Ongoing asthma issues - recovery period

[garfunkel]

Hi all,

Around 15 weeks ago I had several severe asthma attacks. I've been recovering since then and have made good progress in terms of being comfortable in the house, but my mobility remains limited. I can move around the house okay, but I'm still effectively housebound - if I walk for any real distance my chest gets sore and I end up gasping for air, and needing my reliever inhaler a bunch of times. Last week, walking too much around the living room was enough to cause this reaction, which was incredibly frustrating.

Is this recovery period normal? Is there anything I could be doing to improve things or is it simply a matter of taking my medicine and hoping for the best? I'm trying to do a tiny amount of exercise every day, but I feel so limited in what I can do, as getting to the stage where I'm gasping for air is terrifying and leaves me sore for the whole day.

I've been on montelukast for 8 weeks, which definitely helped make things more comfortable around the house, and my preventer inhaler was switched from clenil to sirdupla 2 weeks ago, so maybe it'll take more time for that change to see results, but I feel completely exhausted by this ongoing nightmare.

Any help or advice would be really appreciated!

[Troilus]

Hi Garfunkel. As your activities are still extremely limited and you are still suffering with shortness of breath I think it would be an idea to contact your doctor and explain the situation. It may be that it is just taking time for your new meds to kick in, but you may need a course of prednisone to tide you over until that happens.

In the meantime don’t be afraid to push your rescue inhaler.

[garfunkel in reply to Troilus]

Hi Trolius. At the start of all this my doctor put me on prednisone for a week, which helped in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, but he was reluctant to go down the route of more steroids beyond that. I'm planning on speaking to him in about a week, when the new inhaler will need renewed, so perhaps he'll suggest something similar.

[Troilus in reply to garfunkel]

Hi Garfunkel, my GP is the same. He once gave my I once had prednisone for two consecutive months ( two lots of 5 days ) and the results were fantastic, but now he refuses to prescribe unless I have an attack. ( I thought the whole point was to avoid an attack, but there we go!)

Your new inhaler might just make the difference, if not there are plenty of other to choose from, and other add ons.

I suppose, as patients, we look for the quick fix ( prednisone) while GP’s are thinking about long term control.

Here’s hoping your GP has some suggestions for you.

[hilary39]

It does sound like you're not completely recovered and may need to keep experimenting with + stepping up meds like you have been with the Montelukast and Sirdupla. Are you following an asthma action plan with your GP so you're on the same page and your family members know what to do if you worsen? (sample ones here: asthma.org.uk/advice/manage...

I have definitely had long recovery periods but I agree that four months is a long recovery. I'm wondering if whatever caused the initial severe attacks is lingering in your environment or body. Has anything major changed? New house? New neighbors? New office? New pet? New trees outside? New foods? etc?

[garfunkel in reply to hilary39]

Hi Hilary. No, not following an asthma recovery plan currently - I was to speak with the asthma nurse, but she's off and they're not sure when she's going to be back. Not ideal...

No, nothing new, which is strange. I had trouble with a viral thing that morphed into a chest infection last winter, and was dealing with that for around 8 weeks. I've been wondering if that could've started a decline without my realising over some months, culminating in the attacks. But I don't know if that's even possible.

[hilary39 in reply to garfunkel]

I've actually heard that viruses and illnesses can be a common trigger for long-lasting inflammation. I haven't experienced it personally but I've seen other people on this group and in other asthma groups say the same thing.

I think generally anything that destabilizes our asthma can knock us off course for quite a while. I worked on a very moldy floor in an office and was sick from the mold for about six months and then, once I moved to a new floor, it took me another six months or so to get back to my baseline. Hope you can chat with an asthma nurse soon!!

[MissNyxiie]

Hi, My situation sounds similar to yours, few more attacks though. Ive had 2 inhaler changes this year and noticed both times it took a while to kick in properly. Definitely talk to your gp about steroids, they may help for a while and get you back where you need to be. Do you have a respiratory consultant? If not, it may be worth asking to be reffered so you can get different treatment. I wish I had pushed earlier as ive been limited to indoors and still having attacks for almost a year now, its not a great way to live. You could try talking to the asthma uk nurses on the phone, they may have suggestions to help.

Hope you feel better.

[garfunkel in reply to MissNyxiie]

Hi MissNyxiie. I'm sorry to hear you've been having a hard time too. It's only been 2 and a half weeks since my inhaler change, so I'm still hopeful, although the doctor expected to see positive progress after a week...No, I don't have a respiratory consultant - thanks for the tip, I'll have to look into that as it could be helpful.

Hope you feel better soon too!