Asthma question

[tinker765]

Hello everyone

My name is Rob from the Uk, hoping someone out there has similar symptoms as i do.

Anyway there is no asthma in my family as far as i know, and i have never had any breathing issues. But back in 2012 where i was 32 years of age, in October time i suddenly had breathing problems where i struggled to breath. But back then i was not one for going to the doctors. A friend of mine eventually let me use their ventolin, i took a puff and instantly felt better.

I then went to my local GP, where they put me straight in for a spirometry test. I then went back to see the GP who said i have COPD and i need to quit smoking. At the time i had no idea what COPD even was, but i did instantly quit smoking and to this day have not touched one.

I came home to google what it was and i was shocked as to how serious it was so i joined support groups. 6 Months later i moved, and registered at a new GP's where i went to see my new GP to get some more COPD medication. The Doctor i saw was angry that i had been diagnosed with COPD, he put me in for another spirometry test.

So i did another Spirometry, went back to see him and he said I have Asthma, and put me on a preventer and ventolin.

Since then i never really took the preventer i just used the ventolin when i needed to. Which over the last 7 years has not been that much, certain times of the year it would tend to flare up but for most of the year i would not use the ventolin.

Anyway i thought everything was fine, until i went for my annual Asthma review last August with a Pharmacist. He said my file said i have COPD, i explained that was my initial diagnosis but then i was re-diagnosed with Asthma. But he said well your file says COPD.

He told me i need to start taking my preventer every day as i told him i never took it. So i agreed, i then left and started taking Relvar Ellipta 92 micrograms/22 micrograms each day.

I noticed not long after taking it, my breathing started to play up, but continued to take it. After almost 2 weeks of taking it, my breathing got very bad, to the point of using the ventolin had little to no effect at all. So i stopped taking the Relvar, then my mind started going into overtime of what the Pharmacist had told me, i start googling and got myself into a right mess.

From then my breathing got worse and worse, i developed a 24/7 wheeze inhaling and exhaling. I was back and forth to the Doctors, the put me on steroids oral tablets which had little affect.

Went back to see the Pharmacist and he put me on a new preventer in early October last year, Fostair. First 2 weeks of taking it i only went 3 days of not having to use my ventolin. Week 3 and 4 i went 8 days without Ventolin, week 5-6 i went 9 days without using ventolin. Week 7,8,9,10,11,12,13 i did not use ventolin once. So it was helping although i did experience a lot of chest tightness.

Then there was times where climbing a few stairs i was out of breath! Other days i could climb them fine and was not out of breath at all. In the middle of october i performed a lung function test at the hospital, my breathing was not good that day so knew the results would not be good.

I am still waiting for an appointment to see a specialist about that lung function test. I also suffer with depression and anxiety and all this waiting and not knowing has destroyed me literally. Around Christmas time i came down with a cold, which followed by a chest infection, which did not seem to last long. But since the chest infection i now have constant chest tightness, well one minute i will feel fine, then a few minutes later it will change to minor chest tightness, then minutes later back to normal, this cycle has gone on for the last few weeks now. Ventolin has no effect on the tightness which worries me.

So anyway, my symptoms are mainly chest tightness accompanied by breathlessness, wheeze. Never really had a cough but i was told that you can have asthma and not have a cough. It is just so strange how the last 7 years i have felt great and rarely used my inhaler, then go for my review with pharmacist, where he puts into my head i have COPD then boom my breathing went downhill from that day, it was as if he put a curse on me.

Sorry for the long story, but feel so alone lately and have never felt so scared. Hoping someone can relate to somewhat.

Rob

[tinker765]

Sorry, also pretty much the same time my breathing issues started in 2012, i started having problems with my nose. Most of the time one side of my nose is fully blocked, but it can change in minutes, both nostrils can be blocked etc. My GP said it was Allergic Rhinitis, but all these nasal sprays they have given me has had little effect.

[Minushabens]

Hi Rob & welcome to the forum. Thanks for sharing your story.

