I have severe asthma....on crazy meds, but I am finding it particularly hard to breathe again at the moment...as in not bad enough to go to a&e but enough to need my ventolin regularly.
I am on Fostair 200/6 - 6 puffs a day,along with loads of other meds, but I think it’s my Fostair that isn’t helping. My peak flow stays roughly the same 300-330 - which is good for me but I have a cough that won’t disappear & just feel like I can’t get a proper breath.
My GP was reluctant to give me steroids at the moment because of Corona... I can’t have it as not left my house for 6 weeks & nobody’s been, except shopping, but they drop&leave.
I’m wondering if to try my GP again tomorrow or to just ring my hospital consultant directly. I know GP’s generally won’t change anything when you are under hospital team. I just don’t really want to bother consultant at the moment as they’re probably extra busy,but neither do I want to end up in hospital when all I really needed was some steroids....especially at the moment!!
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madonbrew
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I’d get back to the gp 1st thing this morning, I’m amazed you don’t have Rescue steroids in stock at home. I am very luck at my local practice with a supportive gp, wonderful asthma nurse & just now during the flare up I’m having just now I’m getting weekly calls from our clinical pharmacist who is great. Steroids are never an issue from the gp & I am also under a consultant.
I’ve been told many times in the past don’t ignore symptoms they can escalate quickly & never be afraid to ring & get the help you need.
Hi Madonbrew, I am the same but have Sirdupla preventer 2 puffs I the morning and 2 at night plus salbutamol several times a day and I don’t think it has been working but my nurse practioner won’t change the Sirdupla he then asked me what I wanted him to do, which put me off seeing him, I have got a horrible Barky cough with phlegm which I have had for months which is very hard get out hence hard-to breath And like you my peak flow 300/320/300 at best as you say not bad enough for hospital although sometimes I am tempted To go to A&E when I am bad, I have had a weeks course of steroids,and other meds but they do much for me, now on Montelukast for a month done2 weeks but still not right trial and error I suppose and the trouble is anxiety has got the better of me and panic attacks which I am trying to deal with,and it’s hard the way things are at the moment with this virus looming I haven’t been out either, hope you get sorted soon ,stay safe
Iam on montelukast have been on it 5weeks as suffer with taking deep breaths also on prednisolone 5 mg a day also take 2 inhalers also emergency blue inhaler when needed
It’s so annoying when Drs /Nurses ask you what you want them to do! I would have the same reaction as you and be put off going back.
There sounds some similarities...I too have phlegm that’s hard to get out,but it’s not coloured so don’t think it’s infected but makes breathing harder!And also if it stays stuck for too long,then it does get infected and that’s what causes me serious asthma attacks!!!!
Can you speak with a different doctor? Sometimes just speaking to a different one,they have very different approaches!!!
Being on this lockdown,I can’t actually see a doctor unless they think it’s nessesary,I put in my problem on computer then they ring me back, my usual doctor is very good and thorough but it’s had to see him as we are on lockdown but I had an appointment at the surgery 2 weeks ago saw one of the lady doctors she then went to see the nurse practitioner which I was telling you about he recommended the montelukast it was like something out of a movie all the protective stuff had to wear mask very alien, but she was very good , been on the montelukast for 2 weeks now and although I have attacks it’s still not so bad as it was, hope it works by the time 4 weeks is up don’t know if will need some moreI know how you must feel having that horrible phlegm, hope you will be better soon ,nice to talk to you
Hi....as a long shot.....are you on antihistamines. I find they help me. My family are asthmatics and always say our house is full of allergens. Just a thought especially as you are more at home. I'm on fexofenadine which help me. Take care
Hi ,yes I am on regular certirizine. I was wondering if being constantly at home is affecting it! Hmm, interesting! Will have to observe!
I think it’s actually my Fostair but I think my consultant might be reluctant to change it. Hopefully will get somewhere on Monday speaking with my GP.
I had steroids just recently because of an asthma flare up thanks to a viral infection. I saw two GPs within a couple of weeks and both happy for me to be on steroids. I have an emergency pack of both antibiotics and steroids for future use.
I am so sorry to hear you all are finding it difficult to breathe.I have been very breathless for the last two weeks also . Could it be that we are now indoors more often? Also I usually have some emergency steroids at home but been told by another gp that I shouldn't been using them if I am using my prevented and reliever. He wouldnt prescribe them but there are the only med that works when I have a flare up. It makes me feel so vulerable.
Hi Sugar246. If you can't get relief from your ordinary meds and haven't got an asthma plan, then talk to your own GP. They will need to address your current symptoms. They may increase the dose age of your current meds but should follow up to make sure that that is working. Steroids can't be dismissed as a treatment for an asthma flare up, unless you are hypersensitive to them.
Thanks for your replies and sorry to hear you’ve all been unwell enough to need steroids!
The asthma meds I’m on are:
Fostair 200/6 - 6 puffs a day
Spireva -2 puffs
Montelukast
Phylocontin
Natsal spray
Certirizine
...and ventilin as and when which is daily at the moment,mainly in night
Usually my GP is very good to give me steroids because she’s needed to send me to hospital from surgery a few times by ambulance, which I ended up staying for 11 days on both occasions...
Anyway,rang surgery and have got a telephone appointment mon!!
Thanks for all your replies! Really helps knowing there are people out there who understand!!!
