Asthma help

Hi

I had coronavirus mid October and subsequently had issues with my asthma - tight chest, breathlessness, a weird ruttle / flutter when I breathe. I've had my medication changed to 1 x fostair 100 in the morning and montelukast in the evening to clear the cough/mucus. My peak flow is still around 350 - 370. 370 is the odd day at best. I still feel as if my chest isn't clear when I breathe and one side of my throat is dry...I just wondered if you could offer any advice or when I could expect to see my peak flow coming up and the ruttle in my chest clear. Thanks

[twinkly29]

What was your best peak flow before?It may be that your issues are more post-covid issues than your asthma. They may not be too but breathlessness, tight chest etc after covid doesn't necessarily mean it's your asthma. It might be useful to speak to the Asthma UK nurses - particularly with their post covid hub.

AUK helpline - 0300 2225800 M-F 9-5

AUK WhatsApp - 07378 606728.

Post COVID hub - 0300 2225942

Also do you not take your Fostair twice a day? It doesn't last 24 hours so taking it once a day probably wouldn't be that helpful. It would require about 8 weeks to kick in properly too so depends when you were put on it.

[Hidden in reply to twinkly29]

Hi

I could get 450 on my peak flow. I'm going to reintroduce some more exercise (cardio based) next week to try and help things along. I was put on fostair mid November and montelukast mid December. I was told to replace fostair in the evening with montelukast. Its just the dryness and weird ruttle/flutter in my chest its driving me crackers. I'm making sure I get plenty of fluids and honey and hot water to try and ease it. Thank you for the speedy response

[twinkly29 in reply to Hidden]

I would definitely query the Fostair montelukast thing. It should be an add-on not a replacement. Fostair, like most preventer inhalers, only last 12 hours so should be taken twice a day - if you've seen some improvement it may be having a proper 2x daily dose would actually make more of a difference. Maybe phone the Asthma UK nurses to discuss that with them - they're good for helping to then get things back to our own nurses or GPs.

Other than that, it may just be time (which I know is rubbish - my own asthma requires much time to recover after each exacerbation and it's so frustrating). You sound like you're doing all kinds of sensible things anyway.

This website (respiratory physio recommended) is good for breathing exercises which might help some of the breathlessness. It's free to join and it remembers where you got to the next time you log in:

lifeguidehealth.org/player/...

[Hidden in reply to twinkly29]

Amazing! Thank you for all the information and help. I've never really had a flair up to be honest so its all new to me. I've got to have a follow up with the asthma nurse so can query fostair/ montelukast. I have dropped Asthma Uk a message on WhatsApp. Overall I feel like I'm doing better - I have less bad days. I've not gone back to work as yet as I work in education and don't fancy round 2 with covid when round 1 isn't fully gone! I'll have a look at the website and try some of the breathing exercises