What should i ask my asthma nurse tomorrow?

[Tammoth]

Hi all. Sorry a slightly long post to follow.

For those who haven't seen previous posts i had an asthma flare up in mid December. No cold or flu symptoms. Just shortness of breath constantly with little relief from ventolin. I've had asthma since birth but had no major flare ups since i was a child.

Triggers this time walking, showers, outside and just general flare ups randomly during the day. Nothing like i have ever experienced before.

I was prescribed pred and antibiotics but got worse and ended up at a and e on a neb. I had 1 good day after and then ended up back at the walk in clinic xmas day on a neb and with more pred. Total 2 weeks of pred.

My peak flow never changed, theres no cough and only 1 Dr heard a "slight wheeze" yet i could barely breathe and struggled to sleep due to constant tightness and breathlessness.

Slowly i improved and managed to get back to work 7th Jan. I had to take my blue 1 or 2 most days but that was it.

Last week i felt the symptoms start back up and i am now going back down the same path even though i started avoiding triggers straight away. I am now on montelukast but still getting gradually worse each day. Today i can hear a whistle and was gasping for breath after my shower!

So what more can i do? What can i ask the nurse for?

I feel like i am being dismissed due to good oxygen, peak flow etc but i can't function on a daily basis like this. Its silly! Am i just stuck this way?

[K8ty25]

I have problems when i flare as i don't have a typical wheeze, my o2 and peak flow don't drop and therefore even when im really bad many Dr's didmiss me. If you are struggling i find the best method is to be more stubborn than the health professionals as in im not leaving until you help. Also if you can take someone to the appointment with you if you are struggling to speak. I often find that I can give basic details but then someone else can expand on that which helps give a clearer overall picture. Hope you get better soon.

[gandac]

They think silent reflux is affecting my lungs. I have a slight hiatus hernia. Sometimes I get heartburn which makes my chest tight and uncomfortable, difficult breathing. I take some gavison which helps.

[Tammoth in reply to gandac]

I definitely don't get heartburn and I'm ill constantly throughout the day, worse between 6 and 10am

[J0-J0]

Hi Tammoth, I’ve had similar; consistent peak flow readings with breathlessness I’m in monkelulast and fostair. GP is querying whether I actually do have asthma due to consistent peak flow and so have had full blood tests to rule out anything else. It’s frustrating when there is no, “proof” of breathlessness. Hope you feel better soon.

[Tammoth]

Hi all.

So after a bit of a battle with my asthma nurse i have been put in fostair and given aerochamber. Typically again i was in a good place so they couldn't see anything wrong and are taking the stanse of " you have asthma. What more do you expect us to do?" I then posed them the dilemma of "should i stay off sick for weeks until i no longer need my blue or should i go to work and take my blue 10plus times a day?" He then gave me fostair.

Fingers crossed it does soemthing soon! I am still recovering from my 5min walk to the bus with a covered face