Asthma or not?

[Greenfingers2014]

I was diagnosed with viral asthma on 10 September and I’m on the blue (since 10 September) and brown inhaler (since 14 September).

I couldn’t get an asthma nurse’s appointment till a couple of days ago. She took a history, did a spirometry test (ok), watched my inhaler technique (good), told me my chest x-ray from the previous week was normal.

I’m no wiser as to whether I have asthma! She said my lungs are good, didn’t seem to want to create an asthma plan. She has referred me back to the doctor for possible post nasal drip (which I think is making my breathing worse) and anxiety.

I really felt like she thought I was making a fuss. But honestly I just want to know what I can do to breathe better. My main issue is being able to take a deep breath.

Essentially I am feeling better but I don’t know how much it’s down to the inhalers. Sometimes I’ve been taking the blue 4-10 puffs every 4 hours! It works up to a certain point but is helped more with a hot water bottle, breathing exercises, stretching and Olbas oil. I’ve now cut down to 2 puffs every 4 hours and honestly, it doesn’t make that much difference. Not sure if this is because the brown is finally kicking in.

I’m due to see the doctor on Monday. I think the post nasal drip is a trigger and have been noticing it a lot more that my nose is congested. I’m taking Clarityn and have started taking Beconase more regularly. I want to get an allergy test to see exactly what I’m allergic to.

But I have to say emotionally, I don’t think I’m handling it at all well which is probably making things worse.

Any help or suggestions would be so welcome. Thanks

[Minushabens]

Diagnosing asthma isn't always straightforward & we know from stories here & elsewhere that it can be mismanaged. Did they do any sort of reversibility test on the spirometry (do the test -> administer blue inhaler -> repeat test to see if the blue inhaler makes a difference)? If so, what did that show?

You probably just need to ask the question really. You might get a straight answer, or you might get them saying they are continuing to look into it, etc. If the latter, ask how they are going to arrive at a conclusion.

[Greenfingers2014]

Thank you. No I did the spirometry test and took the inhaler separately. The nurse didn’t do it again after that as I was asymptomatic.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

I’d just straight up ask the doctor what they think is going on. If it is asthma they can do you an action plan, if it isn’t then ask if you still need to take the pumps. If they are unsure then ask what the next step is for a diagnosis!

As you were told it was viral asthma, it may be something you only get when you’re ill, so won’t have to worry too much about it - tho you’ll probably be advised to stay on the brown inhaler. It could be why the AN said you were good - you’re not symptomatic, either from the meds you’re on or the fact your virus is tailing off!

Did the nurse advise at all about the blue inhaler? It does sound like you’ve been using your (blue?) inhaler a lot, so it’s definitely something you should mention to you doc! Have you been doing your peak flow at all whilst using your inhaler like this (aka pre and 10mins post)? It’s an easy way to see if they are doing anything, and if it doesn’t change at all then it needs mentioning to the GP (it’s the ‘home’ version of the reversibility test minushabens mentioned).

Also this amount of ventolin may also be affecting you mood - when you use it a lot you can get tremors, anxiety, headaches etc - I initially got teary when I used it a lot, but now I’ve adapted to it, so no more tears (from ventolin anyway 😅).

Yes PND definitely could be affecting your breathing, but if it’s something ‘new’ again it could be a residual of your virus lingering, or be something else that flares when you’re ill, but is mild when you’re not.

If you are still recovering from your virus, it could be why you’re finding heat, stretching and olbas oil to be helpful!

Mindfulness may be something to try out, if you haven’t already. It’s good for both breathing awareness and control, as well as anxiety (whatever is causing it!)

Hope this helps, and that your GP appt is informative! X

[Greenfingers2014]

Thanks! So much good practical advice! I only took 2 puffs of my blue inhaler yesterday and I felt ok. Will check it all with the doctor tomorrow. Thanks again, it’s so helpful

[Hidden]

I would start regularly collecting your peak flow, if you dont have a meter buy one online they are cheep.

You dont say what you brown inhaler is but probably its a corticosteroid it should start working after a week. Taking multiple doses of the rescue inhaler every 4 hours suggests it is not.

If the inhalers are not working and you PF is good then its reasonable to start looking at other possible causes.

[Sonique58]

Dear Greenfingers2014, Olbus Oil is a Big Fat, No, No! I Ended Up in A & E Twice With Severe Asthma Attacks, From Using That Stuff, it Seems Like it’s Helping, But After a While it Dries Up Your Throat & Airways Up So Much, it Makes You Feel Like Your Choking, and Makes the Breathing So Much Worse. Better To Go To Your Local Health Shop and Buy a Ceramic Burner, Which is Around £5.99p I Bought One Years Ago, and it’s Still Going Strong, or You Could Just Use a Small Plastic Bowl, That is Thick Enough to Withstand Boiling Water. And Just Boil the Kettle Pour a Little Water Into The Burner Bowl, or Plastic Bowl and Add Around 2/3 Drops of Breathe Easy Aromatherapy Oil By Absolute Aromas, for Around 5.29p & Then Pour a Little More Water, to Release the Aroma More, as You Wont Be Using the Tealight Candle to Burn it off, for I Found the Steam is Enough & Besides, the Candle Spoils the Benefits You Get, From Using the Aromatherapy Oil, Because as Soon as You Blow the Candle Out, the Smoke Makes You Cough! It Says Use 7 Drops, But I Only Use 2/3 Because it Finishes So Quickly, as I Use it Every Night At Bedtime, on My Dressing Table In My Bedroom, & 2 Drops Has the Same Effect for Me as 7 Drops, Just Add Boiling Water for a Steam Effect from the Kettle. That’s it I Hope That Helps!