I need help!!

[Jolius]

Hello, I got diagnosed with asthma(GINA II) and cronic alergic rinithis last year. Since then I have been using Foster inhaler. I dont really feel any big improvement. I am 23y old and my life is falling apart I dont know how to help myself... Also I am working as marine engineer on ship and I am not sure if I would be able to continue... do you have any advice how to help myself??

[twinkly29]

I think you probably need to speak to your GP or asthma nurse and discuss how you feel things are - symptoms compared to before being on the Fostair and how it's affecting you. Do you record your peak flow regularly? If so, has this improved since starting the Fostair? If not, it's a good idea to do this twice a day, before your Fostair, as it helps the nurse or doctor to work out what's going and how to help, along with your symptoms.

Why do you think you won't be able to continue your job?

When you say no better than before, are your symptoms the same? Do you have a plan for what to do when you have symptoms?

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Finding the right regime for you will help the most. If you feel like fostair didn’t make much difference for you then try something else. There are lots of options out there and finding the right one can be hard. Once you get control you should be able to do whatever job you like unless it’s one of the few that quotes asthma as a reason to not be able to work (ie medical discharge from the army etc). Well controlled means no symptoms and not needing your reliever inhaler more than twice a week. If you’re feeling really symptomatic all the time then you may need a short course of oral steroids just to get on top of things and get them calming down.

I’m not sure if you’re on anything for the rhinitis but that may be another avenue to investigate to help get things controlled overall. You may benefit from a daily antihistamine or a steroid nasal spray.

If you want more advice about inhalers in general; healthunlocked.com/asthmauk... or about the first add on drugs for asthma; healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

If you’re based in the UK you may also want to give AUK a call. The nurses are great and can be reached on 0300 2225800 M-F 9-5. Alternatively their WhatsApp service is 07378 606728.

I hope this helps

[Jolius]

Hello twinkly29 and EmmaF91 big thanks for you response!! First of all:

1) I dont measure my peak flow but probably I should get the device for doing it.

2)I was using Fostair: 1 inhale in morning and 1 evening (1/2 inhales when needed through the day).. since I didnt feel any major improvement I called my doctor and she told me to double the dose for 1 month and then go back to the 1 inhale.. For my rinithis I am using Flixonase spray twice a day also

3)Since I am not used to have symptoms (I was even smoking in high school) even when small chest tightness come I got panic attack and they diognosed me anxiety disorder several times when I came to emergency. I got to mention that I never had any wheezing or cough when the "attack" come so I am not sure if all of this are asthma attacks or just small dose of asthma sympthomes and much more of panic attack.

4) After they told me that I have anxiety problem I went to the best psychiatrist in town and she told me that I dont need any medication.( I also have some family problems my mother is alcoholic my whole life which impacted me greatly; also I dont have a father who lives in another city and didnt really take care for me). She also told me that I need to fight my fears and try to realx when symptoms come.

5)My doctor says that this problem came because of a big strees (and that my asthma is not that big of a problem since my lung function was always fine). Because I finished marine engineering and I should go to work on ship as engine cadet in january I am not sure if I will be able to do it because working conditions are sometimes very hard (warm air,oil and diesel vapor etc.).

6) Also big strees for me is taking medication since I am afraid that a long term usage will have a bad impact on my body.

I am not really sure what to do now. Should I start to work out and get in shape? Does long term usage on inhalers really have bad impact on body? When the "attack" come antoher time should I just let it go and see what happens and dont use inhaler?

PS: sry for bad english it is not my first language

[twinkly29]

Hi Jolius,

It's difficult with asthma and anxiety because many of the symptoms are the same - so a person can have the same symptoms and it's asthma, or it's anxiety, or it's a mixture of both. One of the key things is that asthma medications don't help when it's anxiety. So for example, symptoms when they occur don't improve with inhalers, peak flow (if used at the time) doesn't really change and also things don't improve over time. Of course if it's asthma as well there is a bit of a crossover so it can be more confusing!

It sounds like you have had quite a lot in the past that would certainly explain having anxiety or stress or both - do you have support now for that side of things, ways to help and things like that,or things you find useful? I was thinking that if you could focus on that side of things, it would help to see if your symptoms and so on improve. But carry on with your inhalers - long term use of those is fine and if you didn't need them in the future (although you may still need them anyway), they could be stopped with your doctor's agreement - but at the moment you should keep taking them for your asthma.

I don't know how healthcare works where you are (if you are not in the UK) but is speaking to your doctor an option? Being told to relax isn't very helpful because it's not that easy! Some people find breathing techniques or listening to music helpful when they have these episodes p- but I would hope a doctor would suggest more than just relaxing!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to twinkly29]

You may also find this post helpful in differentiation between asthma and anxiety etc; healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

[ChrissieMons]

You have had a rotten deal in life - no wonder you suffer from anxiety! That said, there are people who can help. Of course you need to take the inhalers as prescribed, but you also need to address your very real issues, which you cannot do after one chat with a psychiatrist. Mind and body work in tandem. Have as long a chat as you can, with your Doctor, about talking therapies and how s/he thinks you can move forward with your life. I don't think medicating your anxiety will help (but I'm not a medic!) but you are young and you deserve a good life after the things you've experienced.

