Symptoms prior to asthma flare up

[Cb28]

Hi all, I’m about to take oral steroids after needing to leave work with breathlessness, coughing and feeling unwell. Working in a mask 8 hrs a day has been ok up to yesterday when I just could not breathe well. Prior to this I had a migraine with aura the day before and over last week headache day and night. Shoulder aching and ribs since yesterday. Does anyone else have this pattern? My head is dropping off, until prednisone 40mg for 7 days reaches day 4 can I breathe and clear the headache. Resp nurse not heard of it particularly as a symptom. I’d be grateful for any replies. Thank you for reading Caroline

[Poobah]

Hi Cb28. Sorry you're having such a rotten time.

I have migraines and aura. But have never noticed a connection with my asthma. Steroids do make me feel horrible and I wouldn't want to take them if I was in the middle of a migraine. Luckily I've never had to.

Stress can give me a migraine, as can strip lighting, bright reflections (sun on cars), too little sleep, too much sleep, weather. The last thing, weather, also affects my asthma.

Recently I had a migraine (hot/humid weather) and I was SOB, but I knew it was the weather rather than the migraine affecting my breathing.

I may skip asthma meds when I have a migraine as I always get nausea. That can affect my asthma. My main driver is to tackle the migraine. So I will get wheezy but I know it's because I have skipped my meds.

I'm sure wearing a mask all day would affect my breathing and the stress of that could make me vulnerable for a migraine - throw hot & humid into the mix and bingo! This is just me though. I know stress can be an asthma trigger, as it is for migraine.

My sister has nasal spray meds for her migraines and it has been brilliant for her. They stop the migraine from developing. She takes a dose when she experiences the aura. Something to consider if you get lots of migraines.

I have wondered about the affect Ventolin can have on headaches. It will increase heart rate, therefore blood flow which can trigger headaches, or contribute to them.

Another thing to consider is whether your migraine meds affect your asthma. I can't take aspirin or ibuprofen, depend on paracetamol or codeine. Just a thought.

I hope you feel better soon.

[Cb28 in reply to Poobah]

Aw thank you for replying .. yes I have a nasal sumitriptin that I can take and do thank you. The migraine is my first symptom at that point I’ve probs my been coughing a few days but give it no thought. Until the steroids kick in I have a really bad headache in back of head ( migraine in side of head prior to asthma) I have oesinophillic asthma the whole resp system inflamed the tissue in my nose is same as lungs so it’s all inflamed sinuses too I think this gives me the bad head. Doc rang to see how I was and she not heard of it either. It’s a sudden migraine comes on very quick in night usually I can guarantee within a day I’m breathless and need steroids. I just wish someone else had an explanation. Thank you for answering id given up x

[Poobah in reply to Cb28]

I just Googled "migraine and asthma". Lots online. Asthmatics twice as likely to suffer migraines. Definitely worth looking at if you think there's a link, just so you can understand what researchers are recommending.

allergyasthmanetwork.org/ne.... There's lots more online.

All the best.

[Cb28 in reply to Poobah]

Thank you I will look at that you take care too x

[AsthmaSufferer]

I feel bad for you having to use a mask for 8 hours a day with asthma. I am retired now, and have been leaving my nose uncovered when in public, only because I just don't think I could breathe without doing so. However, you may not be able to do so at your job. I have had a few migraines in the past and know they're not fun. Someone recommended Excedrin Tension Headache and it helped. Also, another co-worker advised to hold a baggie of ice at back of my neck. If it gets too cold, then wrap baggie with kitchen towel. It does help. Good luck to you.