Apologies for the fact that I’m about to bore you but I just need to get some frustration off of my chest.
I visited my GP today to get my Fostair changed to something different because I’m suffering with horrendous foot cramp, more so since doubling up. I also explained that I’m recovering from a slow burning flare that’s lasted a couple of months which recently resulted in two asthma attacks that have left me pretty weak.
Initially I was told that there are no other inhalers I could be switched to, to which I asked the doctor to check their BNF. I could see that the doctor was not confident in dealing with such asthma queries and they instructed me to lower the number of puffs I use each day and (wait for it...) increase the use of salbutamol! I was immediately filled with horror and explained how incredibly uncomfortable that made me feel, given that I have poorly controlled allergic asthma and am awaiting a referral for biological treatment. I record everything regarding my asthma on an app and showed the doctor that I had used 83 puffs of salbutamol in the last 4 weeks (which is hugely concerning in itself) but despite this, since doubling up on Fostair l, my poorly controlled asthma is the most controlled it’s been in a year. The doctor seemed offended that I refused to take their advice which surprised me because I’m like a cat with 9 lives when it comes to avoiding hospital admissions!!
After some persuasion, the doctor checked the BNF, found one possible inhaler (out of the many out there) to prescribe me, they printed the prescription and I asked what the active ingredients were. They were not sure and referred to Google to double check! Google! It was at this point that I decided to just stick with Fostair and decided to contact my consultant myself tomorrow.
By no means am I bashing the doctor today because I have great respect for all healthcare professionals, I’m just annoyed that had I not made myself an expert on my condition, I could have possibly put myself in quite a dangerous situation by lowering my preventer and upping my reliever.
Agghhh! Little rant over now. I hope everyone is keeping well
Written by
MrsCMK
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Thank for you the moral support! I’m usually very patient with my asthma, as many asthmatics are but I was taking no prisoners today, haha.
The new inhaler suggested was Fobumix, which contains the same active ingredients as Symbicort which failed miserably to control my symptoms previously.
Anyone in here tried it? If so, any foot cramps? 🙈
I’m literally a few months away from being under the care of an asthma specialist in a tertiary centre, so for now, I just have to continue to be patient.
Personally no. But I’m sure someone here/BLF has 😅. I’m on relvar which I like as only once a day. I was on Fostair but wasn’t really doing anything. Not sure if this one is either as started biologicals about 1-2 weeks later but... 😅.
For the cramps have you tried increasing magnesium/potassium? Then I was getting cramps from asthma meds (can’t remember which now) I was told 1 glass of fresh OJ a day (by my Cons) would help cause I hate bananas 😂. It actually worked so worth a try if you aren’t already doing so 😅
Good luck in the spec hosp. If you’re struggling but have a number to call you can call them (or your con can) and ask to be given a guesstimate of when appt will be and if it’s possible to move up the list... worked for me anyway (my local hosp started calling them every admission 😂)
I did mention that the cramps were common amongst asthmatics and it was to do with magnesium/potassium levels but since the doctor hadn’t heard of this it couldn’t possibly be true- I wish she had googled that instead haha!
How are you getting on with biologicals?
Oh, I will certainly be pestering to see if I can get bumped up the waiting list! My goal was to find the right treatment and be on the road to control by the autumn but realistically, this will most likely be next summer.
I’m just grateful that I’m not the type of person that moans a lot really, I just tend to get on with it because I know that there are people much worse off than me.
I’m on benralizumab now and so far (touch wood) I’m ok. Some small Issues but manageable at home with a neb or 2 (I have emergency home neb... if I need b2b or more than 2 I have to go to hosp).
Prev been on mepo (great for asthma, rest of my body hates it 😂) and xolair (didn’t do much for my asthma, semi helped urticaria/angiodema but then big reactions... as no real asthma improvement - still having 2 trips to hosp a month - it was stopped)
However I’m coming from eosinophilic and atopic asthma and was at the point of literally spending more time in hosp than out of it)
Good luck. And feel free to moan. Yes there is always someone worse off, it also those better off too - everyone needs to vent once in awhile if they’ve been give bad advice (and know it!)
Thanks for posting. I took a look at the BNF (British National Formulary - drug information) under the NICE guidelines as the cramp I've had since being on fostair has become worse recently. Sure enough one of the side effects are cramps and it says "in severe asthma plasma potassium should be monitored." I've made an appointment to ask my doctor for a blood test to check the levels.
You could phone the asthma UK helpline on Monday to ask them for advice. It is really difficult when doctors won't admit they are wrong or don't know! When you're feeling ill it is the last thing you need.
I do try to see the same doctor each time so that I get to know them and how up to date they are in relation to my health needs.
Hope you feel better soon. The hot weather, high pollens is hard to manage. My air filter has been on a lot this summer!
I’ll certainly call the surgery tomorrow to see what I can get sorted because I can’t keep taking my shoes off in public places and start lunging like a loony to make it stop- haha
Yes- I’m blessed with a fantastic asthma nurse at my surgery! Unfortunately she cannot prescribe but I’ll somehow get this inhaler changed and then book to see her to check my technique and have a chat
Just a thought, your asthma nurse may not be in a position to prescribe it herself, but she will be in a more knowledgable position than the GP to recommend something appropriate for you?
She presumably could then walk round to doctor’s room to pick up the prescription for you? Thankfully my surgery asthma nurse has now done the prescribing course so can now issue prescriptions (though bizarrely she can’t issue sick notes, she still has to walk to docs room to get that!).
My asthma nurse trains GPs on asthma as I am sure many do. Good luck in your search.
That’s actually a great idea, thanks. There are some great doctors in my surgery too, I was just unlucky seeing someone who wasn’t as familiar with asthma today. I’ll certainly book back in with her to explore some options.
That’s great that your asthma nurse can prescribe! It must make things a lot easier for you?
Indeed it does. Always a fly in the ointment is that the booking system means you have to speak to a GP,at my practice, to book an appointment with the asthma nurse, you can’t book with her directly!! Seems a terrible waste of the GP time, but on a plus I satisfy myself that this process is their decision not mine, so if I need to see her then that’s the system I follow! I can always see her same day (provided she is in and sadly she is part time).
She is so knowledgable and understanding I feel very blessed, so I suppose having her valuable time filtered does make sense! X
As an update for those following: I finally got Fostair changed to Relvar 2 days ago and I haven’t had a single foot cramp...woohoo!! Still tight chested but not dealing with foot cramp every day is like heaven haha
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