I have recently been precribed a blue inhaler for breathing difficulties I have been experiencing since Feb, I took a spiromatery test which was concluded null and void as was currently taking prednisolone for chronic uticaria, I think I could be experiencing asthma attacks, basically I feel short of breath (not gasping)for an hour or longer which then leads to severe breathless episodes and panic, obviously with the current pandemic my doctor informs me no asthma test is available so told me to try blue inhaler tho I'm reluctant as not diagnosed.
Any comments advice would be appreciated
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Welderbeast
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The blue inhaler won't harm you if you're not diagnosed - having a label doesn't change the symptoms. If you find it doesn't help at all, it may not be asthma. It may still not be asthma even if it does help but if then inhaler helps for now then that's a good thing.
Try taking 2 puffs (assuming that's what doctor has said), one at a time - ie one puff and breathe it in, then the next - and see if it helps when you have an episode. It can take 20 mins or so for the full effect.
The blue inhaler is a quick fix to open up your airways, it is often hard to breath in enough on the first inhaler to feel the effect of the inhaler, do not worry, you will always take some of the inhaler into your lungs, once you have done this, try after a few minutes to deep breath in, this will help you take in your second inhale of the nebuliser, trust me I have had asthma for over 30 years I could write a book lol.
You may feel your heart rate quicken, it is not a problem, the steroid is just for your lungs to help them expand for you to breath, have it with you at all times, and the first sign of shortness of breath use the inhaler, please do not wait until you are suffering.
May I say to anyone who has asthma or breathing problems to use a peek flow meter, you can get them from your asthma nurse, doctor, or buy them.
You May have used one when you see your asthma nurse, basically a tube you blow into and it has a scale to register your lung capacity.
Always my first port of call when having problems breathing, you find your base number so if it starts to go below 10% of your normal then it is time to ask for steroids and amoxicillin.
For me personally it has to be steroids, amoxicillin on its own is not strong enough to fight of the problem.
For years my average peek flow was 650, but I would wait till it was down to 350 before calling the docs, since seeing a new asthma nurse (and polite telling off) now when it is about 10% below I call to get the meds, the quicker you react the quicker the meds help, that simple, that is why for me, my peek flow meter is so important to have.
I am lead to believe G,P, practice are issuing a 3/5 day supply in the event of you my need them, but this is from someone telling me? Worth asking your surgery.
Check how to use the peek flow meter on YouTube if you have never used one?
Hope this helps.
On the blue inhaler there is Nothing wrong with using it before you feel short of breath, I use my every night as a precaution to keep my airway open for a good night sleep, also I use it before I go for my 5 mile walk, or if I am doing any fitness at home.
When going to the gym I use it 10 mins before I start my workout.
It is there to help you lead a normal and active life.
All other inhalers are long term steroids to help protect you, they vary in colour, names, I had a purple for years, now I have Duoresp spiromax, taken every day.
my peak flow is 400 450 i dont panic till it gets below 200 i dont panic at all really it was at 200 there 3 mornings and took my stuff back up to 400 was 350 yesterday just took my stuff now back to 460 . it would want to be 150 or lower before i head to the ER . But hey I am no expert i just know my own system and my asthma is still really getting much worse over the past 3 years only have it 7 1 am 53
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador• in reply toGerl
I can't comment on your personal plan but wanted to add for anyone else reading this that you shouldn't generally wait for your peak flow to drop to that kind of level before getting help. That's about 33% best for Gerl, which is the cusp of a life-threatening attack so ideally would be getting help before then - the cut -off is often 50% of your best (or predicted if you don't know your best).
If you (anyone reading) are too breathless to speak in sentences without pausing, or to eat or sleep and/or your reliever inhaler (usually blue) isn't helping, please don't wait for your peak flow to drop - call an ambulance or go to A and E! Even if you're not at that level symptom-wise, if you are needing more reliever inhaler than usual and experiencing more symptoms then don't just look at your peak flow level - see your GP/asthma nurse asap before it gets worse.
I say this as someone whose peak flow doesn't drop in line with other signs - I can be having a severe attack with a peak flow over 50%. But even with reliable peak flow, you (again anyone reading) should pay attention to the whole picture, not just peak flow - and don't wait for it to drop too low! Reverse applies too - if peak flow is dropping but you don't feel too bad, do something, don't wait till you feel really bad and the number is terrible.
We all know our own bodies, and how we all react to issues, for me i have an oil burner I use every night with lavender essential oil, plus for me i have found swimming and the steam room helps.
