I’m quite new to asthma, so thanks for your patience. I’m on Symbicort, morning and night, which I am always careful to take.
I had begun to get it under control over the last few weeks until about three days ago, when I got the typical breathing through a straw thing again. When it happens I take Ventolin and it goes away. But after a few hours it just comes straight back. And it keeps on coming back a little worse each time. My sleep is poor and in the morning I wake up worn out.
Should I wait to see if it goes away, should I get help, or is this normal in asthma?
Thanks
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golden-retriever
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Definitely try and see you GP tomorrow... ventolin should last 4 hours so if it’s not it’s definitely something that needs help. Not sure if you do PF (or if it’s a reliable measure for you) but if you do keep an eye on it and tract it. Also follow your asthma action plan (if you don’t have one ask your doc tomorrow to fill one out (you can print off the AUK website).
It's usually a sign that you may be coming down with something or something environmental may have triggered it. Did it come on suddenly or was it a gradual worsening until you noticed it? I would check with your doctor.
Go back to your Doctors. You may need a higher dose of Symbicort or a different type of inhaler. For example my asthma is much more controlled on Fostair. If you don’t have one already, as has been suggested make sure you have an asthma action plan in place and know your peak flow numbers. So many colds and infections around right now too
Hi golden retriever. My asthma is quite mild but I use a stringent technique. I empty my lungs then stuck the symbicort in till my lungs are full. Then I try to hold for 10 seconds. To start with it was hard because of a tendency to cough but after a couple of weeks it all settled and had stayed that way. Hope this is of some use.
You should go back and see your doctor regularly until you have a better sense of / control over your condition. I too feel like I'm breathing through a straw and am better for a few hours after ventolin then it gets worse again. And I've been sleeping horribly lately.
I moved to France two years ago and I am miserable throughout much of the year here. I'm thinking it's the new pollens. This is apparently a wretched ragweed season and before I moved here, I lived for a decade in a city where there was none.
Get some allergy tests done and keep trying to figure out what may be triggering you in your environment.
Hi Hilary, thanks so much for your reply. I lived in France for a while too. It’s an incredibly green country and I can imagine that it would be difficult for someone with certain allergies. All the best.
It might be worth going back to your doctor. It doesn't sound as though your asthma is under control. I've found that different preventor inhalers are more or less effective. I was put on one which actually made my asthma worse. We're all different and what works for one person can be useless to another. Some doctors have preferences which they automatically prescribe. If you're waking feeling worn out it could indicate that you're struggling with your breathing during the night. You could always speak to someone in the Asthma UK organisation. But my reaction to your post is that your asthma could be under better control. Hope this helps.
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