Recovering from asthma attack

[Jimmy1983]

Hi all, I’m new to all this

35yo male, I previously had very mild asthma as a kid and used ventolin very occasionally as an adult . This summer things have detereirated but the waiting list for asthma nurse was 6 weeks ! Last Thursday I started struggling with my breathing and went A&E. I was given new ventolin, anti biotics and prednisone 40 mg a day. Next day I’m still struggling and went GP who said I needed to give prednisone longer to take effect

I gave it until Sunday night and went back to A&E and was supplied 60mg prednisone and Forstar inhaler.

Tuesday night I had an asthma attack which resulted in ambulance attending, and hospital admission for 2 days (on nebuliser day 1). Things calmed and I was discharged with QVAR and salbutamol inhaler

My reliance on the salbutamol inhaler has come down, on discharge I needed it every 4hrs. I used it 3 times (4hrs a part) yesterday

And finally my questions- is this normal, is my use of salbutamol post attack ok?

How long does it take in your experience to recover from an attack?

They’ve also took me straight if prednisone which surprised me as I thought it was supposed to be tapered off ??

Like I say I’m new to this so any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

J

[MrsCMK]

Hey! So sorry to hear that you’ve been so unwell. Asthma that creeps up on you like that sucks! Also, I’m so shocked to hear that the waiting list for your asthma nurse is so long!

Really cliche but everyone is totally different post-attack/post-flare. The body gets pretty beaten during that time and it can (for some) take months and months to fully recover. For me personally, post attack, it takes weeks for my muscles to stop feeling sore and weak and then it usually takes about a month after that to feel normal again.

Prednisolone in high doses as a short course doesn’t need to be tapered off, so nothing to worry about there but if you’re started on a longer course, the doctor may taper your body off.

All I can say is allow your body the time it needs to recover and try not to be hard on yourself. You’ve been through a pretty traumatic time, so if anything, if yourself a big pat on the back ☺️

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

Sorry to hear this

Prednisolone can take a few days to kick in effectively, but it does sound like you may need a medication review to help you stabilise. Have you had a follow up at your GP since discharge? It’s meant to be within 2 working days due to the fact that excerbations can re-flare are cause return trips to a&e within 2 weeks of discharge. (Also do you have an asthma plan?)

Usually they give advice about ventolin. If you’re using 2 puffs and it’s lasting 4 hours then it’s nothing to be overtly concerned about post a&e trip. Typically you get discharged when they feel like you can safely manage recovery at home, another reason why the GP follow up is so important.

Recovery can vary from person to person. Some people it takes a couple of days, others it can drag on for months... it can depend on the level of asthmatic and the level of attack. Personally ‘full’ recovery can be anywhere from hours to months...

You don’t need to taper prednisolone unless you’ve been on it for more than 3 weeks continuously, so don’t worry about it too much.

Give yourself time to recover (I’m guilty of not and making myself worse 😅), don’t push yourself too hard and accept that you’ve been through a stressful and tiring time so let yourself rest!

[Junglechicken]

Hi Jimmy1983. You’ve had a really rough time. It very very frightening when you get a serious flare especially if you never had one or after a period of dormancy. I was in a very similar position. Asthma that charged back into my life like an elephant. I had severe asthma as a child but it has been mild for the last 25 years. All changed this summer after contracted pneumonia. It’s been two months since my last attack. I had 3 moderate ones and milder ones almost every other day throughout June. Long story but I had to see a specialist because my GP’s (apart from one) are clueless and seem to think my asthma is all in my head as I don’t wheeze the “right” way (I’ve been wheezing on the in as well as the out breath) and my peak flow is “good” which was also rubbish as highlighted in a spirometer test. I’m still recovering and it’s taken 9 weeks of treatment to get me somewhere near normal physically. What’s really done a number on me is the physiological aspect, which is often overlooked when taking into account recovery. At one point I was afraid to be alone and had to have someone with me otherwise I would start to shake. I’m just starting to feel comfortable about going out without fear of another attack. Take as much time as you need to recover. It’s absolutely appalling that you have to wait so long to see a medic! Especially after you have been so ill. Don’t they understand that asthma kills people everyday! It is worth asking your surgery for an emergency appointment with the GP or asking if you can go to another surgery to be seen. Your body and mind had been through so much, you don’t need the added stress of wondering if you are going to get the medical attention you need. Also if your asthma has been mild and suddenly gets worse you may need a major upgrade in your daily maintenance medication very quickly as I did.

[Jimmy1983]

Guys thanks for your kind words and detailed replies they’ve really helped - I have already seen my GP for 48 hr check up and my peak flows were up to 590ish (630 best)

I do feel a bit better this evening

Jungle chicken (love the name lol) I can relate 100% to what you’re saying Re the psychological

Aspect, I’ve had similar experience.

One doctor mentioned my job (emergency services ) and was determined I had some sort of occupational anxiety ?!!

For me it’s comforting to know I’m not the only one going through it . I hope your feeling fully recovered soon

Take care all and thanks for your time

[Junglechicken]

I’m glad you’ve had your GP check up. Re. anxiety one of my GP’s was unwilling to treat me for asthma, despite the fact I was sitting in his office wheezing loudly. The previous day I’d had two mild attacks so I was desperate at this point for somebody to make them stop. I was wheezing all the time and salbutamol wasn’t responding with the usual dose. He claimed that I needed help for anxiety and that my asthma attacks were panic attacks. I was speechless and so so angry. I went private and saw a lovely GP who referred me without hesitation to a respiratory specialist. He helped me get the treatment I needed. My illness most definitely had a physical cause (poor asthma control which I admit was my fault as I didn’t address my increased use of salbutamol/ chest pain with GP, combined with chronic sinusitis/ post nasal drip that was constantly irritating my lungs). It was not a mental health issue.

[cconsta1]

Sorry to hear you’ve had such an awful time.

Two of the biggest problems I’ve found with asthma treatment is that asthma can present very differently in different people in different times. (For example Sometimes mine is so loud you can hear it on every breath and sometimes it’s completely silent. Sometimes my o2 levels drop sometimes they stay at 97% (so no one worries but once they do a blood gas they panic because my co2 is sky high)

the other is that it seems gps etc aren’t always trained very well in it. I dread having to see whichever duty doctor is on in my surgery if I need to see one quickly because it’s 50/50 as to how they will react.

I think all you can do is listen to your body and if you have any worries at all speak to someone. Asthma UK has asthma nurses you can call and talk to and they can be incredibly helpful and reassuring.

I hope this is all a blip for you and it all comes under control soon.

[Junglechicken in reply to cconsta1]

The Asthma Uk nurses are awesome. They know their stuff. Helped me so much over the last few months

[Tvpuzzle]

Hi ust read your post and i am in a similar situation. I had a nasty attack 3 weeks ago. Taken to hosp by ambulance and kept in for a week. Given oxygen nebs and steroids for 14 days. Been home 2weeks now and still recovering. It really takes it out of you and think it is a slow process. I still have some anxiety but thats normal after a scary experience. so my advice is take your time dont push yourself which is what i am trying to do. Been told it can take months to recover Take Care