I have been gong through a patch of awful cough, mucus, asthma,a breathlessless, so bad I could barely stand up and walk a few steps, or make a cup of tea. Got very depressed and hopeless. Not able to do basics around the house etc. Told my doctor (all by email and phone). At first I got the usual response of take some antibiotics, its asthma/copd, live with it, the trouble is you can do that and then when it doesnt work they just suggest the same thing again, ignoring its not suitable. But this time they are really trying to help me. I told them my FOSTAIR does not work at all, might as well be sucking on my finger, and that I preferred ATROVENT, which I took years ago. I use a nebuliser at night, with VENTOLIN and SALINE but sometimes you can spend ages on this and it makes no or little difference.
As for the consultant. A few years ago I went and went and went. It was a total waste of time. They would do a spiro, then say I need an inhaler. I knew all that. I already had inhalers at home from the doctor. But each time I went my partner had to take a day off of work unpaid to take me. And because of the travelling each day virtually a half a day disappeared. All I had to show for it was an inhaler I already had at home that didnt work for me.
Yesterday when I spoke to a nice nurse at my doctors and they said that when the virus is over I can see the consultant at the hospital again I said no I dont want to. If we need to change my medication I will discuss it with you and do it with you - where we do it instantly and on the phone. Not waiting months and having to travel and my partner losing a days wages each time. OftenI had to see a locum replacement consultant I did not know at all. Then they would just guess why I had problems, maybe you are allergic toa pet, maybe this maybe that. All things I had already given loads of thought to and sorted out with doctor. And none of them helpful. The important thing is to feel healthier. Not to know the reason you are ill. One consultant told me he knew what was wrong with me and would give me the right medication when I returned six months later. In the meantime I could carry oh gasping and coughing and breathless and having to sit up all night unable teo lay down or sleep! He was talking about PPIS for acid reflux. I can get ppis for acid reflux off the doctor by a short phone call and the chemist delivering them. You can go into a chemist and buy them over the counter. So why would I have struggled for another six months before he gives them to me. What makes it even more ridiculous is that I dont have acid reflux and when I returned six months later he wasnt there, he had been a short term locum. Another six months of suffering for nothing.
In my view the spiro tests are also a waste of time. Again my partner has to take me and a day off of work unpaid. But telling me it is 200 or 250 doesnt change whether I can breath, or if I am coughing, or how much energy I have. Its all just words, just chat. I have a spiro at home and often check it. I much prefer to check it myself and see if one inhaler supposedly helps more than another.And anyway, sometimes the spiro reads better but I still feel unwell, another time the spiro figures are awful but I have a fair bit of energy, so it doesnt follow that it tells you how you are.
Wiserlady, First Off Fostair Doesn’t Help Me At All, I’m Also On a Nebuliser But The Only Thing That Helps Me is Salbutamol ie Ventolin and Atrovent! That’s it! I Hope This Helps!
Dear Madonbrew, Firstly Fostair Seemed To Make Mine Worse, as Did Symbicort, The Only Thing That Helps Me is Ventolin, and Clenil Modulite, Which is a Brown Steroid Inhaler Replacing Becotide,
You May Possibly Need a Course Of Steroids After All, But Probably Try The Clenil Modulite First, Hope This Helps!
My GP won’t change my inhalers world until I have chance to talk to my consultant,think I’ll have to stick with Fostair. They did say there’s some injection I can have at SGH but they needed time for me to meet the criteria!
Hi there madonbrew. Try your GP again but the asthma help line are very good.
've been on a course of emergency steroids from my pack at home. I just phoned my GP to inform him and got more. He did say though no better straight to hospital. My PF is not hitting PB at the moment. I'm on Fostair 100/6 MART and can take 12 puffs a day. Usually 8 but having checked due to being unstable I can take 12. Although with the awful cramp, muscle spasm and terrible headache I only manage 6 a day.
I'm beginning to believe a lot of it is due to lack of mobility, although I'm not very mobile person anyway I'm not actually getting full lung capacity. Pollen is so high its all in the garden and house, this is not helping in the least. Today I'm feel I'm sliding again and I know my GP won't help much as not seeing patients according to receptionist.. I do have a nebulisers on CNS and GP suggestion to use as another back up.
My consultant may well change them next time, but I’ve actually tried quite a few cocktails already 😂 It’s hard trying to find the right mix!
I also have some rare autoimmune disease called IgG4 systemic disease, affecting my pancreas and kidneys. They were wondering if it’s causing problems with my lungs too but so far have concluded no. It can make things a bit tricky being such a rarity! 😂🤷♀️🤔
I'm glad you are now on meds even though you do have a chest sinus infection. Get better soon and plenty of rest.
I hear you on the meds trialling. I have tried a few most give me many side effects that I've had to stop quite quickly. This one if I don't use too much is good. Symbicort was good too. Only problem with that was when I had a bad exacerbation I couldn't suck.
Yes that’s a bit tricky isn’t it!!! Hopefully you don’t have too many exacerbations!!! ??
I was on Elipta for a while but ended up in hospital with a really severe attack so they swapped that over. And I think the really severe attack I had before that I was on symbicort....D’oh!!!! Think I’m just a tricky patient!!!
Hope you are managing to keep well and safe during this crazy time!!
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Advised to take more medication than it's licenced for.
Confused re using blue inhaler 
Can my gp refuse to issue ventolin?
