I have had asthma my whole life. I stupidly used to smoke but gave up 5 years ago this April. I have been generally fit and well since then and taken a keen interest in exercise, cycling 20 miles most days to and from work for the past 18 months. Prior to that I was exec ricing 6 days a week (Insanity work outs) and have completed various challenges like Tough Mudder/Nuclear races etc.
In the summer of 2018 my doctor changed my preventer inhaler to Sirdupla as I was getting out of breath when exercising and it was a massive game changer for me! I barely used my reliever and was confidently able to cycle, at a good pace, without worrying about getting out of breath. It was great.
In April last year this suddenly all changed. I have been constantly out of breath, today I have used my blue inhaler 4 times just sitting at my desk!! I have been going back and forth to the doctors about why this could be. She did an allergy test and found I have high tree pollen, which would account for some of the issues of last year, but does not account for recent breathlessness.
She changed my preventer inhaler (cant remember the name) again just before Christmas and said if it does not work, which is has not, then she will refer me to a specialist (appt with doc 21/01).
I am constantly tired and probably subconsciously suffering with anxiety due to feeling short of breath all the time, plus the stress of when I am cycling and needing my blue inhaler constantly. I cant even walk up a flight of stairs without getting short of breath - I am only 36!
Has anyone else suffered a sudden change in their asthma? If so, I would appreciate any recommendations etc.
Thanks
Gemma
Written by
gemssea
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I think the best advice that I can give you is this link to the asthma uk helpline . They will be able to answer your many questions and help you get what you need e.g. talk through your treatment and what to say at your consultant appointment.
My asthma had a relatively sudden change a few years ago so it’s not just you it happened too 😅
Are you on any tablets for your asthma? Montelukast or a antihistamine (fexofenadine etc) or any nasal sprays etc? And have you had a course of pred to see if that helps calm things at all? Otherwise the best thing is referral to a consultant cause they have more drugs available. They can offer things like theophylline/aminophylline/spiriva etc etc
If you’re finding you can’t do stuff and you vent isn’t working/lasting 4hrs then you need to seek help (according to you asthma plan assuming you have one. If not that’s something else to get organised). The fatigue is a common side effects of poorly controlled asthma
I tried Montelukast but didn't get on very well with it. I take fexofenadine but only really during allergy season. Have just read elsewhere about people taking it daily so started back on them tonight. Not sure what you mean by "a course of pred"?
Blue definitely not lasting 4 hours so will see what gp says when I see her on 21st but expecting it will be a referral. Its been going on for too long now.
A course of prednisolone (ie 40mg of steroid tablets usually 8 pills, taken for 5-7 days to calm the flare)
If the blue isn’t lasting 4hrs you need to see your GP tomorrow. Breathing is not something you mess about with and ventolin should last that long which suggests you are defo having a flare and possibly an attack. You can take up to 10 puffs at once but this also means a GP check up and if 10 doesn’t work or last 4hrs you need hospital.
I’m now a severe/brittle asthmatic. Since starting Benralizumab injections I have a lot more control! At my worst I was in hosp every week or 2. Started benra in May last year and have had 3 trips (1 cause by infection, 1 by running for train in cold whilst recovering from infection and the last most likely due to pet dander... it was Christmas 🤫😅)
Don’t know if it’s the same or helps but sounds similar to me and I was diagnosed with chronic breathing syndrome. It’s basically where (often through stress) you subconsciously start to shallow breathe and/or hold your breathe for short periods. Sounds mad I know but over time it becomes the norm so your body can’t then cope with exercise when you need deep breathing. physios can help with retraining you to breathe and exercises to do at home.
Interesting. I know I have had a habit of doing that when I did certain exercises. It definitely feels like my throat as opposed to have an issue in my lungs. Will chat to the doctor about this. Thank you.
That's the thing, my peak flow (since I stopped smoking) is usually around the 550 mark! But my throat constantly feels tight. I am certainly going to speak to my doctor about this possibility.
If you’re feeling the issue more in your throat than your chest in may be worth looking up things like VCD/ILO (vocal cord dysfunction/Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction) or as Gerrymoise said a breathing pattern disorder/dysfunctional breathing. These can be common asthma mimicers and can be treated with exercises
Yep, definitely going to speak to my doctor about this. I have constant breathlessness/tightness in my throat and what feels like a a layer of clingfilm at the back of my throat I have to clear regularly.
The throat clearing may also be caused by PND (post nasal drip)... another thing to look and and see if it possibly applies to you or not (it’s a common comorbidity of asthma, especially of it’s allergy drive I think)
Be warned , whilst I was diagnosed by a specialist private consultant, a lot of medical staff since snigger and say “how can you forget how to breathe “ 🙄
Asthma is variable in my experience. You seem to have a good doctor who is doing tests and suggesting seeing a consultants. Smoking wouldn't have helped lungs in past as you probably know. Between 36 and 44 had really bad prolonged episodes of asthma, where I felt tired exhausted, walking at the pace of 100 year old. Last year though put onto montelukast and fexofenadine, and asthma improved immensely. More or less asthma free now, just occasional tight chest from dust and smoking fumes I walk past, or if come into contact with someone who is heavy smoker. Past 8 have been nightmare at times particularly when you are a mum and working full-time too. Hope you do come through.
I have a great Doctor, very lucky! I spoke about the smoking with my doc and she didn't seem too concerned as I stopped just after my 30th but obviously it could have done damage, which I guess the specialist will help me figure out.
Have started on my fexofenadine as of last night so got a week or so before my appointment with doc to see if that eases symptoms. Really glad to hear you had similar and it's more controlled now.