I know with me if I do not do any form of fitness then my chest deteriorates, my biggest incentive to keep fit, the flu jab is a must, and I advocate of to anyone with breathing issues.
point about knowing our own bodies is very important. He speaks of oil burners and steam rooms being helpful for him - for others both things would be a massive trigger for asthma.
Thank you Graham for making the point about knowing your own asthma and being specific about it being good for you - so many people suggest what works for them (or what is ok for them) as being "the best way" or as definite, even official, advice when this is not the case and could be harmful for others.
That's not to say people shouldn't make suggestions or talk about experiences of course - sharing ideas can be very helpful - but as Graham says, know your own condition. And bear in mind when reading that what someone else says may well not be sensible for everyone.
(Sorry to hijack your point Graham - it just struck me as a good one to emphasise what you'd said!)
I totally agree with you so many people think they have the answer! We are all individuals, and we all have different triggers! Advice is just that, read it and see if it (may!) Help you.
Only you know your body, I do not, yes we all share a common problem but that is as far as it goes!
I will only ever tell you what works for me, and my triggers, for me fitness is one of my key components to helping me keep my asthma at bay, but come the winter months when I get a cold (even with the flu jab) I use my peek flow as an aid to Help me know when to get medical help.
We all lie to ourselves that we can fight this with over the counter meds! All our preventative inhalers used daily help, but they will not stop us getting a cold.
Let's be very clear this is and does kill many people, what I hate more is those people who smoke! Then say they have asthma! I met at first-hand people have a cigarette in one hand, and an inhaler in the other!!!!!
I used to do marathons, 10k etc, unfortunately due to parachuting amending been dropped on the wrong D,Z,a to often I eventually injured my left knee, I was advised to stop or the next injury would give me a permanent limp!
So took up squash badminton, league and friendly, of course at 30 when diagnosed with asthma it hit me hard! Mentally and physically!
But this thing on my shoulders will kill or cure me! It is the most powerful weapon we have in our fight to survive,!
One of the things I have stopped trying to explain to friends, others is With me my chest gets cold quickly, so even in the summer or warmer months I can be taking off and on my jumper ever 5 mins to keep my chest warm, if that stays cold for to long (due to peer presure) and yes in the early stages it did that to me! I would have more frequent problems! Now my only concern is my health, how I deal with it.
The other thing I get very annoyed with is people's saying they understand what I am going through! Unless anyone has the same symptoms as me how the heck! Do they know what I am going through!! For me the word I use is empathize, we are saying no we do not know what or how you are suffering! But we can have empathy due to our illness.
Words are very powerful, and often used carelessly! What we say to one person may be interpreted by another as something diffrent, so (for me) weather it is verbal, email, phone, I will do often start out by forewarning someone about a word or words I am going to use, so we try to diffuse the situation! We have 2 ears and 1 mouth, so communication is all about 95% listening, and 5% talking, unfortunately people only listen to what they want to!
OK enough dyslexic finger rant lol
Just me being me, of course you do not know me, I am just a set of words on a screen, so please read, read again then read between the lines to see what I am trying to say?
Keep fit, keep well and listen to your own body for advice, others mean well! But they will never know you like you know you.
Phew! So backpac ready, added another 5lbs weight for my walk, we are as old as we feel, yes today I feel 30ish, so out for my walk, and feel these sun rays On my body.
Interesting to know. I like lavender, I may try it to see if it helps any in the evenings,
I also like swimming and sauna but guess I have to wait.
Not sure though how to use the inhaler with exercise as my chest also seems triggered by very basic exertion like a simple walk (never used to be). Ridiculous but still waiting for proper diagnosis
Always use 2 puffs of your blue inhaler 10 mins before you do any form of exercise, the problem for me is not being able to breath or take in enough oxygen, hence the inhaler to open up my airway.
Again for me i start with 5/10 mins on the cross trainer, no great speed just to get my heart and breathing rate up (hence for me the importance of wearing a heart rate monitor and watch.)
Good thing is at DW sports, gym most of the cardio equipment picks up on my heart strap.
I then do my weights/floor workout, then 20 mins cross trainer or the last 5 mins on a runner.
After that go for a 20 min swim and steam room.
They do have 2 Jacuzzi, but with the amount of bleach they put in the water, when I first get in the fumes often affect my breathing! Just try to let my lungs adapt.
Sorry for digressing, I normally have an essential oil in my wash bag so if no one in the steam room I use a few drops of the oil, nice to hear some people who come in make nice comments without knowing it was me.
My oil burner has a bowl on the top i fill with warm water, use a tee light, then just add 1 or 2 drops of any oil you may have come across in the water, this way it is diluted and you will see if it affects your breathing? If you are ok then for me it is normally 8/10 drops.
