Expecting too much when I’m unfit?

[LeiLey]

Hi hope everyone is ok, happy New Year!

I have been on Fostair 100/6 x 2 puffs twice a day for around 3 weeks. Ventolin as my reliever as required. Overall I thought I was doing a bit better, apart from a saga with a smoking oven over Christmas and a cough on a night but nothing too bad.

I’ve started working in a new hospital and have learned though out the day we have to walk up and down frequently anywhere between 1 and 6 flights of stairs! My other job was only one flight rarely but since been bad these last few months - even that got me so short of breath. Anyway did almost 2 flights today very slowly and still had to stop for ages to catch my breath, was still breathless and tight chested 15 mins later!

I’m wondering how much of this is due to me being unfit and overweight and/or my possible asthma, and whether the reliever will actually help in this situation (left it in my bag today).

Or do I try and push myself to get fitter as that seemed to be suggested to me by my new colleagues? And the stairs will get easier the more I do it? Finished work two hours ago and still feel worn out! Must lose weight!

I do appreciate all the advice so far, but I do realise I’m not too bad in the grand scheme of things, LeiLey x

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I find a lot of people will make comments about lack of fitness when they don't understand asthma - and that includes medical professionals! I've been told I am just unfit without even being asked how I normally am, if inhaler helps and whether this is unusual - so I think you can't necessarily judge based on colleagues' comments, even if they are healthcare professionals.

Obviously it's good to increase fitness, even with asthma, where you can. If you're bad for a while and it's difficult you will also lose fitness. I got very deconditioned after shielding in spring despite trying to walk a bit outside anyway. I could tell it was different from asthma though (despite being told I can't tell the difference, I can) and built it back up once I was getting out more.

I find I can tell that it isn't just me being unfit because it varies a lot. Eg a couple of weeks ago I was fine doing brisk walking, then I missed a dose of Phyllocontin and a couple of days later was struggling, then was back to being ok. That wasn't me being unfit, it was far too abrupt! I also can find that these days exercise doesn't make me short of breath unless another trigger is present or I was already struggling (today for some reason it was clearly harder than usual and I blame asthma/weather because it was fine yesterday and again no one gets unfit that easily).

Maybe try the reliever inhaler and see what happens when you get like that? Being fit is great but it is harder when you have poor asthma control! I used to get so frustrated with advice that said make sure your asthma is under control first. I wanted to exercise more but it wasn't very helpful when all the advice assumed you could get control first. I feel there's also a bit too much guilt tripping about it sometimes - again yes exercise is great and is possible with asthma but sometimes is a lot harder, and Olympic athletes with asthma probably have a lot of expert advisors and aren't uncontrolled when they compete!

This link may be helpful: asthma.org.uk/advice/living...

And this post: healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

And this for anyone severe: asthma.org.uk/advice/severe...

[LeiLey in reply to Lysistrata]

Aww thank you for your detailed reply! Yes I do think a lot of people assume that you’re unfit don’t they without asking which is annoying! I know I’m overweight which doesn’t help, but I definitely feel as something else eg asthma/long covid etc is going on. Maybe on the days I am struggling, I should say I will meet you there and try and go even slower up stairs and tell them about trying to get control of my suspected asthma. I am hoping it will get easier, as I think I’m going to love the job! I’ve not got energy to do anything else the rest of this evening, still feeling puffed just sitting.. so nice chill out with a hot choc I think. Yes I will try the inhaler next time. I will have a read through those links you posted as well, thank you very much. Hope you’re keeping well and medication is helping your asthma x

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to LeiLey]

Glad you're enjoying the new job! What do you do?

My asthma is a bit annoying generally but not too bad at the moment as I'm not out and about much due to lockdown - fewer triggers! I do go for walks but it seems cold air has moved down as a trigger compared to when I was younger - heat and humidity are worse now.

Definitely give the inhaler a go and see if it helps. I think sometimes asthma issues from exercise can crop up afterwards as well. Enjoy the hot choc too 🙂

[Wheezycat in reply to LeiLey]

I recognise that feeling of exhaustion! No, that is not unfit,mitmis something else. If unfit I believe you would recover much faster. Do test if Ventolin/salbutamol helps. See it as an experiment. And next time someone says you are just unfit you have more info to add.

[LeiLey in reply to Lysistrata]

Also, that’s good that you can tell the difference, you know your asthma enough now if you’ve had it a while? Hopefully I will have a better understanding of it too, advice on here is great though x

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to LeiLey]

I wouldn't say I'm always right, but yes I do think I've learned a lot. It's hard to explain but asthma has a certain feel I have learned (sorry not helpful!) Vs being unfit or breathing badly because my nose is stuffy (a pain the last few winters) and does respond generally to medication.

This is kind of round 2 for me. I had childhood mild asthma that was normal and well-behaved, but then I got swine flu in 2009 and it triggered some weird unicorn mutant asthma which does not behave! It's definitely been a steep learning curve, and I don't think drs etc really appreciate how much we do learn and pick up, even if we don't know everything. I find they tend not to consider context and it is good to learn about yourself - but this site was very helpful to me at the start when I was learning.