[Poobah]

I managed someone who had severe anxiety challenges and was on medication for that. They were visibly anxious and really struggled with every day routines. As an asthmatic I would respond by getting short of breath for them (not helpful). What really helped her was to take up meditation and to learn coping mechanisms for her mist anxious times. She could use these mechanisms whenever she felt the anxiety rising. My part was to arrange a safe and private place at work where she could go and repeat the coping mechanisms until she felt the anxiety pass. Her condition improved to a point where her work attendance was good, but she would never not have anxiety - it was a question of learning how to take control. We learn so many things throughout our childhood and teen years that equip us for life. Any disruption to this life school will mean we miss out on important lessons and we may even learn to respond negatively to life rather than learning the skills to cope with it. Counselling is very good at understanding how we respond to everyday life and we can learn alot about ourselves in order to unlearn those responses and replace them with positive actions.

This is an excellent website youngminds.org.uk/blog/four...

I hope you're able to get the support that you need and are able to have the career that will give you the structure and positivity that you deserve.

[Jolius]

Hello twinkly29 , EmmaF91 , ChrissieMons and Poobah . First I want to thank you for you response and suggestions. It means so much to me!

I would say that my problem is the mix of asthma and anxiety but as twinkly29 mentioned when my symptoms occure my inhaler helps me and my chest tightness and short of breath with anxiety and panic attack are gone instantly, second after using an inhaler. That is the part that confuses me since I have been using the Fostair inhaler for almost 1y now (still using it) but I still cant imagine a day without it.

I am regullary going to the pulmonologist but after describing the problem I have all that she says is that my lung function is good and that I should continue using Fostair. I was also in private clinic one time just to hear another opinion. But the results was the same.

As I mentioned in my second post, in januray I am going to my first trip as an engine cadet and that is the job that would secure my life existence and also enable me to acomplish myself as a person. Also I am feeling a big fear of disapoitment because I am scared of my asthma making me a problem. In my current state of life I ussualy spend my time at home and basicly destroying myself. I want to start workout but that is also a thing that I have a fear from it.

Thank you for the articels that you posted I will go through it and read all of it. Also I finded a really good article on the problem I have on my language unfortunately (Croatian/Serbian) link: psihoterapijsketeme.rs/2014...

The last thing I want to mention which remained in my memory is waking up from nose surgery in january of 2019. I was crying like a baby and I felt a great sadness for my mother and father who are not as I wanted them to be. I am mentioning that because in everyday life I dont think about that subject and I somehow distanced from it. That could possibly be the main problem which I dont find a way to solve it.

[twinkly29 in reply to Jolius]

It does sound like you could do with some counselling or support to work through some of the things you've struggled with in the past. Hopefully that would help your anxiety anyway but also might help these acute asthma or anxiety symptoms you're getting. It would be unlikely I think for an inhaler to work instantly like that. A blue reliever inhaler (Ventolin, salbutamol etc) would usually take 10-15 minutes to be effective and the reliever element in your Fostair is a long-acting version of that - so it lasts longer but I'm not sure how quickly it kicks in. I'd be surprised if it helps instantly in a few seconds though.

[Jolius in reply to twinkly29]

Yeah I agree with you. When I talk to some people that have asthma nobody describe the "attacks" same as I do. I ussualy hear that they have caugh and wheezing in chest and after using inhaler they need around 10 minutes to get back to normal state.

In my case when symptoms come I feel a rush of adrenaline (my hearth starts to beat fast and I have a feeling of chocking). Few seconds after using Fostair(I hold my breath 10 seconds) all of its gone which I found wierd.

[Hidden]

Hi Jolius, so sorry to hear your story. You seem to have the same symptoms as me but yours looks out of control. What I have learnt over the years is that alcohol triggers a bad bout of sneezing for several hours so I do not drink. I have found an antihistamine once a day greatly reduces clogged up nose problems and there are different brands you can try. You could be intolerant of milk or cheese also.Good luck

[Jolius in reply to Hidden]

Hello, thanks for advice. I will keep fighting!!

👊👊🙏

[Jolius]

Hello, I just want to update you guys and also I need advice. I Passed medical test for seafarers and as doctor said I will be able to join merchant navy (as engine cadet) in january (I didnt hide anything I told about my symptoms and shoved them my pulmonologist findings and tests). I am still a bit scared to be honest but I am planing to get peak flow meter with me on ship so I can measure my lung function. My question is is there any kind of mask for face that I can buy to protect myself from oil vapours? What is optimal peak flow results?

[twinkly29 in reply to Jolius]

I don't know about masks but peak flow is personal to you. So whatever is your best is your best. This post explains pretty much everything....

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

But......well done for passing!

[Jolius in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks!!

🙂

[Jolius]

Hello people, I got one question about peak flow meter. I started tracking it 2 days ago and I noticed when I feel chest tightness (no wheezing,no coughing) my peak flow stays basicly the same (560-590) even after taking the medicine but symptoms goes away?

I saw that peak flow meter doesnt show when you have an attack if I understand it correctly?

How is that possible to have an attack but your lungs are clear and fine and you stay in green zone on peak flow meter?