Much more wheezing over the past month

[swfc-dan]

I've had well controlled asthma pretty much all my life. However the past month or so I've been getting a lot more wheezing and having to take my ventolin much more often (pretty much once a day, whereas it used to be about once a week). I had my annual asthma review (by phone this time for obvious reasons) only 3 weeks ago and told them about it suddenly getting worse. They said to double the morning dose of my preventer (flutiform), however doing that still doesn't seem to have solved it.

I never get wheezy at night (only take my regular dose at night still), but am feeling wheezy most evenings around 6pm and having to take my ventolin. And even right now it hasn't cleared up properly and my chest feels a little tight.

I haven't been tested for Covid so there is a chance that I had it and it has caused my asthma to worsen. But I think it's more likely to be due to a lack of exercise (working from home- I previously cycled to work) and outside air, and also some anxiety from the current covid situation (worries about catching it).

I am going to try going for daily cycle rides/walks again to see if that improves things. If it doesn't I think I need to book an appointment with the asthma nurse at my local doctors- I assume I can attend in person rather than just by phone?

[Lotti_321-]

I’m really sorry you’re struggling at the minute. What I would say (from very personal experience, as struggling at the moment) please don’t put off any treatment/accessing help. Been there & it’s not ending well for me!

I don’t know about elsewhere in terms of their procedures but once I’d raised the alarm to say my asthma isn’t good I’ve still been reviewed on the phone and had a follow up in person following a covid screening (basically asking if I’ve any symptoms eg temp, new cough, loss of smell etc.). So if you aren’t getting anywhere over the telephone I’d push to try & be seen in person.

[Martin153]

Well I presume the swfc means sheff wed! As a Leeds united fan I recommend you ask about the Duoresp spiromax inhaler. It acts as steroid & rescue inhaler. I've been on it for over 4 years & just 1 go morning & 1 in the evening. Generally been fine. Once in a blue moon I've had a quick go & it always clears my chest quite quick. I've not used a blue rescue inhaler since.

[ChrissieMons]

As I am always reluctant to go for medication unless really necessary,(when I don't hesitate)

I'd try the extra exercise for a day or two - you will soon know if it's working or not. If not, you can get an urgent appointment with the GP and you can insist on seeing him/her as they should do some tests while you're there.

[swfc-dan]

Thanks for the replies. So I rang my GP and he prescribed me 250mg Flutiform so double what I was on, and a replacement large spacer which I always use. I've been on it 3-4 days now along with taking more care when taking my inhalers (slower, deeper breaths) and had noticed an improvement, but I've just now had to take my ventolin twice this evening as the first didn't help enough. So it's not had the desired effect yet, but I imagine the preventer takes a week or so to take effect?

But I am concerned about the time my wheezing happens. It always seems to occur around dinner time 5-8pm when I am in and around the kitchen area, rarely at night or when I'm out the house. I think the main suspect is our gas AGA cooker, but we recently got it checked for any gas leaks but it was deemed all ok (frying fumes can set it off but I make sure to keep clear of those!. There's never any visible fumes/smell from it and no one else has noticed anything ,but maybe it is not burning properly nowadays? I will try turning it off for a while to see if I improve- I've not had any problems with it in the past (any time over a few months ago) though.

Otherwise could there be any other triggers that set might be causing me the problems? I've always had cats so cat hair won't be the cause, I've never noticed being bothered by pollen either and am not affected much outside. Or is it just a case of needing time for the preventer to do it's work?

[swfc-dan]

An update. My new double strength Flutiform seems to be helping as I've had less wheezing and a few days lately when I haven't had to use my ventolin which is a welcome relief. I now know the trigger, it is cooking fumes (hence the 6-7pm problems) mainly from frying but also occasionally when using the oven when there are fumes released. So I have been either cooking with the window and door wide open, or letting others cook for me! And that has stopped the trigger causing tightness and wheezing, or certainly made it less often.

I am going to track my ventolin usage again (gave up a month or so ago as it became every day!), how many times of usage a week counts as it being 'well controlled'?

One other question. I do also notice more white powder residue on the inside of my large spacer now, since I switched to the double strength preventer. I tend to prefer the larger spacer to the smaller one as you breathe more normally using it, but if a fair amount of the powder isn't entering my lungs then I might switch to the smaller one permanently. Which inhaler do people here find best?

[swfc-dan in reply to swfc-dan]

Any advice for the above questions guys?