Hi, I’m hoping anyone can help or if anyone has had the same experience
I’ve had asthma my whole life, no one else in my family has it so everything I’ve learnt about asthma is through my GP (asthma nurse). The past couple of months I have been struggling a bit with my asthma, I’ve been 3 times now this year alone and every time I get told my asthma is bad because I’m taking my inhalers wrong! Again everything I’ve learnt it from the GP. The first time I got prescribed a peak flow, the second time I got the next inhaler (dose) up (for a month and then taken off me again) and the third time I got a space chamber.
My asthma is going through a flare up again and I feel like I can’t even go to the GP because they tell me I’m wrong. Anyone got any tips or know what to do?
Thanks!
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Yellow422
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I should also add, I’m getting no relief from my inhalers and my peak flow is the same before and after taking my inhalers (I’m in the blue and purple 125)
I have had asthma my whole life too, and am also the only one in all the extended family with it. GPs and appointments have become rather elusive lately and my asthma review hasn't happened this year. When I get a new inhaler or as was the case recently, a new spacer device with mask, it's never explained to me how to use it. In fact when I was first prescribed Spiriva respimat I didn't know what it's for or how to use it. Yet any problems are made out to be my fault. There are some really good videos that were pointed out to me by someone here about inhaler and spacer technique which are clear and helpful. My breathing is still deteriorating though. I don't really have any tips but I just wanted to say, I really empathise, and I hope things can improve for you 🤞
I suggest you keep a record of your peak flow if you are not already doing so. Take it first thing am before any meds and the same in the evening. Repeat after about an hour. Your pre med readings form one line on the graph and your post med readings form another. These readings will help your GP to work out what is going on and it will help him to help you.
As for not taking your inhalers properly, maybe you have, maybe you haven’t, but if you have been attending an asthma clinic ( which it sounds like you have) then inhaler technique is supposed to be checked while you are there, so this is not your fault.
However, whatever your technique, it seems to have served you well until now. It sounds as though you have been well controlled until now.
You don’t say what your symptoms are, but if they are interfering with your daily routine, or you are having attacks you need to go back to your GP. It maybe you need a course of prednisone (oral steroid) to settle things down.
In the meantime, keep using your blue to give you some relief, but keep a record of how much you are taking, how often and when and show this to your GP on your next visit.
And, if you do get criticised on your next visit just point out that you have been coming to clinic for x number of years and that nobody ever explained that, what ever that is.
If it's any consolation, I've had asthma for decades and my inhaler technique is often scrutinised and bad habits pointed out to me. My diaphragm use is back to front, in that when I inhale I tighten it up instead of expanding it. I also raise my shoulders when I breath in a dose of inhaler. All these bad habits mean shallow intake of breath and therefore the medication only reaches the upper parts of the lungs. If I'm having a bad day then it's harder to get those deep breaths.
I don't have a spacer as I'm on dry powder inhalers, so I saw a respiratory physiotherapist, who was very helpful in improving my technique and helping me recognise when I'm getting it right (short of standing in front of a mirror). I still have to focus on my inhaler technique every single time, but it's certainly better. As others have said, there are online masterclasses on inhaler technique.
But if you're still struggling with your asthma, please see your doctor. You may need a different inhaler or additional medication, especially if your reliever inhaler isn't having the desired affect.
I would agree with watching the videos on taking inhalers and also consistently recording your peak flow, twice a day before your purple inhaler and also before the blue one and again 15 minutes after. You may have been doing this already (consistently) but if you only have sporadic results this might be useful.
It's interesting though that your inhalers don't help and your peak doesn't change (hence me suggesting a long period of recording it if you haven't, do you can catch any changes). There are various conditions that mimic asthma symptoms but where the meds don't help do maybe it's one of these things driving your symptoms at the moment? And it would be more helpful if the GP considered such things rather than just telling you your technique is wrong!
This post explores a couple of these asthma mimics....
The Asthma UK nurses are very good so it might be worth a call to them if you're not getting much help from your GP or nurse - AUK helpline - 0300 2225800 M-F 9-5
It might not be of course but your blaming technique is just not helpful (unless you're doing what an asthma nurse once told me someone genuinely thought the method was.... because it's how a GP had shown her to demonstrate what came out.....hold inhaler by the side of your head and squirt into mid air.... 🤦😅)
I'm sorry this is happening to you. I have family members with asthma, but I also experienced doctors/nurses doubting me. For me, the tide changed (a bit) the following year as my diligent (obsessive) PF testing demonstrated that my best was much higher than my predicted, so actually it was just the case that my inhalers weren't helping. Unfortunately, my PF is often fine with symptoms.
Since then, medical professionals have become more relaxed about it. Although I now have a referral to respiratory - who knows, maybe I have a mimic.
Thank you, Yeah my PF currently is around 350 which isn’t bad and it’s the same before and after but I just feel bad which is annoying, hopefully next time I go I can explain this to them
I empathise. My GP surgery has an AN that I feel is very u helpful. She counts how many inhalers you have had in a year when you attend asthma reviews with her and makes you feel that you shouldn’t be asking for them! There’s been other ANs who have been excellent but left the service. At the moment there is a senior AN who I ask to see as she isn’t in the business of scrimping on medications when you need them and will help when breathing is difficult. I felt so poorly and was struggling for almost two years with breathing and coughing I just could not face another winter like it so I paid for a private consultation at the Royal Brompton. To be frank, it has changed my life for the better. Not everyone can do this I know, but I cut back on other things and I have to say it’s the best £250 I have ever spent. I felt understood which was such a relief. If you have a different clinician that you can ask to see at your GP surgery that might be a good start. Ask if any of the GPS there have a special interest in asthma and breathing problems. I do think you have to keep telling them that you are struggling to breathe. There are lots of theories on communication and all the barriers to getting your message across to the listener. Sometimes you have to repeat it in different ways, or even write it down in order for other people to “get it”. Let us know how you get on?
Thank you for the advice, I feel I’ll give them one more go and if they say the same or I don’t think they are helpful I might have to go elsewhere even if that means paying. We only have one AN and I don’t think they can prescribe so I have to go through GP for inhalers, which is annoying. Hopefully it picks up soon and I’ll let you know
I don’t know if this notify everyone but I went today and actually got double my dose (250), they told me if this works I go back down though so let’s see! Thanks everyone
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