Let us all know how you get on. Sometimes it is a bit of trial and error getting medication right for you, and can take awhile which isn't great. However because of issues had over last 8 years I do understand my symptoms and early indicators that there is a problem. Although still not precisely clear on my triggers. I know a couple, other peoples smoking is one. I'm afraid I'm very anti smoking and think in it should be banned in public spaces, but that's for another forum. Hope things get back on track for you though.
This happened to me a couple of years ago. I suddenly had a flare up, having been very well controlled for over 30 years! I would have been about 44/45 at the time and it was a game changer. Although much better I unfortunately don’t feel as good as I did before it occurred. I just feel like my asthma is worse now, or I’m more symptomatic. So I am keen to hear how you get on. My asthma nurse has threatened to send me to a specialist but then never bothered and I am now on my 4th change of preventer. Good luck
Yes tablets, they are strong antihistamines. I only used to take mine during allergy season but have been reading asthmatics take daily alongside Montelukast (which I didn't get on with either) as it helps to ease symptoms. I was taking fexofenadine all last allergy season when my symptoms were bad, but perhaps I should have increased the dose. Will speak to doc when I see her on 21st.
Hi gemssea, I have had very similar ups and downs--know you are not alone! The key things are to continue to be aggressive about (1) identifying potential new allergens in your environment at home, work, or during your commute (2) trying new asthma meds (3) seeing your doctors frequently and getting as many different tests as possible (spirometry, nitrous oxide, blood work, a chest xray if necessary etc.--if everything comes back normal that's a great sign as it just means you're having a flare up [they can last months]; and if anything comes back abnormal then you can work on treating it]).
Asthma is a fickle, mercurial disease and it can roar back into our lives when we are least expecting it. From ages 8-29 my asthma was pretty under control and then a confluence of things set it off--moving into an apartment building next to someone with a dog (I'm terribly allergic to pets); traveling to Delhi in the middle of a particularly bad pollution spell (I wound up in the hospital there and then it took about 5 months for my lungs to calm down); then I moved to a new city with a new slew of pollens and that set off my asthma for a few years.
Then it calmed down again at around age 32 and I was like you described--running half marathons, a ragnar race, working out all the time. Then I got moved to a new floor at work that turned out to have mold in the walls and I was super sick and asthmatic, struggling to walk up stairs like you described, for nearly a year. Then I moved to a new floor and slowly recovered.
Then I moved to France at 37 and all the new allergens + the fact that animals and horses are everywere where we live has me miserable all over again.
All that is to say--allergens and triggers are ubiquitous and invisible and can have a profound impact on us asthmatics. Also, in general, asthma often starts to worsen as we age (but this isn't true for everyeone).
My new medicine regime is working pretty well (finally)--symbicort 2x a day, spiriva zyrtec and nasacort 1x a day and Xolair monthly. I'm going to the gym 4+ days a week (though still not back to running).
Just wanted to share my experience in case any of it is helpful to you. Let me know if you have questions about anything above and take care!!
This is really helpful, thank you so much! It has given me hope that I can get this back under control again. As you said, I need to have all the relevant tests done to rule out anything else and then get my meds sorted.
Horses are the absolute worst for me too so I feel for you!
But I am happy you can exercise again, that it was has been stressing me out the most - the fear of not being able to - as, like most, I need to be able to for my mental health.
Luckily my doctor is great and really working with me to get me sorted so hopefully I will be back to "normal" soon.
Have you tried tweaking your diet in any way? An antiinflammatory protocol might be helpful for the condition.
There is also some evidence that asthma is triggered by immune dysregulation where there is an imbalance of something called T-Helper Cells. This was my case and once addressed both my asthma and allergies have gone.
Also, frequent antibiotics in childhood that would have devasted the gut microbiota have been linked to life-long asthma. Have you been put on many AB cycles when you were younger? People born through C-Section often suffer from asthma and allergies exactly for this reason.
I haven't tweaked my diet but equally it hasn't changed since the prior year when my asthma was good. However I have been looking into the link with my gut/GERD/asthma, only thing is I haven't been getting any reflux so not sure it's that.
I was very ill at the end of my teens and had multiple courses of AB's. I am going to mention about it potentially being a gut issue.
If the doc agrees, a round of high potency probiotics perhaps.
Also there is something called "silent reflux". This is asymptomatic and usually undiagnosed as it causes no pain. Symptoms are similar to nocturnal asthma.
Just one other thing to think about, as well as montelukast is what your Vitamin D levels are at. I have found when low asthma symptoms have been worst. I was found to have low levels just before start of December and taking supplements do feel more energised. Maybe something to look into if not already done.
Thanks for all your really helpful responses. Lots for me to look into prior to my appointment. Poor doctor won't have enough time to go through my list 😂
Hello all, hope you are all safe and well in these crazy times!
Finally getting around to posting a bit to of an update. Waited 6 months for my appt with the consultant and then had to have it via zoom for obvious reason, so a little frustrating as he couldn't examine me etc.
However, from the symptoms I gave him he thinks it sounds like VCD (vocal chord dysfunction) which one/some of you suggested. He is trying me out on a few different treatments (inhalers/steroids) in the interim until he can see me face to face. Currently been on Spiriva for about 4 weeks, which has made no difference, he also asked for a speech therapist to contact me to see if they can help.
Having read the symptoms it does sound a lot like VCD which I am relieved about, although annoying and will agitate my asthma.
Will try and post again once I have got a bit closer to a diagnosis/helpful solution.
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