[LeiLey in reply to Lysistrata]

Oh wow it’s come back with a vengeance after swine flu bless you! I bet that was awful having that, so hard for you.. Love your description though - unicorn mutant asthma! Yes I bet you know more than doctors think you do about your symptoms so that will be frustrating if they don’t listen at times! Definitely good advice you’ve given there to learn about yourself/asthma as well!

I will enjoy my hot choc thank you 👍

I

I work as a physio/occ health therapy assistant in a hospital, so helping patients with their mobility, any home equipment and trying to get them ready to go home with help if required x

[twinkly29]

Agree with Lysistrata.Advice to try your ventolin when you feel like that is good too - if it doesn't help after the 15 mins maybe it's something else (alone or in combination with the asthma) but I wouldn't be surprised if it does help.

[LeiLey in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks also twinkly, I will certainly try the inhaler next time. Might try two puffs now actually as still feeling puffed after today’s shift! Hopefully it will be easier in a few weeks thank you x

[mylungshateme]

The fitness thing I think we've all been there especially unicorns as you don't tick all boxes for asthma. So end up questioning everything like am I just unfit? But then just a walk or shower is exhausting let alone a workout so harder to lose weight, and because of the steroids OMG vicious circle!

Like already said you do start to learn the difference and like you said here is amazing for guidance and confidence to trust and believe in yourself! The fitness thing is as helpful as "is it anxiety" I was finding it hard up an down stairs an up an down wards I'd be puffed out before got to next patient - not ideal 😂🤣 x

[LeiLey in reply to mylungshateme]

You sound like me, feeling v puffed out before seeing the next patient! I’m a therapy assistant, it’s great but quite intense at times when you don’t feel so good yourself 😆Gosh did you all wonder if you’re unfit as well at first lol? You’re right I will take guidance/help from here but also trust what I’m feeling etc thank you!

[LeiLey in reply to LeiLey]

And definitely a vicious circle x

[mylungshateme in reply to LeiLey]

Well I certainly put it down to fitness for about 18 months which is silly as I was actually really quite fit then, and small in size but because the symptoms and triggers changed and not "typical" or I wasn't bad like my patients I thought it's ok carry on (I'm also an (ostrich) but actually some days I was as bad as them even the day i finally went to a+e from work i couldn't talk in a full sentence, Could barely stand let alone walk but thought I was fine until eventually people on here got through to me drove myself to a+e and was admitted for 5 days! I learnt lots of lessons the hard way!!! But am beginning to trust my intuition as my knowledge and confidence is growing. X

[LeiLey in reply to mylungshateme]

Ohh gosh that must have been really hard, so pleased you eventually went to a & e and got treated! Bless you having to stay in as well. I know what you mean about learning the hard way, maybe it’s because we work in the nhs so think we can’t be poorly ourselves! I’m pleased your confidence is growing with your symptoms and asthma now x

[mylungshateme in reply to LeiLey]

Yes apparently were the worst for taking our own advice and the worst patients! It wasn't too bad 1 of my friends was on shift once moved to ward, the hca was my old neighbour, and night nurse was my colleague! Was quite strange being in that scenario! Every time the buzzers went I felt I should be answering them 🤦‍♀️ but at least I could be in charge of my own meds an nebs etc and made D/C easier knowing what to check through with pharmacy. But I still felt vulnerable as a patient. X

[LeiLey in reply to mylungshateme]

Definitely heard we are the worst patients! Oh wow you knew everyone when you were in lol! Totally understand about you wanting to answer buzzers and even the phones when they ringing non stop no doubt 😆Hope you don’t have to be on the other side again x

[Wheezycat]

So much of what has been said above by various people I can resonate with! I, too, have blamed struggles on my own unfitness and felt ashamed I was so unfit. I struggled walking up any hill, and went to the gym (which is not a natural habitat for me) set the treadmill on steepest setting and walked to improve things. Of course it didn’t help. I did not ask for help in the right way so no medic recognised it either. Eventually I got really properly unwell and ended up spending four days in hospital, again not something that is normal for me. But I have learned loads, not least that I am prone to downplay my own issues, and either ignore or self blame, assuming I am making a fuss over nothing, am a whimp or that it will go away if I ignore it. As for the getting breathless when walking - I have now learned the difference between unfit and asthma, as I can now clearly feel when my midriff muscles start overworking to keep breathing going. Etc. Of course more fitness helps, but is less easy to attend to if struggling anyway. Going out for walks in winter, well, I have sort of cracked it for now. I dress up so well, I look like an Egyptian mummy with only my eyes showing. I start my walk by reminding myself to walk approx half the speed that I would naturally set off at. I take Ventolin before leaving the house. And it all works! Unlike last year I can and do enjoy walks outside! And I often then walk for well over an hour, although I don’t get far as it is so slow. I also have a repertoire of Joe Wicks and Jerusalema dance to add to the mix, indoors, when I feel the need to up my game further. So, LeiLey, trust your own judgement! Or try to. And talk to people who understand, like on here.

