Having trouble telling the difference...

[Willow7733]

Today we are having a heat wave. I woke up early to mow my lawn. I am very allergic to grasses, and the humidity does affect my asthma quite a bit. My lawn isn’t large, and I can get it all finished in around 20 minutes.

I have a question. Though it is not a large lawn to cut, I find myself having to take a break, come in, and try to catch my breath. I am coughing like crazy. The coughing is bring up a lot of mucus - which I didn’t have before I went out to mow the lawn. My question is: how much of this heaving is being out of shape, or is it an asthma thing?? I am just out there for maybe five minutes, and my chest feels like I have run two marathons. I come in, and sit down, and I feel my chest so tight. I am only 47. I shouldn’t be this out of shape, as I am moving constantly at work and on my feet all day. I do have some extra weight, but I am not that overweight.

I am new to this diagnosis and I don’t know what signs are what. I did take my rescue, and felt better within 15 minutes or so. But as soon as I went back out, I started to feel bad again. I am still coughing up mucus a lot. Maybe I am very out of shape???

[Troilus]

Hi Willow, my guess is it the heat/ humidity has a lot to do with it. It certainly effects me.

If you check out the post below Emma 91 has put up some excellent information and links to pages with all of the relevant information.

It is certainly worth checking it out.

[Willow7733 in reply to Troilus]

I think it is an asthma thing. It has been two hours and I don’t feel an improvement. If I was out of shape, I would have recovered by now. Also, the combination of grass, weeds, And heat (we are under a heat warning for the next four days), I think it made my lungs freak out for a moment. I was going to go to the movie theatre this afternoon (they just opened here), but I think I will stay in and relax/ do housework that. We’d to be done. It wouldn’t look good , and probably freak people out, if I go and I am coughing like crazy. Haha

[AirIsUnderrated]

Yes, stupid pollen and heat. I never had any trouble with heat until my adult-onset/return asthma started, now I have to hold my breath going through the conservatory. I do dry all my laundry in there though, and that helps because there is less pollen indoors than out in the garden.

If it doesn't recover in 10-15 minutes then it's the asthma, not being out of condition. How are you feeling now after another hour-ish?

[Willow7733 in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

I still feel bad. Coughing a lot of crap up. I tend to get a bronchitis type cough when I have an attack, and I cough up a lot of mucus. (I know, it is gross). I had a free ticket to go to the movie this afternoon, but I decided not to go. I would make people nervous (even with wearing my mask) if I am coughing like this in public. Plus, now all I want to do is take a nap.! (And I never ever sleep during the day). I am off, on vacation, today and tomorrow and was needing to do a lot around the house - laundry, the floors, the bathrooms, change my bed....but I just want to sleep. Which I can’t afford to do. After tomorrow I am back on for 9 shifts in a row. I live alone, but work long hours and the dust just accumulates...where does it come from??!! And dust is a huge trigger for me. The floors have so much dust on them right now (just finished 12 shifts in a row). So tired...Ok, back to work!

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Willow7733]

Poor you. You can take up to 10 puffs of the reliever at 1 minute intervals. If that doesn't help, then call the GP, or 111 if they are closed. Please don't wait for it to get too bad to cope, especially if you have nobody with you.

[Willow7733 in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

I can? I didn’t know that. I was wondering if I take more than my four puffs, will I overdose?? Can you overdose on Ventolin?

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Willow7733]

You might feel a bit shaky on it. I always do. But it's more important to get the inflammation down* and get you breathing again. If you have to take more than usual, make sure you let the GP know in the morning, as they might want to adjust your meds.

Let me find some links on here for you. There are some lovely, helpful people who have posted fantastic reference threads. I'm newly diagnosed myself and still learning.

ETA: That ought to say "open your airways" not "get the inflammation down". My apologies. Thank you Twinkly29 🥰

[Willow7733 in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

Thank you! I appreciate it SO much. I have no idea what I am doing. I really have to contact my GP (he told me to and was very nice about saying at any time, he is there for me). I don’t want to damage my lungs any more than they are. Just have to get over this will phobia. It is all me.

[twinkly29 in reply to Willow7733]

Ventolin can be taken in an emergency as Airisunderrated explained - but if your normal 2 puffs isn't lasting 4 hours then you need to seek help anyway. However ventolin doesn't reduce inflammation. It opens the airways so treats the symptoms - but not the cause for the narrowed airways. So you probably do need to phone 111 because you need something to do that. You do also need to speak to your GP - take the help that's been offered! Many people don't get that. But today you need to deal with the immediate if ventolin isn't helping or isn't lasting 4 hours.

Sorry just realised you're in Canada so 111 not helpful! Do whatever you do for acute treatment, whether the ER or something else!

[Willow7733 in reply to twinkly29]

I just came upstairs (my bedrooms are on the top floor) and had to sit down on the top step to catch my breath. That isn’t usual for me. So, I have decided to go call 811 (it is a form of telehealth, where you call, and a nurse will tell you what to do. They then send a report to the emergency department at our local hospital to give them a heads up you are coming.) I will call 811 and see what they say and go from there. My GP will also get a report, as will the asthma clinic I go to.

[twinkly29 in reply to Willow7733]

That sounds a good plan - and much needed in the situation you describe. Good luck!

[twinkly29 in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

I did wonder if that's what you meant but didn't want Willow to misinterpret what you meant (and so do nothing!)

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Willow7733]

Here you are:

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

You can Save these posts for future reference (there is a link at the bottom) then they will appear on your Home page under Saved Posts.

