Poor asthma management resulting in shallow breathing at night .Fostair 100/ 6 helping

[Kevinking]

Hi everyone. Great to meet you all.

I've been diagnosed with asthma since childhood . It went away but came back when I was 18 yrs old.( foolishly started smoking) I'm now 44 and presctibed ventolin and becotide 100) I've been poorly managing my asthma, I hardly ever took my becotide, I just took ventolin reliever about 3 times a day instead, for years. I also wasn't taking my inhaler correctly.... 3 puffs at a time!! I believe it all came to head beginning of the year. When I lay down to sleep, I stopped breathing !! I couldn't inhale, it's like my chest was too tight to take a breath in whilst I was nodding off to sleep. Constant shallow breathing. This went on for over a week, I visited my doctor everyday to be told my lungs are clear and oxygen saturation was good. The stress this caused was so scary, I was trying to self diagnose every night I couldn't sleep. Finally , a doctor prescribed Fostair 100/6 for chest inflammation. A pharmacist kindly explained how I should be taking my inhaler , and that 3 puffs at a time would result in inhaler residue sitting on my chest causing tightness, which would all make sense to my problems. I've also been suffering with post nasal drip which was also triggering off everything. I was constantly bringing up white thick phlegm every morning, to the point of choking . I now realise this isn't right ! I've been on Fostair for nearly 4 weeks now and I'm still bringing up phlegm but not as thick , more fluid like . I'm hoping this will stop after a few more weeks as it will take time to clear my lungs after years of miss treatment. I've also been diagnosed with mirtazapine for sleeping as I was traumatized from the no sleeping / no breathing for over a week. Chest still feels tight sometimes so I have to use ventolin still. Been off work since beginning of year due to this. By God's Grace my lungs will settle down soon and I've been prescribed avamys nasal spray for my post nasal drip .

[Hidden]

Ask for a chest x-ray

[Kevinking in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou Emily . I've had 2 chest xray which have come back completely clear. Also ecg is clear too. Think it's just years of bad asthma control and postnasal drip catching up with me .

[ChrissieMons]

Goodness me, you've been through the mill! The good news is that you are getting better and you know now how to take your preventative inhaler so, once you are well again, you shouldn't need to use the Ventolin at all, most of the time. I am sure it will all settle down eventually, and you can begin to be more relaxed about it. Don't push yourself to get back to work, even if you are bored witless by being poorly. These things always take longer than we expect them to, so stay focussed on getting well. All good wishes.

[Kevinking in reply to ChrissieMons]

Dear ChrissieMons thankyou ever so much for your kind comforting words. Means so much to me. Thankyou for being a wonderful person. I hope you're ok and your asthma is under control. May God Bless you and keep you always .

[Kevinking]

Just an update a year on.

Still having same issues but not as bad. Had lots of camera procedures and test coming back as ok. Through Prayer and Worship alone, I was guided to do my own research. I've been Blessed to be shown that I have SIBO. Also I suffer from Low stomach acid levels( confirmed with heidelberg capsule test )which is more than likely the cause of sibo. This has all triggered off gerd which in turn has been the reasons for my breathing issues. I have insufficient folic levels high cholesterol high ferritin ( also from low stomache acid levels ) . Been trying for the last week to supplement with betaine hcl with pepsin and creon ( prescribed by doctor ) with mixed effects due to trying to find correct dosage.

Getting there though , God Willing.

God Willling, this will help someone else who's suffering with the same issues and getting no help from their gp .

God Bless you all always