I have 2, living room and bedroom, usually put the bedroom one on 30 mins before bed, for me (as I will always say this works for me) plus I will put a few drops on my pillow or tee shirt, with sleep often being restless this relaxes me.
This is normally when I use both my inhalers.
I find the oils therapeutic and relaxing, and de-stressing.
I don’t know why, but i too, am afraid of using the blue inhaler. I think it’s because i feel that if i use it often it means my asthma is not controlled. I am also using brown inhaler and i get myself so worked up before using it as i feel it makes me more breathless (although it could also just be from anxiety). My question is, at the beginning of chest tightness, is it ok to use immediately the blue inhaler? Sometimes i would sleep very late becos i will feel a bit breathless and anxious. And i wait until it subsides.
please!!! Do not be afraid to use both inhalers, they are there to help you breath and keep you safe.
I use My blue inhaler everyday, even though my asthma is well under control I still use it.
You know your own body better than anyone, You know when the signs are there, the blue inhaler is that quick fix we all need to open up our airways so we can breath, trust me I know how frightening that sign of a tight chest can be! Over the years I have found not to panic, reach for the blue inhaler and take 2 puffs, so often we feel we are not getting enough into our lungs in the first 2 inhales, trust me those first 2 puffs will get enough medicine in to help open up your airway.
Once you have calmed down take 2 more puffs to help you relax, you cannot predict when an attack may happen, so please always make sure wherever you are have a blue inhaler.
The brown, red, purple inhalers are long term steroids designed just for that purpose long term, for me i use mine when in bed then I take 2 puffs of my blue inhaler for me it maybe is physiological, but it helps me sleep better.
So many times over my years have I woken up not being able to breath, it is frightening, I know! Yet I now know not to panic, to have my blue inhaler on the bedside table, so often I have wanted to be calm, turn on the bedside light and then take those first 2 puffs, in reality you scramble to find the inhaler! I panic, I am scared! Yet over the years I now don't panic, I turn on the lamp and as calm as possible use my blue inhaler.
Please listen to your body, use that blue inhaler, try to stay calm, easy to say when at work, shopping, or at the gym, all people want to Do is help, problems are all I want is as much space as possible!!! Not good international people crowding around me!
Sorry to go on lol the short answer YES use the blue anytime of the day, night. Please do not let other people try to tell you differently! Once size does not fit all!!!!
Thank you very much for the reply, i am now using blue inhaler first before i use the brown inhaler morning and afternoon. If i need it in between, do i need to wait 4 hrs? Today i went to collect my prescription prednisolone tablets, wore a mask and for a while felt really breathless (could be because of the mask). I can feel the start of a panic attack so i told myself to calm down and did some deep breathing. If i entertained the anxiety i would have really been out of breath. I managed to get my tablets and do a little food shopping. I wonder if i am just really too anxious. Anyway, also today, i am only just able to get hold of a peak flow meter and my best reading is 350 w/o meds. And only 370 after meds. So i envy the others here when i see their reading is up to 600! I am 49 years old.
All the best for us here! And thank you to this forum, it is helping me a lot to deal with this situation.
Nice to read you can see the benefits of using your blue inhaler, I never!(sorry to shout lol) I never go on what people say or what the paper work says that we get with (especially) the blue inhaler.
Always remember that it is to open up your airways to help you breath, so (again only advice) use it when you want to, you know and your body knows when you are getting that feeling of a tight chest, I think seeing plenty of people use inhalers they do not USE them correctly, so most of the inhaler goes to atmosphere.
Best thing is look on YouTube on how to correctly use any inhaler.
Again just my observations over many years.
I can see you let your asthma control you, not the other way around, hence you have anxiety and stress problems.
All I can say is you are in control of your body, once you can nor o that ( and yes it takes time and confidence) then you will find the anxiety and stress will (hopefully) get less.
I have had a PFM for years, I only use it when I have a cold, it does not rule my life, it is an aid to Help me right the asthma.
For my age the level is between 500/600? I normally blow around 650, that is my average of 3 attempts, as per my asthma nurse.
The steroids use are using (for me) i only need when my peak flow is below 500, I then have the combination of steroids and amoxicillin.
I do not believe the wearing of the face mask made you feel tight chested, more the anxiety and stress of feeling like your breathing was restricted, it takes time for you to be in control, trust me, be confident, know your warning signs and use the blue inhaler.
There is no point in putting yourself under more pressure, by setting a time limit on how often you can use your blue inhaler.
I am hoping that you see an asthma nurse at your doctors, the only advice I ever take!!!! Is from someone medically trained.
We are all individuals, not one size fits all, apart from doctor or nurse the best person you should ever listen to is yourself.
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