Your symptoms sound very familiar! COPD covers a range of illnesses but if your inhaler makes you feel better then asthma is more likely as it is reversible whereas COPD generally isn’t (although of course a doctor is better placed to give you clarity on that).

The tightness you currently have may be related to the infection as much as the asthma. It’s always really hard to tell what’s what & you should make sure you keep talking to either the GP or the nurse specialist at your surgery.

With regard to the sinuses, I think there are connections, possibly linked to allergies.

I hope you soon feel better anyway & you will find this group a fantastic source of support & information.

[tinker765 in reply to Minushabens]

Thanks for your reply Minushabens, yes my ventolin had always helped me until recently. Thank you very much.

[Poobah]

Hello & welcome to the club.

Both Relvar & Fostair are from the same group of medicines. Both contain a long acting bronchidilator and a steroid. In addition you can carry a quick acting reliever inhaler for wheezy episodes.

From what you say Fostair is better than Relvar but has still left you with tightness to the point that Ventolin doesn't work. It's important that you say this loud & clear when you see the consultant.

There are different types of asthma and knowing what asthma you have should indicate what meds are best for you. A spirometer test will only show you have a respiratory problem. More tests will establish the cause of your asthma.

Everyone is different and will react better (or worse) to medications. It's usually a trial and error approach that should find the right combination of meds for you. And any new medication should be reviewed after a month to make sure it's working or not.

Blood tests will show whether or not you have allergies. Montelukast (tablets) is good for combatting allergies. But bloods can also show levels of different cells, again an indicator of the type of asthma.

A sputum test can see what's going on with your lungs - not only do they look at the phlegm but also the dead cells that can give clues as to your asthma.

A CT scan will show up any scarring or other physical details.

A full picture will help the consultant zero in on what meds are best but there may still be a bit of trial & error.

The approach to just treat symptoms doesn't always work - as in your case. It's too easy to blame the smoking, though it will be a factor. Your reaction to Relvar and now Fostair is a clue that more investigation is necessary.

It's difficult for patients to assert their role in the patient/Dr relationship, but in order to ensure the Dr has the right picture of what is happening to you, you have to be ready for your appointment with a clear time line of symptoms and meds and reactions to the meds. Write it down if it helps.

Good luck with your treatment going forward.

[Graham07allen]

Hi rob, can you excercise, like run and stuff.

[tinker765 in reply to Graham07allen]

Hi Graham, not sure about running, but i have been doing weights 4 days a week for over 3 years now, up until recently never had a problem with them. Just like stairs, recently occasionally i can feel short of breath climbing stairs, but other times i am fine.

I recently purchased an aerobic stepper, i been using it for 20 minutes before doing my weights constantly stepping up and down on it to mimic climbing stairs and i can do it fine with no breathlessness.

[Graham07allen in reply to tinker765]

Same as me. I'm 37 now and about 1 year ago I was alittle short of breath and I was always clearing my throat. I did a test and the doctor said the same, COPD. I asked another doctor and he did a chest x-ray and he said it's not that it's asthma. Since then I'm seeing a consultant and he sent me for a full lung function test and the Dr doing the test said looking at these results it would be hard for them to say COPD. Over the same time iv seen a ent Dr and he said I have Lpr silent reflux, that's why I'm clearing my throat all the time. It's got better, but still have the throat clearing. I have made a lot of life style changes. I run 3 times a week and don't eat anything at least 4 to 5 hours befor bed. Have you looked into Lpr, I was amazed that it can affect breathing.

[tinker765 in reply to Graham07allen]

No i've not looked into LPR, but i don't need to keep clearing my throat. I did have a cold followed by a chest infection over christmas time so maybe that has something to do with my current symptoms i don't know.

[Graham07allen in reply to tinker765]

Seems like everyone who has ever smoked, the doctors are sayin you have COPD. I just ran 10k this morning in 49.40. I remember the lung function test Dr saying I have a better fev then him, Crazy. Keep active and try not to let your mind play you up. There is this great group about Lpr and silent reflux. shortness of breath is one of the main symptoms.

facebook.com/groups/7568595...

