Smells do it for me I start coughing, can't get my breath, used an antibacterial wipes to clean my hands, I started coughing, couldn't get my breath, its the same when use Zoflour to clean the kitchen before I go bed.
But when I go bed am awake some of the night with tight chest, can't get my breath..
The pure value of a peak flow measurement is just that on its own - a standalone measurement. What is your best? Did you take your ventolin? Did it help and did it last? (If it doesn't help or doesn't last the advice would be to call your GP or 111). I would try to avoid the products that affect you though. If the night time symptoms are an ongoing thing you could do with speaking to your GP anyway, or nurse, as it sounds like things aren't well controlled.
Hi yes I would avoid the strong smelling sprays I find the clear Dettol spray the best , my consultant said to wear mask last year (before covid) , to stop them going down my chest when cleaning , prob not easy if your peak flos low, maybe you need steroids if it doesn't go up.
Hi Claire, I used to be very reactive to different smells too. It came on over a period of time and ended up being very debilitating and upsetting, as I felt very helpless. I totally understand how you feel.
I couldn’t tolerate anything that was sprayed, (perfume, cleaning, plug in air fresheners, fly spray, scented candles, diffusers, cooking fumes, traffic fumes etc.) even if a spray was sprayed in a different room. Another thing was fabric freshener on someone’s clothes that I was sat next to (I felt ridiculous when I had to explain, or had do a quick exit!) My work colleagues got used to me having to go out of the room at meetings and the more understanding ones, stopped wearing perfume and some even used to warn me in advance if they could smell something.
For me it was a matter of becoming aware of the many triggers and trying to avoid them. E.g. if I felt my chest getting tight when I was out of the house, I would ask whoever I was with if they could smell anything (sometimes my chest knew, even when I couldn’t smell anything!) and then I would just have to quickly take ventolin and get away from there if I could.
I had to make my house ‘spray’ free, (my husband was reduced to using a ‘roll on’ type of deodorant 😬which he hated), no candles or nice smells allowed, For cleaning I was ok with bleach (for the toilet) and I used Cif cream (not a spray)for any stubborn stains which was efficient and I could quickly rub at it and then rinse. For everything else it was e cloths and water.
Is it possible that your night time breathlessness could be connected to fabric conditioner on your bedding?
Hope it helps that you’re not the only one.
Thank you Celie1, least I know its not just me.
I thought I was going crazy, but my peak flow doesn't seem to be going above 300.
It was 350 last year.
If your best is 350 then 300 is still 86% of that which is well within your safe green zone for that. Having said that, you can still use your blue inhaler when you are struggling because if triggers, and advice to avoid the particular things that make it work is good.
Peak Flow Accuracy
Good peak flow tight chest
Low peak flow