[Yetti1]

Hi Willow - I hope that you are feeling better - just a contemporary thought - some of the masks with filters and expiry vents are highly rated [Hepa level] and filter out pollens, whilst being reasonably easy to breathe with, whilst there are one or two face coverings [less intimidating to put on] that achieve the same, and inexpensive. Also, choosing your time, when the pollen count is lower, even leaving the grass cutting a few days until it is cooler, considering using your Ventolin [Blue, rescue] inhaler a short time before going out can all be beneficial.

We don't know what your fitness is like, but certainly it'll help to be n shape, avoid foods that you don't tolerate or have some sensitivity to, and drink water. Your respiratory health professionals will assist a lot, and there is a wealth of information on line - tho' be critical of it, see what fits you and be prepared to question what you read - usual caveats for the 'net!

Good luck - there is much support around - and if things do become acutely bad, seek help - don't worry about being a nuisance.

[Willow7733 in reply to Yetti1]

My family has suggested that I wear a mask while mowing, or hire someone to do it for me. It seems like a good idea as I already hire someone for snow removal of my driveway in the winter (as the cold air is also a trigger for me, and it is really nice to come home from an overnight 12 he shift and not have to clear the driveway).

I am not that out of shape. When I feel good, I take yoga and kickboxing class (of course that was before the pandemic). I also swim and just recently made a home gym in my basement. But since the pandemic, I have picked up shifts and so I don’t get to exercise like I used to. But my work is not sedentary at all. Always on the move. (The only problem lately, is that we have a new neonatologist in our departure, and he keeps buying us pizza! My nutrition really needs to get back to where it was...but it is SO good and it is free! Haha But it has become a weekly thing... not great for the hips!)

I really do need to figure out a better time to mow the lawn. I definitely have a bad reaction to newly cut grass (even driving by someone cutting their lawn, I need to shit off my car ventilation because the scent of it...within seconds I am wheezing and feeling very tight. And then I cough a lot of stuff up. It is instant almost.). So I have to figure out something about that.

[LDloveslattecoffe]

Its definitely a hayfever/asthma thing.

As note EmmaF91 has great suggestions but a couple of thoughts.

1)

Is morning the best time for you to mow the lawn ? - i.e. when you have been horizontal all night a lot of asthmatics find the morning difficult.

While the nights are still light wouldn't 7/8/9pm be better for you?

2)

Wear a face covering - it can prevent the pollen getting in via mouth/nose

3)

Get rid of the grass

[Willow7733 in reply to LDloveslattecoffe]

I would love to get rid of the grass! I would love it. But I live in a duplex and on a street with bylaws. But, that would be the best thing ever!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Mucus can be an inflammatory response to a stimulus/irritant which is why asthma/allergy causes mucus production. So usually if you’re suddenly producing mucus it’s a tell that your body is reacting to it.

Lack of fitness is typically mucus free, slow to build, fast to resolve, needs no intervention other than a break, and in people with no resp issues there isn’t any mucus production.

It sounds like your grass allergy triggered off your asthma which you calmed down with your inhaler. However ventolin/salbutamol is not an anti-inflammatory so the underlying issue was still there hence why when you went back outside again it started straight back up again.

I’m not sure if you are already on antihistamines but if you don’t have anyone else you can get to mow the lawn then it may be worth taking one the day you plan to do it (and give it time to ‘kick in’) and maybe also see if pre-salb helps (you are hitting at least 2 asthma triggers... grass and weather conditions plus exercise even if not massive, which can mean you’re more likely to get issues as at least 3 issues at once).

As LD suggested, look at the time you mow. Later may be better - less heat, lungs ‘recovered’ from the night, lower pollen etc, and maybe try wearing something over your mouth/nose and see if it helps

Hope this helps

[Willow7733 in reply to EmmaF91]

I get a lot of mucus. It is amazing. In the mornings, when I pass some sort of scent. I never really know what will set it off when I go out. An adventure every time.

[AirIsUnderrated]

Are you feeling better now? Did you speak to anyone about it?

[Willow7733 in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

I am feeling a lot better but still coughing up a lot of stuff. I got a call from my GP this morning. Some tests are showing g some kidney disease (very early stages) and we talked about my breathing problems too. I am going to see the asthma clinic tomorrow. He made an appointment for me (since I don’t want to go to the emergency department because I work there.) So tomorrow I will know more about what to do and what is going on.

[Js706 in reply to Willow7733]

Glad you’re feeling a bit better and that the GP seems to be fairly on top of things - hope your appointment tomorrow goes well and you can get some answers

[Willow7733 in reply to Js706]

Thank you! I am a little nervous, but relieved things will be sorted out soon. And I am on vacation, which is good timing so I don’t lose any shifts.

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Willow7733]

Oh good. 👍 I can't believe how quickly you're getting seen - that's wonderful!

For what it's worth, my MIL's kidney disease (beyond early stage) disappeared after she followed the diet and lifestyle instructions she was given.

[Willow7733 in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

Yes! Very lucky. My GP seems to know if I am complaining about anything, it must mean I really am being bothered by it. I think he knows my phobia of going to see doctors. Just been diagnosed with Lupus, so the kidney thing is related to that. But it is very early (only stage 2), so I am glad they caught it before it has gotten worse. Just knowing I am getting some help today makes me feel a lot better!

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to Willow7733]

I’m sorry about the diagnosis, but at least you have something to work on. Don’t wait until you’re in trouble with your breathing before you get help though!

Hugs to you.

[AutumnHedgerow]

I was advised (By my consultant) not to mow. It would be better to avoid triggers if you can.