Asthma worse since we moved.

[mjrminor]

Since leaving London and moving back to the west country last year, I feel like my asthma has been getting worse. I used to be on Flutiform 2 puffs twice a day plus nightly montelukast. My asthma nurse recently changed me over to Fostair 100 2puffs three times a day, montelukast, and now also a steroid nasal spray, 2puffs twice a day. I also have a HEPA air purifier running, and yet I'm still struggling with a tight chest and breathlessness, especially at night.

I was diagnosed with asthma 6 years ago (I`m 46, male)' and although I've had my fair share of ongoing asthma issues, I've never ended up in hospital. But this constant breathlessness is getting to me - it's exhausting, on top of having rheumatoid arthritis.

As much as I love being back in the countryside, part of me wonders if the higher humidity and pollen levels are part of the problem. Our cat (which is my partner's, who owned it before we moved in together) has also become a complete indoor cat since we moved last year, and I think that may also be part of the problem.

Sorry this is a long, moany post, but I'm feeling at my wits end today after another night of asthma. My partner is also stubborn about the cat, and although I vacuum regularly and even wash my laundry separately, it's constantly shedding and my partner rarely grooms it.

I should probably talk to the asthma nurse again. It's just that part of the reason we moved here was to improve my health, but I'm worried the move has made it worse.

[sugarcrush]

I have asthma and arthritis. I used to live on the north coast of Cornwall but the cold wind from the Atlantic didn’t help my asthma. Summer was ok though!

[mjrminor in reply to sugarcrush]

I grew up in south west Cornwall. Now moved to Somerset after 22 years of living in London. I love it here, but I just don't know if my lungs do.

[sugarcrush in reply to sugarcrush]

I now live in the north west and the bad air is crippling me. Stay where you are and think positively!! I am trying to do the same, working my way through arthritis, asthma, diabetes. Heart disease and thyroid problems plus a few more!!

[mjrminor in reply to sugarcrush]

Oh dear - I'm starting to think it doesn't matter where you live in the UK when it comes to chronic illness.

[Xiave]

Sorry you're struggling so much! If you think there might be allergies affecting you (pollen or cat or something else), it could be worth trying a daily antihistamine on top of your other medication. It's also worth noting that changes in medication can take a few weeks to properly help, so depending how recently your meds have been changed it could be a few weeks before you see any change in your breathing.

There are still lots of other meds and higher doses they can try you on, though, if things don't settle - so make sure you let your nurse know if things don't settle. Hope things improve soon!

[mjrminor in reply to Xiave]

Thanks Xiave. I'm already taking a daily antihistamine as I do tend to suffer more in the grass pollen season anyway. It just seems a lot, lot worse this year. I was changed over to Fostair about two and a half months ago, but I've only been using the nasal spray for about two weeks. Maybe I need to give it a little longer.

[Hidden]

Bit of a curve ball but have you had your iron levels checked?

RA is an autoimmune disease (as you know!) which can cause low stomach acid which in turn causes absorption problems, which then leads to low vitamins levels.

Your feeling of breathlessness could be being worsened by poor iron levels (as well as everything else!) I'd say it's worth checking because it's an easy fix!

[mjrminor in reply to Hidden]

Hi geworgie3008. That's a very good point - I was found to be iron deficient in early February and given a 3 month course of ferrous sulfate, which improved things. Now I'm thinking about it, before I had the test, I was exhausted and breathless all the time. But I only finished the course in early May - could my levels be dropping already?

[Hidden in reply to mjrminor]

Im afraid I don't know but if you were anaemic then I would say it's worth retesting, even if it's just to rule it out. You can test privately with a finger prick test pretty cheap of you don't want to go back to the GP. 🙂

[Hidden in reply to mjrminor]

It would all depend on how deficient you were and what your level was brought up to.

[mjrminor in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for replying. I'll definitely look into getting retested.

[Spikedog66]

Could it be your fostair? I had terrible side effects with this inhaler. Breathlessness, uncontrollable shakes so changed back to seretide. It works for some but wouldn't go back to that for a million pound. Is your vaccum a pet one. Do you close your windows at teatime, shake washing before bringing in before teatime to rid pollen? Tell the missus to brush the cat. Get a stronger antihistamine. Put vaseline on your nose. There are lots you can try to help you live in your idyllic place. If like me you've been indoors for months I think this has exacerbated many symptoms. Hope this helps a little. 😊

[mjrminor in reply to Spikedog66]

Thanks - lots of good tips there. I've heard that about Fostair. When they first put me on it, I kept getting palpitations. But they seemed to stop after a while.

[Spikedog66 in reply to mjrminor]

I do hope you improve soon.

[mjrminor in reply to Spikedog66]

Thank you.

[ChrissieMons]

I had the same - moved from a lifetime in London to apparently purer air in the rural Midlands, only for my asthma to get worse. My GP said - quite rightly, as it turned out - I would get used to the different air in the end. You're not so troubled by the tree pollens and that evil smelling stuff they put on the fields when you're in London.

I really think the cat is a serious issue. You can get an allergy test, or just go away on your own for a few days and see if being away from the cat makes you better.

[mjrminor in reply to ChrissieMons]

So your asthma improved after a while of living there? That's what I'm hoping for. The thing with the cat is that I've lived with it for six years now, but since we've moved it's definitely inside more. I'm starting to think my asthma getting worse could definitely be a combination of things.

[hilary39]

Oy this sounds miserable. I'm so sorry. In terms of your partner and your cat, could you take your partner with you to your next allergist / pulmonologist / GP (whoever you see) appointment? That way she could hear directly from a medical professional that exacerbated asthma is very dangerous and even mild to moderate asthmatics can have life-threatening attacks. She may be dismissive of your asthma but she really needs to be grooming the cat herself or getting it professionally cleaned if all the of the shedding is setting you off. I find sometimes our friends and family take our asthma more seriously when a medical professional explains the dangers to them. And you can do all of that in a kind way, invite her to come with you since you're not feeling well and want her support, but maybe it'll be helpful if she's involved in the conversation generally-

I'm also wondering about the house you moved into. Was it owned by a pet owner previously? Could there be any mold? Perhaps that is part of what is setting you off. If you can get it professionally deep cleaned and maybe paint some walls , I wonder if that would help? Do you have a HEPA vaccuum?

I'd also get some allergy testing done to check if any of the trees, grass, or weed pollens in your new area are setting you off. If so, maybe some under-the-tongue drops or allergy shots could help you.

[mjrminor in reply to hilary39]

Thanks for the advice. We do have a hepa vacuum, plus the hepa air purifier. The house we moved into is old and there's definitely some issues with the external rendering letting in rain. Fortunately this is a rental, and we're currently looking into buying somewhere. Bringing my partner into my next appointment is a good idea. Thanks.

[damascena]

I had a similar problem moving from London to Worthing. I had had an allergy test (done by a doctor, stay away from ones from health stores) and knew I was severely allergic to dust mites. The house had more carpet and I had spent weeks touching boxes. Also, fire place was filthy. We moved again, within same town and eventually things got better. Moral of the story: get tested, then eliminate everything that triggers you. Your health is number 1. It may be pollen, cat, or anything in house. Figure it out and eliminate, dont just increase meds as that will not cure you.

[mjrminor in reply to damascena]

Thanks for the advice - I've never had an allergy test, so I really should get one done. That way, I'll know for sure.

[OIAE]

Climate has had a big effect for me. I have had chronic Rhinitis for 30 years and Asthma for 10 which has become ever more severe. I find that warm dry weather with low humidity makes a big difference.