So my virus came and stayed, causing me fairly significant fever for a couple of nights and a lot of coughing. I doubled my Symbicort starting Christmas Eve. I muddled through Christmas Eve and Day, with help from the family, but by Boxing Day common sense won and I got an appointment with out of hours. Surprisingly she confirmed that there were neither crackles nor wheezes, but that it could start. So no pred or ABs that day. Clearly my Symbicort regime had helped. She suggested I add on salbutamol three times daily for two days, then reduce to twice daily. This sort of thing I have never done before.
Now I still get slightly feverish at the end of the day, and I can still cough for Britain. I use salbutamol (and Symbicort) as recommended, but also use it to try to control coughing at night time. I am still very phlegmy. My pf hovers between 70 and 75%, doesn’t fall much, but also does not improve. I wonder how long before I feel properly better. I am getting bored with this. My husband now chooses to sleep elsewhere as I am so noisy.
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Wheezycat
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Doesn't sound like a fun Christmas! I hope things clear up soon.
If it is viral, obviously the ABX wouldn't help. However, I find I can have bacterial chest infections with very little indication other than an asthma attack (the X ray picks it up - in my case I don't even get the phlegm!), so the lack of crackles or wheezes is not definitive. I'm not entirely impressed with the dr saying 'no pred because no wheeze' though can appreciate you may have wanted to wait and see first and there may have been other factors.
If it keeps on this way though much longer, I think a trip back to the dr/OOH is in order and a reminder that wheeze and crackles are not the be all and end all and pred/abx may be necessary eveb without them. I feel that sometimes drs mistake the symptoms for the actual condition - though of course a virus is tricky and there's no point to unnecessary abx.
Thank you, Lysistrata. I am keeping a close eye, and use every trick I can think of to assess how I am, as I am rubbish at feeling it. ( our daughter just told me my breathing used to sound worse when normal and asthma undiagnosed, than it does now with unwellness, such was my lack of awareness of myself). I tend to agree with what you say and certainly will head back if anything worsens, or if it takes too long to improve - and we are nearly at that point now.
As I had a dreadful night last night with coughing stopping my sleep, and feeling less than well this morning, we contacted 111 again. This time I did it online, requesting a t/c call. In no time at all someone rang me back to say they wanted to see me. It seems I was prioritised. Anyway, chest infection now confirmed, so I have antibiotics and steroids. My pf was down by about a third. Hope to get good sleep tonight, and look forward to a steady improvement. In the meanwhile I have cancelled an event I was going to tomorrow night, and cancelled our friends who were coming for New year’s Eve.
Glad you got the help you needed! Fingers are crossed for a good night for you tonight anyway! It’s a shame about not being able to attend your events tho 😔
Thank you! I always have to tell myself that most things can be replaced. Possibly because I am older I don’t have energy reserves in these situation so the options are limited. If people come here i don’t want to have to throw 5hem out when I completely run out of energy. What I hate cancelling most are my clients, but it happens.
Oh no re the events I hope you get a good sleep and start to feel better now you have proper treatment. Glad they were more sensible this time and looking at whole picture!
Hi sorry you are still struggling. Isn't it strange how doctors vary. Visited my local surgery, not only did they up prednisolone - 5 days had made no impact on peak flows , was told to take antibiotics even though no symptoms of infection???
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I hope you get a good sleep and start to feel better now you have proper treatment. Glad they were more sensible this time and looking at whole picture!
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