared to many of you I am lucky. I have enjoyed the summer lots, and the heat this year has not been a bother (heat in the past has been hard, so that surprised me), and I have just been delighted to be away from the cold air.

So this is more of just finding what others do. I am on SMART regime, and if I get a definite deterioration I am fine with it,but I am far less good at subtle variations. I struggled last winter, but not seriously, that is I didn’t fall ill. But I coughed, and others occasionally noticed my heavy strained breathing and commented (that was a surprise as I hadn’t properly acknowledged to myself that I had a problem. They were right.) I am definitely of the ‘wait and see’ school when it comes to health care, and that is not always so wise.

Just now I am on increased doses of Symbicort. At the end of July I had a small cold, which did lead eventually to a deterioration, with much coughing. I upped my Symbicort immediately, and also was prescribed prednisolone, and recovered well, much faster than I am used to. Then I went abroad, to Budapest, a week later, so I decided to stay on increased Symbicort, as I did not know what I might run into. Now back and I am gradually reducing. All this I find reasonably straight forward, but last winter I should perhaps have started with more sooner. I don’t know. How do you other SMARTers manage this?

Also, what do you do about open window at night in winter? I am now wondering whether our open window, just a crack, last winter irritated my airways when it was really cold. I am wondering if I need to find a different plan this coming winter, some other way to ensure there is enough air in the bedroom. What do others do? I would be really glad to hear.

[emmasue]

I am on the SMART regime. I tend to use it on an as needed basis. I keep a track of how many puffs a day I use. If I notice an increase over a few days, I up my prediction. It seems to work fairly well. The only downside is when it doesn't work and I am left unsure how to proceed. I like feeling in control of my care and I hate being a fuss. However, sometimes I need to force myself to make a fuss. Asthma is a difficult disease because it seldom follows a set pattern. 😞

As for the window, I usually have my window open. It doesn't seem to bother me. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I get too hot (I have struggled this summer!). I suppose an alternative is as a fan or small air conditioner in the bedroom just to keep the air fresh. Good luck and hope you feel better soon. x

[Wheezycat in reply to emmasue]

Thank you, emmasue! I am in good form at present, but reducing my Symbicort gradually, as I have reacted when I have been drastic about it in the past. In Hungary I did have one day of deterioration, and I guess it was due to high levels of sand dust in the air, or some such.

As for heat I found in Hungary I could manage the heat overnight better when I wetted a flannel and put it over my forehead and eyes. It seemed to cool me down instantly! We stayed three night in a guest house without aircon.

I wonder if in winter we need to leave the bedroom door open, and perhaps the window in the bathroom, so the cold in the air has lost some chill by the time it reaches us. But this is all experimental. This is why I am asking whether others react in this way and how to manage it. I hate a stuffy room.

[emmasue in reply to Wheezycat]

Glad you had a good holiday. I like the control with Symbicort! It has made a difference from the days of me being on holiday and sitting outside at nighttime hoping that the Ventolin would eventually kick in because I was 18, in a strange country and didn't want to cause a fuss! How times and medications have changed! 😊

Those are good ideas for keeping your room cool. Hopefully this winter isn't too cold. 💜

[Hidden]

i was on SMART. I was told for an asthma attack to take six puff of inhaler ring 999 and take a further six puffs whilst waiting for an ambulance.

I still have my SMART inhaler to take if i hit any breathing issues during the trial of nothing.