Tis the season...

[Tammoth]

Hi all. First time poster as been having the first "big" asthma flare up for me since i was very young and feeling a bit lost and scared, especially at this time of year (it's my birthday today too. Yippee for me!)

Quick background:

- no cold that i know of

-been on 30mg pred for 3 days and now 40mg pred for 4 days

- just finished a course of antibiotics

-i don't get any wheezing, coughing or mucus. Just constant tight chest and unable to breathe properly. Worse in the morning and evening. Lots of "panting" and chest burning

- PF is constantly fine

I went to a and e 2 days ago and they put me on a neb which nearly cleared all symptoms for 1 day. Today i am suffering again and in pain and discomfort with tightness

-genally taking blue every hour - hospital said this fine. Said to only go back if 6 puffs doesn't help. 4 seems to be max for 1-2hours relief

I have never had asthma last this long or be this constant. NHS aren't really bothered as i can talk, eat etc and not wheezing but the pain and pressure inmy chest is unreal.

Please make me feel better. Is this normal? Am i just not used to this? I am not sleeping due to gasping for air all the time and i know a and e will just keep sending me away.

[strongmouse]

Hi Tammoth, if you are still unwell and struggling for breath you need to phone doctors or 111. I have no experience of nebulisers so can't help. Is it possible that you still have an infection? (You mention anstibiotics). Obviously they have said that you can go back to A and E if you need more blue inhaler than recommended. So you can phone for help.

It is easy to panic and feel stressed especially after an A and E visit which won't help your breathing and how you are feeling. Here is a checklist from Asthma UK website with advice on when to seek further medical advice -

Do I need my GP or A&E?


If your asthma symptoms are getting worse, look at the asthma attack section of your written asthma action plan. It will have instructions on how to recognise an asthma attack and what to do in an emergency. 


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, remember to take your written asthma action plan 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

Both of these are warning signs that you may be at risk of an asthma attack, so you need to discuss your asthma medicines and check you're taking them in the correct way. It's important not to ignore asthma symptoms that are getting worse because research shows that symptoms often rapidly increase two or three days before an asthma attack. Getting help now means you can cut your risk of a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.

Outside of normal surgery hours you can still phone your GP, but you will usually be directed to an out-of-hours service.

During out-of-hours periods you can also call NHS 111.

Sorry that you are finding it so hard especially on your birthday! Illness doesn't take much note of special occassions.

If you don't need to see doctor then sit up in bed - lots of pillows, have some water to sip nearby and your medications, then try to take your mind off your breathing onto something else - read a book, listen to medication. I've suggested before that steam inhalations can help if you have and infection as they loosen any mucus on your chest. However if you are needing your blue inhaler every hour then that sounds like you need medical help.

[Yellow75]

I can relate to the tight chest and the burning sensation as well. This, and a cough was my main symptons for three weeks, I've ended up on course of prednisolone 10 days, antibiotics, antacids and antihistamines. Chest tightness cleared after antihistamines, feeling better but have cough still. I don't find peak flow very useful. I had higher pf during my attack than I have now, more or less symptoms free.

I do sometime find that placing a bowl of hot water with tea towel over head does seem to reduce tightness and the feeling of congestion. So that may be worth a try.

If short of breath as well, had have high resting heart beat and if you get nearly up to max reliever dosage and not getting relief for long enough time I'd go to AandE,given time of year.

[Tammoth]

So i ended up back at the walk in centre today. As usual PF is fine, there was a very minor wheeze and the doctor was generally not worried though could see i am struggling.

Put me on a neb and gave me some more pred but he's just not convinced something else is going on in additon to asthma. Who knows!

He also thought i maybe over taking my ventolin, which is adding to the heart palpitations and feeling of breathlessness, though he also said to take it if i need it. Whereas the hospital said take it as much as needed!

Back at the gp on 28th December so hope i can hold out until then. What a damn mess!

[ChrissieMons]

Insist on seeing a consultant. A GP is a general doctor and cannot know as much as a specialist. Keep on till you get one.

[Hidden]

I have been asthmatic my whole life, its very well controlled.

In April I had SOB and it was constant but would fluctuate from hour to hour, one minute bad the next not so bad.

I upped my clenil to max and was using my reliever often, but they didnt work much, just slight relief.

Like you my PF was constantly ok.

Eventually I went to A&E and was put on pred, three days into that saw my GP and he realised these new symptoms were not asthma, I stopped all my meds and my symptoms were slightly improved.

I had pain and tightness in my chest so these symptoms were the same as yours, also I had a cough and the phlegm was clear.

The best fit for my symptoms are LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux) also called silent reflux.

I have seen a GI and I have a small hiatal hernia, I am tall, slim and stay fit.

There are other potential symptoms to LPR you should investigate to see if they match yours.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I also had palpitations and anxiety, 2 things I have never had with my asthma

[LDloveslattecoffe]

Hi asthma is scary if not used to it.

Pain in chest could be from coughing or the infection.

You mention gasping for air when lying down/sleep ask GP to send you to sleep clinic as you may have a condition called sleep apnoea or obstructive sleep apnoea (osa). Google this but it is not unusual and you could be feeling it worse as not well at the moment.