Hi! First post so please be gentle! I am a 42 yr old female (5'2"), and was diagnosed with asthma last month after a bout of a nasty cold which wouldn't shift from my chest. I run a lot (30 miles a week plus) and seem to be particularly bad for a few days following a long run (in fact my diagnosis came the day after running a half marathon following which I coughed uncontrollably for a day). At the time my peak flow was 280.
Since diagnosis I have had to keep a peak flow diary morning and night, and have been taking one puff of Clenil (200) twice a day, plus Ventolin when required. My peak flow has not improved much since starting this 2.5 weeks ago (the max I've had in morning is 320 (more often that not it's around 300), evening is 350). The last few days I've been feeling quite stressed out in work and have had a tight chest (best way I can describe it is that I have the sensation that I can't fill my lungs as much as I need too). My peak flow has read 310, rising to 370-380 15 minutes after Ventolin.
Should the Clenil be showing some effect by now? All it seems to be doing at mo is causing my voice to go croaky
I guess I'm still doubting the diagnosis. Why would this only happen now at 42? I've never had an "attack", though I usually have to walk at points in my runs.
I'm back at the Drs for follow up next week but just wondered whether this sounded like asthma? Reading back I know how stupid I sound!!
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Annilou76
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I have chronic asthma and my best PF is 200 in the evening 150 in the morning. You should ask your doctor to refer you to a respiratory consultant as they will do spirometry tests and let you know if it’s asthma. It’s hard for GP to diagnose it with limited equipment. Have you had an X-ray or any test done.
Hi Annilou & welcome to the forum. I was diagnosed at 59 & I'd never had an attack either. When I was 10 we moved from an industrial town to the seaside. When we went back to visit family I noticed that while I could breathe ok, it felt like harder work. I used to get into trouble for breathing through my mouth quite a bit. I also had trouble getting rid of colds. When I mentioned this to my asthma nurse, she said they were signs of asthma, but i wasn't ill so nothing was ever done about it.
It could be that Clenil isn't the best inhaler for you. Doctors & nurses have to start somewhere but a change of inhaler could help you.
You don't sound stupid! I remember how scared & confused I was when diagnosed at first. It's a lot to take in when you're carrying on as though everything is fine & then it hits you. You will learn about asthma & how it affects you personally. People on here are very friendly & will give you help. You can always ring the asthma uk nurses & confide in them.
Thank you both so much. I’m not really scared, just confused and slightly doubting the diagnosis 😉
I hadn’t been to GP for 12 years before my last visit, and even then it was pregnancy related stuff. So if there were any signs they wouldn’t have known!
Eian - thanks for the advice. I’ll see what GP suggests next week.
Just wanted to chime in that I had a similar experience. It just happened to me last year at age 41 out of nowhere too. I’m on a ton of meds three inhalers and montelukast and still doubt I have asthma. I think it’s hard when you get something out of the blue especially when you’ve been so healthy.
Hi! That was the same with me! I’ve always had hay fever but last summer on holiday in Cornwall it got really bad and I was wheezing and whistling when breathing like I’d smoked 50 a day for years (never had one in my life!)
Went to go who ummed and arghed for s bit then gave me s brown inhaler (children’s dose... I’m 45!) to use them referred for tests st respiratory clinic. I’m now on fostair 100/60 twice a day then in between as needed plus montelukast at night too. That has really helped but I’ve noticed I’m getting light headed and my blood pressure has gone up. I am diabetic too (type 2) medication controlled and was only diagnosed last October...
having both diagnosis in the space of s few months also got me pretty down... as you say it’s a lot to take in and quite scary as not had x full in asthma attack as has been described by some people.
Just keep going back to the gp or respiratory clinic if you need too.
It can take a while till the doc finds which is the best medication for you in my case about three months be gentle with yourself and once you have the correct drugs you should be OK. It is always best to keep your Ventolin with you at all times good luck
I was diagnosed last year. They start you on a lower dose inhaler but it might be you will need to try a few different types before you feel better. I’m on sirdulpa now which is a combination inhaler and feel great. I’m also running lots without a problem as long as I take a couple of puffs of ventolin before going out!
Hi, I’m 54 and was diagnosed with asthma in January. I too had no history of the disease before then or any health issues at all. Like you I’m very active, long distance walking, golf
And we live on a farm so outdoors a lot! I started with a viral cough which progressed, I was in A&E once with a nebuliser then diagnosed and went to my GP at least 3 times progressively getting worse all culminating in admission to hospital with pneumonia! There i eventually saw a consultant who i now see privately. I had 3 days of IV steroids and 5 days of IV antibiotics, followed by 10 days of a reducing oral dose of steroids and 10 days of antibiotics. I also take once a day Relvar Ellipta inhaler 92/22. My peak flows are normal between 500 and 540. Maybe you could see a private consultant for a quicker, better diagnosis and treatment? Not sure if this is possible, but I went from thinking I would ever get my life back to being 90% back to normal.
Sounds so familiar, I'm 43 and into my second year of "asthma". I doubted for a long time and still have some negative feelings about the approach the medical profession has with late onset asthma in general. It just seems like a bit of a cop out to me. In the UK especially it feels like no one wants to get to the real root causes...but I think it's because no one knows enough.
