Asthma Novice at 32

[Posingcookie]

Hi folks, so I was diagnosed with 'mild asthma' as a late teen. Got the little white inhaler and a few days if be fine. I then had it return 5 years ago at 27 when pregnant and got a blue inhaler. Can you tell I'm a proper novice? Figured I'd grown out of it as I've had no issues since...

Until 3 weeks ago, I had a terrible cough come on which I treated with no results. Then 2 weeks ago I was really really breathless. I phoned the GP who gave me an emergency appointment and said my asthma had come back, I'd likely now have this every winter ect. My peak flow at best was 170 so I got given the trusty blue inhaler a brown one and a bunch of steroids. After the steroids finished I had 5 days of feeling great and then I was mega struggling again. I was out with friends and went home in a bad way but too embarrassed after a few drinks to go to a&e or out of hours. So I waited and coughed/wheezed all night and had no sleep.

Next morning I called out of hours and got an appointment a d was seen rapid. I had the nebuliser and this cleared up enough for the doctor to hear a wheeze on my left lung and my peak flow was sat around 270 (only 40 of an improvement after the neb) was then set to a&e where I was again seen immediately. Had another neb, begged not to stay in as I've had a crap year health wise and was sent home with stronger inhaler and steroids plus antibs.

Got to work today and just had a breakdown, I'm so uneducated on asthma and felt vulnerable all of a sudden ay how serious it is because I never realised...I went home and got a gp appt who basically talked me a bit more through it. Still won't be referred to an asthma clinic though and I don't know why.

Just needed a vent. How can I clear my chest out of gunk and prevent taking another turn after there steroids run out, can I do anything else to help myself other than doing as I'm told?

Thanks in advance if you made it this far! Xx

[Wheezycat]

Hi, welcome to this forum! It sounds as if you have had a hard time lately. I am glad to hear that your gp is taking you seriously. It can take a while for things to settle down after a deterioration. And it can take a while to find the best medication for you. It can all be pretty individual.

To get more good advice you can ring to speak to one of the specialist asthma nurses at Asthma U.K., Monday to Friday, 9-5, 0300 222 5800. They are so helpful, and so knowledgable, and really supportive. When I truly started my asthma journey a few years ago there was so much I didn’t know though I had brought up a child with asthma, and they really spent quite a while with me to bring me up to speed. And stay on here for support and understanding as well.

[WindsweptRissa]

Firstly, it’s understandable to feel a bit daunted by it all and do phone the asthma uk helpline if you want to talk over it, also there is loads of information on their website. Secondly, it can take a while to find the right medication and it can take a few weeks for the effects of the preventer inhaler to build up. Do you have a peak flow monitor at home, if not ask for one from your GP. Then use this morning and evening before taking any medication and keep a note of each reading on the chart. This will help you and your GP to find the right medication and once you have established your best peak flow reading this will help your GP/asthma nurse to work out an asthma action plan for you. Thirdly, it’s usually only people with difficult to treat/severe asthma where the GP has exhausted all the treatments available to them, or where there is doubt about the diagnosis who get referred to a specialist. Usually asthma is dealt with by your GP and nurse.

The gunk is probably from the chest infection (don't take cough suppressants because you want to be able to cough this up). Once you’ve got the right level/type of preventer inhaler you will probably find you won’t need steroid tablets. The steroid tablets should dampen down the inflammation you have now and then your preventer inhaler should be able to prevent anymore inflammation. If, once you’ve been on it for a few weeks, you find you are using your reliever inhaler 3 or more times a week then go back to the doctor because you may need to up/change your preventer inhaler. Also ask the GP/asthma nurse about what to do with future episodes of colds etc. If you are triggered by colds etc then, depending on the type/dose of preventer inhaler you may be able to double the dose at the first sign of a cold to prevent an exacerbation of your asthma in the future. Finally steroid tablets can affect your moods/emotions as well, so that won’t be helping how you feel at the moment (I tend to get quite agitated and irritable when I’m on them and then feel quite flat for a few days when I come off of them)

Hope you feel better soon.