I am new - looking for some advice please

[PeonyTruffle]

Hello,

Until now my asthma has been well managed with my brown inhaler (clenil) and the odd puff of my reliever every so often.

The past few weeks, I have been feeling far more tight chested and using my blue one more, I was switched to Fostair on Wednesday after upping the dose on Cenil (as I was advised to do) which didnt really make a difference.

The past few days I have been incredibly tight chested, I cant take a full breath in or even yawn properly, my ribs hurt from trying to fill my lungs. Blue inhaler doesnt make much difference. Fostair makes me really shaky and I dont feel like myself, not very impressed so far.

I called my GP today for advice and they told me I needed to fill in an eform which I did and they replied back advising that I basically need to wait 2 weeks for the new inhaler to kick in and if symptoms worsen seek further help. Called them back and was told, try 111. Went to them, had to fill in another form, they called back and because I am 99% sure this is not covid related, told me to go back to my GP.

Meanwhile, here I am with only half my lungs working - so what do I do, go back to the GP or just wait like this for another 2 weeks? - I would willingly accept any advice at this point..... Supposed to be taking my son trampolining tomorrow, that is NOT going to end well!

TIA

[twinkly29]

Yeah I wouldn't be trampolining....!!

Sorry to hear you're struggling. Your GP is correct that it will take a couple of weeks for the new inhaler to kick in (this could be why you feel worse at the moment, as you're not using the clenil but your body hasn't realised it's got the Fostair yet). The shakiness and so on should lessen as your body gets used to the medication.

I would suggest using your blue inhaler more while you need to, maybe regularly 4 times a day or something, rather than waiting for it to build up. Although if you say you're not getting any relief from that then maybe that won't help...

Do you track your peak flow? If so, how does now compare to prior to swapping inhalers and to your personal best? If you don't do peak flow regularly it would be a good idea to. Partly because it can help to show improvement as the Fostair kicks in and and partly might show issues now. Sometimes people are given a few days of oral steroids to help with the changeover to a new inhaler but doesn't sound like your GP has considered this?

Is there an asthma nurse at your surgery you could ask to speak to?

Failing that, the Asthma UK nurses are brilliant. Their helpline is 0300 2225800, M-F, 9-5.

[Poobah]

I lost my first reply to you in the ether. Apologies if it turns up later.

Back in the day when long acting bronchodilators were first prescribed they were single medication inhalers. I was on one and had a very bad reaction, in that my asthma flared up and despite oral steroids I couldn't walk ten yards. My GP wouldn't believe that this deterioration was down to the inhaler but fortunately my consultant did. I came off the inhaler and was back to normal in days.

The drug companies had lots of problems early on with these single med LAB inhalers so they added steroids. This seemed to work for the majority of patients, however, some patients still react negatively to them. The condition is known as paradoxical bronchospasm. Google it and see if the symptoms match yours.

If you think the Fostair is causing breathlessness then a peak flow test should pick it up. Before your Fostair dose, take your PF. Then take your Fostair. Wait 20 minutes and repeat the PF. If the results are worse after taking Fostair then you have the evidence that you can present to your doctor.

Strictly, any adverse side effects should be reported by the doctor using the yellow card process.

[PeonyTruffle]

Thanks so much for both of your replies, I have taken the fostair twice since writing this post and have had the same reaction. It makes me v shaky and anxious. I'm going to go back to the clenil for now and call my GP on monday because I'm still v breathless and it's horrible

[mariyn in reply to PeonyTruffle]

I was similar to you and did not respond to Fostair . Tried another g p in the same surgery and she gave me Sirdupla , which is a Seretide . This worked for me just fine . Sometimes you just have to persevere and try different doctors. All best Marilyn

[twinkly29 in reply to PeonyTruffle]

Others on here have found the same but persevering with it has meant the effects did really lessen/disappear. But it took a week or so I think for some.

[PeonyTruffle]

So this all snowballed a bit, I went to urgent care today as was still was declining. The nurse there put me in an ambulance and over to A&E, several nebulisers, needles and an xray later and I have a lung infection.

So this is why I felt so rubbish, I have antibiotics and steroids so fingers crossed will be on the mend soon

Thanks so much for replying to me, I really appreciate it

[Hidden in reply to PeonyTruffle]

Get well soon. That’s a real humdinger of a week. Good that finally, a reason and a solution ahead been found.

[DollyDutchGirl]

Truly hope that you are making a good recovery now - and that the Fostair will work for you. I have the 200/6 version and, under my consultant’s instructions, use it as MART (along with a whole magic chest of other asthma and hypertension meds)....and along with a couple of new additions to the armoury, it really seems to finally, be sorting me out. Please, get better soon...😷🙂😷

[LDloveslattecoffe]

Hi sorry to hear you are having a rough time. As all have said GP is right will take a few weeks for the new inhaler to demonstrate a difference.

Please be aware if you take a lot of the blue inhaler it can increase heart rate and cause shakiness so it is possible that it isn't the Fostair causing the shakes although it could be the combination of the Fostair and Ventolin (Salbutamol).

111 is best used out of hours and if you finding you are getting worse and can't get a GP appointment rather than a Telephone consult then you can go to your local NHS Walk-in Centre and get seen there it may give you some reassurance. Sometimes it helps if you see someone.

Also as Twinkly29 said you could also ring the Asthma UK Helpline.

[PeonyTruffle]

Thanks all, I am still bed ridden, I dont have enough energy or puff to get downstairs for any longer than 10 mins.

I have a telephone call with my GP today so hopefully that might get me a bit more clarity on what is actually going on, so bored of this all now to be honest