First cold and Asthma

[TailPoof]

I've got a cold. It's the first one since I got diagnosed with Asthma. My chest feels like somethings sitting on it, my breathing is faster, I keep coughing, my throat hurts, I have more flam and my nose is blocked. I don't know if my blue inhaler with help and I don't have a written asthma plan yet. Any advice?

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hey sorry to hear you’re not well and aren’t 100% sure what to do

Try taking your blue inhaler. If it helps relieve some of the symptoms the you know the cold is flaring up your asthma. If it doesn’t relieve anything then it’s not. Also if you have a PFM check that and see if it’s dropped.l (as that will also tell you if your asthma is affected).

If your PF has dropped or if you do respond to your blue inhaler then give your GP a call and tell them it’s an asthma flare triggered by cold and ask if they think you need something to help you through it (a short course of steroids etc etc)

Hope this helps and you feel better soon. Colds suck 😂. If you want some more advice you could call AUK. The helpline asthma nurses are great and can be reached on 0300 2225800 M-F 9-5. Alternatively their WhatsApp service is 07378 606728.

It’s also worth giving this a read even if your asthma isn’t affected rn, to help prevent it escalating;

asthma.org.uk/advice/trigge...

[TailPoof in reply to EmmaF91]

Thank you for your advice. I'm still filling out my four weeks peak flow chart to find out if its asthma. I spoke to a nurse in the morning about face masks and my asthma then sent my gp an email and she talked me through the flow chart data. Even through I haven't done a full four weeks yet my peak flow has gone up from 350 average to 400-450 average. The past few days have been 300-470 and today is 440. The blue inhaler has helped and my doctor has moved me onto a different preventer inhaler and put me on repeat. Still waiting to have in doctor sergury tests done after Corona but she doesn't think I need anything and says she's cernten it's a cold but I've order the covid test just to be sure as my mum is a support worker. She bought the cold home to me!

[Wheezyjen]

Even though you think it's a cold, can I just check you've taken a covid test due to the cough?

In Scotland they're asking you even if you have 1 symptom to get tested.

[TailPoof in reply to Wheezyjen]

My doctor put me on a different preventer inhaler and give me a new blue inhaler as my other new one has vanished (I put it on the sofa than had a nap and it was gone! Cat probly put it under the sofa!) My doctor said she's certain it's a cold but I ordered the test because my mum is a support worker.

[Pipswhips]

See your Asthma nurse get a action plan and get checked out either by the Asthma nurse or doctor and take your blue in inhaler two puffs for times if you need to and don't forget to take your steroid inhaler regular.

If you got the internet look up Asthma uk they have got a helpline open Monday to Friday 9am to 5PM and they always have an Asthma nurse there on the end of the phone for you to talk to and they will help and suggest to you what to do. They are on tweet as well you can get in touch that way as well but I suggest to ring up it's free phone number it's 0300 222 5800 it is confidential as well they just want some information like your name and any medication you are on and might want your age and date of birth as well ok.

If you're on Twitter they give up to date info out on there as well.

Hope the info helps

Keep safe any time if you think your Asthma is worse you can always go to the out of hours gp or A&E or if your out of hour is in A&E even better then they can triage you and decide which way to go the out of hours or A&E Drs.

If you ring 111 be prepared to jump through hoops with the questioning then you might have to wait for a dr to ring you back or someone to ring with appointment.

I've been told to go straight up to A & E it will be quicker.

[pen5377]

My asthma was diagnosed 6 years ago. I feel absolutely fine, no need for blue inhaler - until I get a cold. Then I’ve been dreadful. Plus, a few times I’ve developed a chest infection on the back of it. So always take colds seriously! Make plenty of use of the blue inhaler, and speak to GP or asthma nurse if symptoms don’t come under control quickly. In my experience I can always have same day advice when I say asthma is getting worse. Colds, when you have asthma, are rarely trivial. Good luck.