Trouble coming off pred, still so wheezy

[lucie982]

Feel totally daft to still be moaning on.

my Asthmas been flairing since early/mid may, 2trips to A&E and a 5 day stay. Ive near enough been on pred the whole time (seems to flare as soon as i finish) Have been given antibiotics doxyccline, amocicilling neither helped. 2 lots of co trimoxazole from hospital and another now with another course of steroids but im still wheezing and its quite uncomfortable. I usually feel so much better by day 4 of pred but while i was in hospital( around 3 weeks ago) at day 4 i just managed to stop the nebs.

I dont have any follow up with the hospital theyre happy keeping the care under my gp who i personally beleive to border line negligent lol covid has really dragged them down

Im wheezy but rarely breathless, im coughing a lot of evening but have a few good hours through the day(suppose while the preds working well) Whats the next step, do i just ask to see the dr again?. When i went to A&E and was admitted i was very breathless and could barely speak, im certainly not that bad.

I have 2 days of 30mg pred left then dropping 5mg a day. A lot quicker taper than the consultant gave and i have no idea whats right or wrong as im usually really under control

[ninelives]

Suggest you get medical advice- contact your surgery in first instance and say you need to be seen.

If the respiratory consultant gave you a plan to taper the prednisolone I would stick to it until you get further advice.

I am not a doctor but have been on Prednisone for 17 years- when I have to increase during a flare up my GP always tried to reduce the dosage too quickly the hospital used a slow steady approach.

Sorry can't help you more but if you are still breathless /struggling you need to be reviewed

Good luck

[hilary39]

Oh gosh, don't say you feel daft for moaning on! This sounds completely miserable and like, despite your best efforts, your body isn't cooperating with getting better or responding the same way to steroids as it usually does :/ That sounds awful.

In these situations, I sometimes feel like it helps to picture an average person suddenly thrust into a bad asthma exacerbation like this and how absolutely petrified they would be. It reminds me how tough we are and how stoically we go about not being able to breathe a lot of the time!

I keep reading covid patients saying the breathlessness was one of the most terrifying experiences of their lives. I had covid and the breathlessness I felt (which is certainly anecdotal and just my personal experience) felt just like a bad asthma flare up.

Keep in close touch with your GP and don't hesitate to go back in if your body still isn't responding the steroids fully or recovering. This could be a particularly bad flare for a number of reasons, they happens sometimes, and it's better to stay on the safe side.

Can you keep track of your symptoms and vitals--peak flow, number of breaths per minute etc.? That might help your doctor get a sense of how you've been doing when you go back in again.

Take good care and keep us posted!

[Claire_ALUK Partner ALUK Asthma Nurse]

Hi lucie982 - sorry you are having a tough time, it sounds like you need some follow up ASAP, ring your GP today and email or call your consultant too (if you still have one - let them know whats been going on). You are also really welcome to ring the AUK helpline here on 0300 222 5800 M-F 9-5👍 or British Lung Foundation on: 03000 030 555

asthma.org.uk/WAAfter-an-as...

[Shezxx]

sorry to hear your unwell it seems a quick taper that but i would check with gp ask advice keep on at them they cant leave you suffering.

[lucie982]

Thanks for everyones advice, my ventolin does seem to settle the night time wheeze and today ive been a lot less wheezy. Called the gp and theyve said to keep my friday telephone consultation but did say my recent xray was satisfactory. They presctibed me the spiriva inhaler, and since using ive had a nagging pain in my right side everytime i breathe in. Im really hoping they can refer me to a consultant, i had a similar rough patch 3 years ago and they fobbed me off until i was under control then said see how thing go. Its so scary at times

[Jollygood]

Best wishes lucie982, let us know how you go. X