Newly diagnosed and struggling with symptoms

[EmAl95]

I was diagnosed with asthma during lockdown and have never had a face to face appointment or been assessed. Since being diagnosed, I haven't yet found a treatment that works and have been prescribed 3 different preventer inhalers.

In the last fortnight, I have felt like breathing is exhausting and like I can't take a deep enough breath and am yawning a lot trying to get air in. I also have a feeling in my chest like I have to cough to get rid of it, but this doesn't work. I'm not wheezing when I breathe or cough but because of the feeling that I can't get enough air in, I have been taking my reliever inhaler a lot which doesn't seem to be making any difference.

I've booked an appointment with my asthma nurse but the soonest is Jan 4th, has anyone got any advice for managing my symptoms until my appointment?

[Jolius]

Hello, I am not a doctor but I can give you advice based on my experience.

I also have asthma and as you described similar sympthoms as you (chest tightness/strugle to take deep breath ; no wheezing no coughing). I have been using Fostair which is preventer inhaler and also I use it when I feel symptoms. My advice to you is that you take your preventer inhaler as described in instructions if you cant get anyone proffesional to advise you. Alos monitoring my peak flow helped me alot to get better with my anxiety.

This is just an advice based on my experience, here are people that are proffesionals and will advise you better.

I wish you all the best

✌️

[EmAl95 in reply to Jolius]

Hello, thank you for your advice! I was prescribed fostair as a preventer and then told to use use it as a reliever as well, but that wasn't having any more of an impact than using my blue reliever so the doctor then prescribed seretide as a preventer but I still haven't noticed any improvement. Mainly I'm finding it so exhausting, thankfully I'm working from home so I can sit on the sofa with a hot water bottle on my chest 😂

[Jolius in reply to EmAl95]

I understand you completely. I am using Fostair for almost 1.5y now and also I dont feel any big improvement since I cant imagine a day without it.

But after all dignose I have been through my asthma is classifed as mild asthma triggered by alergens(Also numerous visits to emergency center when I feelt that I was going to "die" resulted with normal lung function and was described as panic attack... but my reliver helped me so it is a bit confusing to me to be honest).

If you find any better with seretide send me a message please or comm here.

🙂

[Poppins23 in reply to Jolius]

I could never get on with fostair. Seretide was much more effective for me. Now on symbicort which for 18 months was brilliant but finding it much less effective recently.

[twinkly29]

Hi, it can take a bit of trial and error to find the best inhaler/treatment, which can be a bit frustrating. Inhalers like Fostair can take up to 8 weeks to become fully effective and of course ten changing inhalers restarts that process so it can feel like it's never ending. Sometimes inhalers are felt not to be working and are changed but haven't been given sufficient time to work properly.

Monitoring your peak flow regularly (twice a day usually before meds) is a good way to see if things are improving (ie if a new medication is helping) and if things are rocky doing it before using a relief inhaler (and repeating it 15 mins afterwards) can help to show if that medication is helping symptoms or not.

Not being seen in person isn't necessarily an issue as much of diagnosis via through symptoms and things like peak flow and response to medications (or lack of response). The tests they would usually do can be variable in asthma anyway. But for this reason, symptoms and peak flow are an important part of monitoring and sorting out treatments.

Other conditions can mimic asthma in terms of symptoms but don't respond to medications in the same way asthma does, and indeed peak flow changes would be different - also another reason why monitoring peak flow and symptom changes is important. This post explains some of the differences between asthma and the asthma mimics - and often people have a combination of issues, particularly at times of flare ups or like where you are now, when it's been rocky for a while. So it might be worth a read as it's possible that your meds have helped but maybe there's some breathing pattern issues as well because of how long it's been difficult for, for example.

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

[Bullsfan52]

Hi Do hope you get some answers on the 4th JAn. Good luck in that! Ive been struggling since November 17th when i had a dose of shingles and havent been right since, my chest tightened,im usually well controlled, prescribed anti biotics , yes all over the phone, no improvement, then prescribed presdilolone, no improvement, now surviving on seretide and the blue inhaler till i get a call from asthma nurse on the 14th, To be honest its a disgrace that we are put to one side and all dealt with over the phone......My partner has terminal cancer and i dont know if thats effecting me, all the worry and stress, but i feel as if im left to " just deal with it".......However good luck to you on the 4th......

[Dizzart]

I know it’s worrying as I’m in a similar position but I have found this site and “very well health uk “ absolutely marvellous as I have learned so much . The main thing I found is to sit down and write a short list of say 6 to 8 simple questions and also do be afraid to ask for what you think you need ie Montelukast has been great for me but only half a day . Treat it like an exam , as don’t forget while they neglect people like us they are overburdening the national health as we are cheaper safe at home . I’m an oldie at 69 so much to my amazement the smartphone is now my lifesaver 👍🏻👍🏻Take care and look up all the hints and tips you can

[Dizzart]

I eventually found I also need antihistamines and later asked for strong fexofenadine from the docs as I was only told to use an inhaler like you. On very well health uk you can also see in-depth reports and videos etc on how to inhale correctly as I was never shown how to . Take care , do your own research and become your own best doctor 😊