[LeiLey in reply to Wheezycat]

Thank you for you reply. Yes I think it’s right what everyone has said, and like you said I believe I would have recovered quicker and not felt as exhausted/puffed for as long if it was down to being unfit. I certainly didn’t run up stairs in the past but I didn’t struggle like that! I feel better today :)Bless you that’s exactly how I felt, ashamed of being so unfit, and feeling like I’m going to be seen as making a fuss! Sorry you ended up so poorly though, glad you are doing better now and realise it was your asthma, doing things that helps it now.

I’m pleased you can go on your walks now (dressed up like a mummy 😆)! Well done an hour is good. That’s a good idea, trying to do different exercises like joe wicks, I don’t know what Jerusalema is though loI (will have a Google)!

Yes this site is great for advice, I also might phone my asthma nurse as she said to ring her if I have any questions after starting in the new inhaler, although she is phoning to check in 2 weeks. I will try the ventolin a bit more for such as yesterday and also for before I go for a walk etc,

Thank you 😊

[AirIsUnderrated]

Hi!

You’ve got some great advice here. One thing that jumped out at me though was the hot chocolate. I’m not suggesting that might be a problem for you but for me that would be a trigger. I get on better with green tea (thins mucus - yay!) during the day and ginger tea in the evenings. Anything milky and I’m all gunged up and coughing gluey stuff that won’t shift. And that’s exhausting. Just a thought. 😀

Hope you get on top of this. 🤞🏻

[LeiLey in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

Hi thank you for the reply, oh wow never thought of that, it’s worth me thinking about. I don’t always have hot chocolate but often have hot milk on a night (supposedly to help me sleep lol). That’s interesting, and good that you’ve found out milky things are a trigger for you so you can avoid it. There’s a lot to learn isn’t there! I don’t like green tea or normal tea for example, but I drink far too much coffee as well. Might try the hot flavoured tea as a nice drink just to experiment,Hope you’re ok thank you x

[goldieoldie]

IM on fostair too but have long been retired,,,,I persoally think its the extra weight ,but you seem to be doing very well.....😇

[LeiLey in reply to goldieoldie]

Thank you for your reply, how are you finding Fostair? I’ve only been on it 3 weeks up to now so quite new.Yes I can understand you thinking it’s the extra weight - certainly doesn’t help does it 😆 something I am definitely going to lose this year!!

I unfortunately have been this weight for a while but struggled a lot more with shortness of breath /stairs a lot more last year since having Covid in May. But also I think I maybe haven’t been as active as usual due to weight/unwell etc, it’s a vicious circle isn’t it! I really need to get motivated to lose weight though definitely, take care LeiLey x

[goldieoldie in reply to LeiLey]

Having Covid must have been terrifying for you do you mind telling me how you are now as opposed to before,you work in a hospital environment,I think---I have been on forstair for at least 9months ,times passing so quickly--I also have ventolin--my worry is that my peak flow always at the lowest been like that for at least 1year--Im not aware if Im breathless ,though I do get quite agitated -regarding tightness in diapraghm...and have stairs to climb if I go to shops.

[LeiLey in reply to goldieoldie]

Oh bless you, the asthma uk nurses can give you advice on your peak flow as I’m not really that clued up on that yet, but I’ve heard if it’s low, your asthma might be playing up.Yes I work in a hospital - where I caught covid from I’m assuming as we were caring for patients who had it. Luckily I didn’t have it as bad as some people but the breathlessness and fatigue were the worst parts. Lost my taste and smell completely for two weeks, very strange. I went back to work too soon and was subsequently off sick a few more times.

Before this, I wouldn’t say I was fit but I didn’t get out of breath as much. I suffered from hay fever which also made my chest a bit tight. Over the years I had episodes where if I walked fast or exerted myself I would feel tight/pain in my chest (not v bad) so maybe something mild going on with breathing/? very mild asthma but never really did anything about it as it wasn’t all the time and not too bad.

So this time around, months after I had covid, the shortness of breath was still there especially wearing the masks at work so I took myself to the GP. He thinks it’s asthma (and that it was mildly underlying before Covid) but also said might be due to long covid which nobody really knows much about x

[goldieoldie in reply to LeiLey]

thanks LeiLey,Imanage my peakflow ,I meant to say my PFlow moves to about 200-if your not familiar with it ,its a guideline first thing in the morning to take the fostair -I need to go and cocentrate on Countdown,one of my favourite day programmes---have you thought about a diet chart i think theres one on here?I must avoid putting on extra weight ,as most times im sitting lol and it doesnt help circulation.

[LeiLey in reply to goldieoldie]

Ah right I understand, that sounds good about a diet chart, I think I would be more motivated if I wrote it down in a diary. I did that years ago and it helped, thank you x

[LeiLey in reply to LeiLey]

Enjoy countdown! 😊