So I'm waiting for an ambulance but never been to hospital before - what to expect?

[Glty]

So I've been on 30 mg of pred for a month and the last few days have been bad again. GP suspects a chest infection on top and added antibiotics but it's 3 days later and I'm still needing Ventolin every couple of hours. I've called 111 and they are sending an ambulance, but I've never been hospitalised with my asthma and don't know what to expect. Can anyone give me some reassurance?

[Emzcat41]

Sending you lots of hugs - I’ve not been in hospital yet with it but I hope you are ok lovely xx

[Kitty2823]

Hope you feel better. I have been treated in hospital a,&e for asthma attack before. They will give you nebulizer every 4 hours and prednisolone.

[Kitten-kat23]

Thinking of you. Hope you feel better soon.

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear that. You'll be feeling better soon. Take care. All the best

[QuiltC25K]

Be Courageous and try Alexander technique to help control breathing. I wish you well. I too have not ever had a bad asthma attack so I feel for you. Blessings

[Emzcat41]

How are you gity? X

[Glty]

I got home about 3am and I'm absolutely bone crushingly exhausted. I've spent alot of today asleep.

Unfortunately I had a slight temp so I was on the Covid side of A&E, they weren't really interested with my asthma and breathing difficulties (peak flow about 50% and ventolin lasting only 2 hrs, using 15+ puffs a day for the past 4 days despite being on 30mg pred) as I didn't have any wheeze, chest was clear with good breath sounds and sats 93-95 and I wasn't visibly struggling to breathe 🤷🏻‍♀️, I did have 8 puffs of ventolin in the 6 hours I was there but they weren't concerned.

Instead they were focused on tachycardia, chest pain and temp. Checks for heart issues/blood clots came back ok. X-ray clear. Blood tests showed infection markers still high despite the antibiotics, so I've been given another one to take alongside. The Dr said she expected my asthma to improve back to its normal uncontrolled state once the infection has cleared but to keep taking my ventolin as much as I need. So I'm effectively still in limbo.

I'm going to cross my fingers that I'll start to feel better tomorrow and that I haven't been reinfected, its 10 months since covid set all this off I'm more than a little fed up.

[Idreamedadream]

Hi gityYour experience sounds v similar to mine.i was taken into hosp too, had all thorough checks and concluded it’s my asthma not controlled, still no improvement then saw a doc said Upper respiratory viral infection and asthma...got prescribed fostair inhaler(on clenil before) to take with my ventolin(and on prednisolone steroids altho don’t think they are helping, still have v heavy chest especially lying down, (Woke up at 4am not being able to breathe, wheezing not as bad) now having to sit upright all day again.

It is worrying

Ive not been able to work since I had the asthma attack last week, I just wish I could function as normal.....it’s not like me! I’m usually active and like to keep busy!

[mylungshateme]

Aww lovely just saw this. How are doing now? Tachycardia is classic as we know for long covid, an we seem to pick up viruses much more easily after covid which then sets us right back! Frustrating doesn't even come close does it. Just look after yourself and you know your body and when it's not right. X

[Glty in reply to mylungshateme]

Thanks lovely, I'm tentatively going to say I think I'm improving 🤞🏻 and beginning to feel a bit better. My GP upped my pred to 40 mg on Monday and that really helped to reduce my ventolin which helped the tachycardia (I'm still no where near pre-covid heart rate but baby steps all the same), and by Tuesday the new antibiotics had started to kick in.

Its such a relief to have pred insomnia rather than waking up struggling to breathe 🤣. She's also extended the antibiotics to make sure we leave no chance of it coming back and hopefully, from next week I can start to reduce the pred 🤞🏻.