Brown inhailer

I've just started a brown inhailer. I was told it can take up to 6 weeks to be fully effective.

[Junglechicken]

Yes, that is correct. Your brown is your preventer inhaler which should be taken as prescribed. You need to keep taking your brown even when you feel well as it helps keep the inflammation under control. If your preventer is working well then you shouldn’t need to use your blue rescue inhaler more than 3 times a week. Your Peak flow should also be close to your personal best also.

[Hidden in reply to Junglechicken]

Thank you for the reassurance. It's all new to me. I'm still having anxiety attack in the early hours it's because of the trauma realising I could have died. I suppose that's natural?

[Junglechicken in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely normal. I believe that the trauma of asthma effects the mind as much as the body. I also believe the medical establishment doesn’t really acknowledge that and treat it accordingly. I’ve had a rough time over the summer. I’ve lost track of the number attacks I had in June to be honest. I’ve had mild asthma for 25 years so it was a real shock. Add to that the fact that none of the medics really knew what was going on. I developed severe anxiety to the point where I couldn’t be alone without shaking. I was terrified to even move. Asthma attacks are truly terrifying. A trick I’ve learnt which helps if I have an anxiety attack is to let the anxiety wash over me and not to fight it. It may not work for you as we are all different. I try to stop thinking “I must relax” as that actually makes me panic more because I’m not relaxing. Deep breathing is not for me either. I just say to myself “yes your anxious but that’s ok. Just ride the waves as best you can” and let my mind do as it wishes rather than force it in a certain direction. Best strategy I’ve found. Remember you are stronger than you can ever imagine and you will get through this.

[Hidden in reply to Junglechicken]

Thanks for reply. It's great to chat with someone more experience with Asthma. I do feel also that Asthma is not taken seriously enough. I did have an anxiety attack coming in at 3am this morning. I did do the breathing and eventually it did stop the shaking and I did settle. I suppose it's to be expected. I've requested a doc note for 2 weeks off to try and rest and come to terms with my new life style. I will try and let the thoughts pass over me and try to process them. 🌻💕

[Junglechicken in reply to Hidden]

It’s great that you have a technique for calming your anxiety that works for you. Always treat yourself with compassion and understanding. I used to scold myself for being anxious or when I’ve had an asthma attack. I have to remind myself, it’s not your fault. After my last attack i was furious with myself for not seeing my GP prior when my peak flow was dropping. However my peak flow isn’t always a good indication of a problem as I’ve had severe attacks with a high percentage and it always seems to be high when I see the doc (thanks peak flow!) and I’m usually just dismissed. Nobody chooses to have asthma and/or anxiety. Plus asthma doesn’t always follow the rules and do what the medical books say. You do start to develop an understanding of what happens during your own attack. My heart races and I start to wheeze on my in and out breath (none of this is “supposed” to happen although my specialist recognised that I did struggle on both breaths which was regarded as “interesting” which is medical talk for “I haven’t a clue why”). My oxygen level is always high but I think my heart takes over the work

, hence the increased speed and obviously does a cracking job! We are all strong people when you think about what we go through each day. You can get stuck in loop of anxiety worsening symptoms and the worsening symptoms causing anxiety. It’s awful but hang in there and keep fighting!

[Hidden in reply to Junglechicken]

Thanks again for your experienced insight. I feel less alone 💕🌻💕

[Hidden]

I would be surprised if it takes 6 weeks to be fully effective but everyone is different.

I can normally feel some relief from clenil ( my brown inhaler) after a few days and a lot of relief after a week or so.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Asthma nurse said when I have my next appointment 12 Dec 2019 she doesn't expect the brown inhailer to have fully worked yet. My other concern is that I work with vulnerable adults and I haven't yet had my flu jab due to this virus I've had. One of the vulnerable adults has a virus I'm so scared of mixing with him. Prob be best to stay off work. It's all new to me I've only just been properly diagnosed after a life threatening attacks last Sunday. Ambulance had to take me into hospital an emergency. Thanks for the reply.