I'm on 2 puffs morning and night of the clenil modulate 100 steroidal inhaler and I'm under control, I've not needed ventolin at all and only suffered from chest tightness and wheezing here and there...I sometimes suffer from gerd like symptoms as well, and am finding dietary choice could be a major factor for me, maybe even related to root cause, I'm still trying to figure it all out myself as no-one else things more needs to be done.
My advice, get a spirometry test to confirm, see if upping your puff count is okay and try and get your peak flow up, then start exploring all the possibilities of root cause and find what non-medical options there could be.
Some great advice already given. If possible get to see a consultant privately, not that expensive and will save you months of faffing around with your GP.
The other point to mention is that once an asthma attack ha been triggered it can take up to a couple of months to settle down
I’d agree with going privately. I was diagnosed with asthma and COPD at local GP practice. I went for a private consultation with a chest consultant recently he runs an NHS chest clinic within range of my home. He diagnosed bronchiectasis and with the help of my GP I was able to see him at the NHS clinic within a month. After 3 years finally I feel I have the correct diagnosis. Some asthma nurses are better than the GPS- mine had suggested bronchiectasis 3 years ago but certainly at my practice I encountered considerable resistance when I asked for a referral. I wish I’d gone earlier...
You do not sound stupid I felt the same after having an exasperation age 51 no previous problems. It is difficult at the beginning understanding the effects and diagnosis. Drink water or gargle after using your inhalers. You will come to understand the triggers as time goes on ask the asthma nurse if there is anything your unsure about and don't feel your being stupid it's the opposite your taking controll of your health and need information to do that. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.
Inhaled Steroid (Clenil) can take 4 to 8 Weeks to reach maximum effectiveness.
Personally, not a fan as seemed to irritate my airways.
There are several Inhaled Steroid Inhalers each delivering different kinds of Inhaled Steroid Drug, some of which have smaller particle sizes which some people believe are more effective in getting into Airways.
Ideally, the Particle Size should be a mix, but - unless using two different steroid Inhalers simultaneously (which I don’t think happens in practice) - you may need to try a variety of single Inhalers, and to give each one around two months to see if it works OK.
Your Peak Flow sounds a bit on the low side, but either your Medical Team (or you) using an Age, Gender, High, Chart can determine if that is the case.
May, if things don’t improve or get worse, need to look at a step-up to a Combo Inhaler that includes not only a Steroid but a LABA that helps keeps your airways open for around 10 to 12 Hours (you typically use it twice a day for 24 Hour Improvement). Your SABA (blue inhaler) keeps your airways open for about 4 Hours.
Most important thing is to get as much Medical Testing done as possible, preferably via a Respiratory Consultant at either your local NHS Hospital (but - ideally - one of the Specialist Asthms Clinic) to determine exactly what Asthma Type - or ‘mix’ of Asthma Types - you are. Treatment and lifestyle modifications to minimise triggers and their impact can then be confidently put in place. Wait time for NHS Consultant is likely to be 6 to 12 Weeks, unless you’re in a lucky area with lower demand.
To speed-up, could consider a Private Consultant (typical Major London Hospital Assigned Consultant would charge between £250 to £350 for an initial visit BUT important to get an advanced quote as some charge a lot more). Note, that the figures mentioned don’t include Tests which can really whack up the price. However, if you go Private but ask the Consultant to put in writing to you what range of Tests / Investigative Actions are advocated (plus Privaate Costs for same) you could then use the letter to encourage your GP to put you forward for them free on the NHS to save some money (though you’d then be back to waiting for the NHS Appointment). Alternatively you could get the tests done Private which would also include additional Consultant Visit Costs to discuss Test Results and recommended actions. If your covered at work by Private Health Insurance it ‘might’ cover some of the costs, but often - for chronic illness like asthma - there are get-out clauses for health insurers
Take care.
The clenil should be working after 2 weeks so sounds like you are not responding to it. You should take the preventer inhalers (as most contain a corticosteroid) through a spacer and then gargle with water and spit out after. This will minimise the chance of having any side affects.
Sorry for the late response but just wanted to weigh in an say I feel your pain. I too am a runner that developed 'asthma' later in life. My first bad occurrence sounds very similar to yours. I had been sick with a virus and didn't want to miss my running workshop so pushed myself to do it (outside in winter) and that night developed a tightness in my chest that didn't go away. I also don't seem to have attacks or mucus/wheezing that so many asthmatics report. I just get tight and can't get a deep breath in. What I've learned the hard way is that it seems like 'asthma' is more of a generic term for difficulty breathing and can present in very different ways. I just wanted to find something to take that would make it go away (while at the same time being very displeased with having to be dependent on medication) or find the one thing that I was allergic to that I could eliminate so I could run again. Unfortunately, I'm here to report it doesn't seem to be that simple. It seems like once it presents it is a chronic condition that never fully goes away and you just have to learn how to manage it. My suggestion would be to be assertive with your healthcare professionals and keep at it until you find the right drugs to manage your symptoms. I do have periods that I can run again so don't give up hope. But I also have learned to mix in other forms of exercise like yoga when I can't do the intense aerobic stuff. I've also found this forum to be very helpful. It's very comforting to know you are not alone.
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