Hi!
I would like to know how long an asthma flare up is supposed to last especially one that is caused by a viral infection (flu) ? And what drugs do you usually use to treat it ?
I read that there was a difference between a flare up and uncontrolled asthma. How can we know if symptoms are caused by poorly managed asthma (drugs not working) or if they are cause by the condition itself that is becoming severe ?
Thank You!
An asthma flare up can last days to months... depending on what's caused it and how bad it is
As for symptoms if it's a flare up it should start to settle down if its uncontrolled it will just keep getting worse... it's hard to know but after a while you develop an "instinct" for it after learning what's normal for you
Hi Hannah 
I don't know if there's any official definition for the difference between the two but I would generally consider a flare up of asthma to be something shorter term, that has occurred in direct response to something (like an infection) that can be settled with a shorter term increase in meds (whether that be through a hospital trip, oral steriods or temporarily upping your preventer).
Whereas uncontrolled asthma is much longer term and may not have such an obvious trigger. I also often find when my asthma control is worse that while I'll still respond well to the short term measures like increasing oral steroids (as I take them everyday) my symptoms will then start to come back again after I return to my normal level of meds.
Although recovery time from flares does vary hugely depending on what the cause was. Infections in particular can take ages to get over, I know doctors often tell people to expect potentially up to 6 months recovery or more from a pneumonia related flare. I also remember a while ago when I saw an asthma nurse and was complaining about how slow my recovery was that they told me it can take up to 4 months to get back to baseline after a flare!
Thank you!
I am really confused about my asthma because it all started with a viral infection but it has now been 7 months and instead of getting better it just keeps getting worse. I've had two short courses of oral steroids and I am now taking seretide but it's not working. I'm worried that I'll have to stay like that for the rest of my life.
I'm wondering if after a flare up, asthma can go back to being mild with few symptoms or if the hypersensitivity of the lungs will remain forever ?
It does vary really. Most of the time things will eventually settle back to normal, and certainly virtually all of the flares I’ve have settled to some sort of normal.
But sometimes after a particularly nasty flare asthma can worsen generally.
When are you next seeing your specialist?
I do hope that this flare will eventually settle down but I was wondering why it was taking so long. I never knew asthma could be like this as I used to have very mild asthma that didn't require me taking any drugs. And now, ever since I had the flu, I feel like my asthma has become severe even though it never was before.
My next appointment with the specialist is in october. I would like to change my meds since seretide is not working and maybe add a new steroid inhaler but I no longer go to hospital because I am never taken seriously and some of the things I was told hurt me a lot. So I'm now thinking about seeing another specialist.
Hi Hannah. Even asthma in it’s mildest form can flare and be very serious. Which until a few months back I truly did not appreciate. It can also morph. Mine had gone from severe as a child, mild through teenage and early adulthood to now in my late 30’s, moderate. It’s actually following the same pattern as my mum’s asthma which I find very interesting. It’s a horrible condition due the fact that it can creep up on you little by little in small ways that you don’t really take much notice of. Such as chest pains that you put down to heartburn or a muscle strain maybe taking your blue inhaler an extra time each day that because your busy you don’t pay much heed to (I was so guilty of all of these). Then bang it hits you. Be alert as possible to what is happening and act ASAP if their is anything strange going on. All the best and get well soon.
Yeah it’s very frustrating and can sometimes take ages, the ones that always take me longest to recover from are infections!
Yes it’s definitely worth asking about changing up your medications if you don’t feel they’re helping. Has your specialist ever done any tests into working out the type of asthma you have? I know you’ve posted asking about different tests before so I’m assuming possibly not! As adding on an extra steroid inhaler will only help if you have the right sort of asthma for it.
I think if you’re thinking about seeing a different specialist it might be worth trying to find one either with some decent experience or an interest in asthma, as normally the first thing an asthma specialist will try to do is work out what sort of asthma you have! Then they’ll go through all the meds you’ve tried in the past and try to shuffle things around based on results to improve things 😊
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