Out of control severe asthma & choking again

[Juno51]

Hi all

I posted literally 3 weeks ago and had some great feedback, thank you!

I was having real problems with choking after what appears to be out of control asthma. I don’t feel like my current medication is quite hitting the mark and with the thoracic department closed due to Covid, I feel like I’m going round in circles!

3 weeks ago, I posted about a choking issue I had started having, which was also after wheezing & then a cough. I would then drink just water & then choke. I had steroids & antibiotics and for 3 weeks, the cough calmed & I hadn’t choked once. I had an X-ray 3 weeks ago, which was clear (thankfully), but my bloods did show inflammation markers raised (expected).

Today, after a week of having a wheeze and a restart of a cough again, I had my first choking session again. My doctor prescribed me emergency antibiotics and I also have emergency steroids. I couldn’t get an appointment with a doctor today, even though I spoke to them at 8am when they opened (eek!), so decided for the sake of my lungs and to try and stop the choking to start the emergency antibiotics and steroids. I plan on calling again tomorrow morning and hopefully talking to my doctor.

I know some people mentioned reflux, which I’ve never suffered from. This does feel maybe more asthma related, purely how it gets better with the steroids and then “boom” - out of control again.

I’ve been referred to ENT several weeks ago, which they’ve said has been classed as urgent, but that was last week and no appointment as of yet. Also thoracic is also due to send me an appointment, but I think this may be a while away!

Does anyone else choking issues with severe asthma, which significantly improves with steroids?!

I feel like I’m going round in circles, I don’t know what to do or who to talk to (and I’m scared!)

My medication is:

Uniphyllin - 300mg (twice daily)

Symbicort - 600/2 (twice am / twice pm)

Montelukast - 10mg (pm)

Pulmicort

I also take antihistamines tablets and nasal spray all year round

Thank you

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

Sorry to hear you’re still struggling. From memory I think a lot of the things suggested last time are asthma triggers as well as mimicers (ie reflux triggers asthma so pred calms the issue).

Hopefully you’ll be able to see ENT soon. The only other suggestion I can make is asking for a referral to SALT (speech and language therapy) as they deal with functional issues to do with swallowing, choking and talking etc (as help with VCD/ILO, and some BPDs), whilst ENT tend to look more at the structural issues (polyps, can spot severe reflux etc), just to make sure both aspects are looked into.

Hope that helps and you find the solution soon

[Juno51 in reply to EmmaF91]

Thank you EmmaF91 - I feel like it’s one step forward and then several back!

I’ll certainly mention this to my doctors and maybe to ENT if I’m unable to get a referral. Will look in to those too before I talk to people too to try and gather some information before I see people.

I make notes (a lot!) & weirdly my asthma got out of control when my medication changed from slo-phyllin (discontinued) to Uniphyllin at the beginning of this year. I was put on a lower dose to start with as they didn’t have like for like, which they have since increased to try and calm the rage in my lungs! But since that switch, my lungs just haven’t been happy at all. Also before I was on put on slo-phyllin several years ago by my consultant, one of the main issues I had was an out of control cough, which made my asthma worse. I don’t recall choking though, only once on grape juice when I was recovering from another chest infection (on a half chopped grape, the juice must have been too much).

Hope you are keeping well and always, I appreciate your help

[LDloveslattecoffe in reply to EmmaF91]

My first thought was a SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) referral so agree completely with EmmaF91.

I have had mild version of choking on my own saliva and drinking etc but I also have fibromyalgia and I have realised these episodes for me coincide with pain or fatigue. I also get the eyelid twitch as well.

If you have other conditions than Asthma, remember it could be your other conditions triggering the asthma.

I often find when I am having a Fibro flare my asthma worsens in terms of wheeze and shortness of breath.

Emma's advice is spot on, take care and let us know how it goes.

[hilary39]

This sounds scary and hard, I'm so sorry. When my asthma is bad it often triggers my gag reflex but that sounds different from what you're describing. Definitely keep pushing the doctors and following up and try to get seen as quickly as you can. Sending a hug.

[Juno51]

Thank you both...quick update!!

I spoke to my doctors this morning, he was happy for me to keep taking the steroids to keep the choking at bay and also to help with the asthma too. He also told me to chase ENT too as I had been referred as urgent. So I called the booking appointment line straight after and they confirmed they had only just reopened and were slowly going through urgent referrals. She said hopefully I would hear in another 1-2 weeks. 1 hour later, the ENT consultant called, nicest gentleman. He could tell I was struggling to breathe, as even talking I was running out of steam.

He told me about the Covid risks and going in to see them (especially with the severe asthma and having shielded for 100 days tomorrow!), however the choking is ultimately a huge risk that need addressing too, so we decided to move forward and me to go in and see him. So he is writing to me today, with hopefully the view of seeing me next week. I am hugely relieved as it may confirm something or it may even rule things out and I am then told to see someone else.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me and also for pushing me a little with trying to get more help

Stay safe everyone and sending you hugs back

[LDloveslattecoffe in reply to Juno51]

Thats really good news - don't forget to update after seen x

[Juno51]

Thank you again for all your lovely support and messages. Really appreciated.

Another quick update, call from the hospital, my ENT referral appointment has been confirmed - Wednesday 1 July at 10am. Super pleased and grateful....hopefully if I can start getting fixed I can start enjoy going out a bit with the lifting of shielding without getting out of breath as soon as I walk 10 steps ☺️

Thank you again everyone and I’ll make notes and keep you all updated x