[tinker765 in reply to Graham07allen]

Thank you Graham

[tinker765]

Thank you Poobah

[Lol1944]

If you are anywhere near Southport we have an excellent respiratory team. Symptoms very familiar.

[Hidden]

You certainly have indicators of asthma, I don't have COPD so can't comment on that. Asthma can wear you down (and of course COPD can aswell). Being uncertain of your diagnosis must make things worse, I hope you can get some clarity on that soon. You are not alone, just about everybody on this forum understands how you feel.

[tinker765 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[SheilaC]

I write everything down before I see the consultant and just hand the list over. Also my husband comes with me as two brains are better than one. He rarely says anything but just listens. Also when you go to the hospital reception, ask to be sent a copy of the letter that the consultant will send to your GP. I write everything down and keep it and that has proved useful.

[mas7656]

Hi, for 5/6 years I had a bad chest every winter and doctors kept on saying I had a viral infection.

2 years ago I could hardly breath and was given a brown and blue inhaler. To cut a long story short I was first diagnosed with allergy asthma and given a fostair inhaler because the brown one wasn't working. I coughed continually day and night so the consultant now says I have cough variant ashma and increased inhaler to 2 puffs morning and night with one lansoprazole in the morning. My coughing has stopped but if I exercise and walk an incline I start to wheeze and cough. I'm not convinced that I have cough variant asthma due to symptoms.

You should continue to use fostair as I do believe that it does help.

A couple of times I have been in denial to having asthma and have tried to stop the inhalers but have had to accept the fact and keep taking the medication.

[DollyDutchGirl]

Hi Rob, this is a comment I have made on another post but, it may also be relevant to your questions;

‘My hospital consultant (an associate professor in respiratory medicine) in Southampton (U.K.) suggested that I take two puffs of Ventolin immediately PRIOR to the Fostaire 200/6 and Spiriva in the mornings - plus, two puffs of Ventolin immediately PRIOR to the Fostair 200/6 in the evenings....this really does seem to have helped me a lot. However, there are still occassions when I need to use the Ventolin during the day. He has just suggested that I try adding Montelukast into the mix to see if that helps complete the asthma control picture for me.....’.

n.b. My consultant also stated to use the Ventolin inhaler as much as necessary as soon as my chest/ribcage begins to shows signs of tightening up...and that also helps. His philosophy seems to be; ‘if it impacts on your life style, use the medications that are there to help you!’ Truly hope you get to become more comfortable very soon.

[foxie7777]

Asthma is closely related to emotions and fear. I found that breathing exercises especially buteyko helped me a lot. Dr Buteyko found that when the body is in crisis it hyperventilates. So if you are ever in hospital you will notice that people after an operation hyperventilate

youtube.com/watch?v=tKaUEVn...(Not working as expected?)

[tinker765]

Thanks for all your replies, lately when i sit down my breathing feels normal for the most part. But some days, when i get up to walk to the bathroom etc my breathing then feels slightly not normal, like slightly chest tightness. Does anyone else get this?

When this happens, i have tried the pursed lip breathing which then temporarily gets rid of the slight chest tightness.

[Bykergirl]

Hi Rob,

How are you doing now, any better?

I'm quite a 'newbie' myself, but one thing that's astonished me is how quickly doctors diagnose (and put all the blame on smoking) and issue prescriptions. When you read the info for some inhalers it's clear that you shouldn't use them if you have asthma, they can even be life threatening, but no mention of this from my GP.

I've had a difficult few months from what was diagnosed as mild COPD (looked more allergic asthma to me) to a time with bad chest infections and almost constant use of emergency inhalers and steroids, but have now found relief with the Anoro Ellipta. Still can't quite believe this is working.

Really hope your situation got / gets solved!

[tinker765 in reply to Bykergirl]

Hi,

I am doing a lot better thank you, i saw a lung specialist finally 3 weeks ago who told me i do not have COPD, as i did a quick spectrometer before i saw him on the day. He said i have Asthma, my spirometary was normal no obstruction on the day.

Since i saw him also, i stopped taking Fostair, infact i have not used one inhaler in over 3 weeks and i have felt great.