Asthma ... confused ***and*** bemused

[endotheline]

I'm kind of after other people's experiences here as have had a bit of a weekend. My asthma is pretty well managed. My last serious episode was about 15 years ago and I remember the ordeal pretty vividly. However this weekend I had a bad attack (caused by allergy). I took antihistamines and lots of my blue inhaler. To cut a long story short, I left it and left it (as I didn't want to cause a fuss) and gradually did improve a bit however last night I still couldn't catch my breath properly and was still wheezing a lot with horrendous back pain. After speaking to 111 and being passed round a few individuals, I managed to get an appt with a doctor I know from my own surgery at the urgent care centre. However she said my oxygen levels were fine and that I had no wheeze. I felt too rough to complain and had no-one else with me however oddly I'd even recorded the sound of my chest as it was pretty disturbing. I feel pretty cheated. She said she couldn't even give me a prescription for a new inhaler because I prefer a powder one to the standard. That seems weird too. I had a dodgy night's sleep and although I'm improving, my chest still feels awful and just generally feeling a little low and upset by the treatment (or lack of). It's not like I'm complaining every week - this was my first cause to worry since my last big attack 15 years ago and my health generally is tip-top (other than endometriosis). Has anyone had similar? Any tips to start feeling a bit better (other than the usual?). Sad and despondent ...

Hoping everyone else is breathing well and happy today - this weekend made me remember how scary it is to suffer from asthma.

[Junglechicken]

Your story is so similar to mine. I’ve told it a few times on the forum to others so I’ll just give you an overview. Back in May my asthma was deteriorating. I ended up in A&E with pneumonia. I was given antibiotics and steroids A few weeks later a had my first asthma attack in 25 years. I was truly struggling with my breathing. My PF was fine after the attacks but I saw a drop just before. My GP didn’t take me seriously because my PF was good and my chest was clear (even when I was sitting in the office wheezing loudly) I pleaded for steroids as at one point started to have severe attacks every day. With the steroids they reduced in frequency but didn’t disappear. I was consistently told they were panic attacks as the pred hadn’t improved things that much which I didn’t believe for a second. I was so angry. I took matters into my own hands and saw a specialist privately. He was at a bit of a loss but confirmed it was asthma and probably chronic sinusitis with post nasal drip that was irritating my lungs. I think he threw everything drug wise at me. My attacks stopped for 3 months. I had a relapse at the end of October and my PF is starting to fall again. It’s horrible when your asthma doesn’t do what it’s “supposed” to do and you are dismissed by GPS. Asthma attacks are frightening and the stress of it all does start to make things worse. When you don’t have that medical support behind you it’s 10 times worse. I’ve stopped caring about being a nuisance at my surgery because I know when something is wrong. It’s pot luck at my surgery as to whether you get a sympathic GP. I hope you get sorted and remember you are not alone. It often feels that way but keep fighting! You know your condition best and the way it behaves. I do have anxiety attacks but I so know the difference between asthma and anxiety. My GP believes that I don’t. Hang in there! I always see my asthma as like Mount St Helens. It stayed quiet for a little while with a few rumbles occasionally then exploded in a way that no one expected!

[endotheline in reply to Junglechicken]

Ah thanks for sharing your story - I should have searched for similar stories first before posting shouldn't I?!

Hmmm - I have had episodes of anxiety before and the problem is that as soon as GPs know this, I feel they seem to pinpoint everything to that which is exceedingly frustrating. Yes, I feel I know my body well too and I knew this episode was allergy related and I know I felt exactly like I did 15 years ago. Feeling mightily fobbed off by the system is just a little depressing. I really wish sometimes they could step into our bodies for just a moment to realise how frightening it is.

Thanks so much for replying - I know I'm not alone!

[Junglechicken in reply to endotheline]

You are so right about swapping places with a medic so they could feel your pain, fear and discomfort. Panic attack explanation is code for I haven’t a clue and is easy. The specialist I saw knew nothing about my anxiety and investigated properly the respiratory issues. I would say everyone on this forum are experts in their own personal expression of asthma. I’m starting to learn how to deal with my change in circumstances. Previously I was terrified that it was something else rather than asthma. It wouldn’t have surprised me. I realised that I can’t live my life in constant fear. All I can do is take the meds, monitor, stay as calm as possible and demand help if I need it.

[Thompson_2009]

My asthma has changed recently as i have got older and i tried to tell this to the multiple doctors i had seen, was even diagnosed with silent reflex twice by two different doctors. In the end i demanded to be referred to the hospital and when i had the appointment at the asthma clinic at the hospital, it took them minutes to diagnose my symptoms.

I breathed into this little machine and it showed my lungs were massively inflamed and the medication the doctors changed me too which was a lot cheaper was not working. GP's are not qualified to actually diagnose asthma. The hospital was and they were brilliant. I am slowly getting better.

[endotheline in reply to Thompson_2009]

Wow - thanks! That's worth knowing. I wonder if I'd manage to get a private referral through my work medical scheme

[Thompson_2009 in reply to endotheline]

depends, i can't with my work for any existing or long term conditions except things like a scan for example. I asked the consultant at the hospital why the GP's cannot diagnose my lung condition and she said because the machine they use costs a fortune and the are asthma specialists,

[hilary39]

A lot of the time your PF can be fine and you can not be wheezing and have pretty good sats and still be in a severe attack, especially if it is manifesting in the small airways.

Allergens are so tiny--especially cat dander and dust and pollen--and, once inhaled, they settle in your small airways and cause inflammation there.

Often the droplets from asthma inhalers are bigger than your small airways so the medicine you're inhaling stays in your large airways. That's why so many severe attacks require prednisone to reboot your whole immune system just to get at those small airways.

[endotheline in reply to hilary39]

Thank you so much. I didn't even know any of this stuff (I wish I had now and I may have tried to be a little more assertive) :\

[Fedupwithasthma]

Have been having similar trouble, was back and forward to doctor and asthma nurse they said it was an asthma aggravation but I felt truly terrible and back/lungs really painful. Woke up Saturday throwing up feeling like death. Had to go to out of hours and finally got given antibiotics and now starting to feel bit better. I think it was an infection all along. Makes be angry I had to suffer so much when I told them all along I wasn’t right. Have been back and forward enough now that they’ve agreed to refer me. I would say just keep pestering them until they listen to you.

[endotheline in reply to Fedupwithasthma]

Thank you .... I think I'll go back then and pester away ... it's just so depressing when they turn you away when you feel so bad. Especially as I had mentioned I'd not an episode like this for 15 years - you'd think they'd sit up and listen a little more.