In a word...help

[gasman27]

Hello All

I hope this finds you as well as can be.

I am looking for advice from anyone who is/has been in the same situation as me.

I have had this 'orrible illness for over 20+ years, and it has now got worse.

I am not sleeping at night and struggle to get my breath, I had a session with my asthma nurse yesterday and she has given me Fostair as my asthma is clearly not controlled.

Oh my peak flow is up and down like a see saw!

She says is going to be trial and error until we find one that works for me.

My question to you all, does anyone know of a way of getting a good nights sleep?

I am also a full time carer for my bedbound wife so getting any rest is difficult!

Thank you in advance

Keep safe

Andy

[twinkly29]

This isn't going to be overly helpful but the answer will be to get your asthma under control. Obviously you're trying to do this so that's the first step!

Your nurse is right it could be trial and error to find the meds that are the key for you - the important thing will be to trial meds properly. A lot of people (actually I hope it's not a lot but it seems so to me!) get a side effect or decide it's not working and give up quickly, but steroid inhalers like Fostair take about 8 weeks (average) to become fully effective so that time needs to be given to see if it's good for you. In that time, not only should you gradually feel better, your peak flow should become less like a see-saw, your best score might actually increase and any side effects should diminish or disappear. Of course do talk to your nurse along the way if you have any concerns or things are worse. It is common for things to feel worse initially as the body is taking on board the new drugs but they won't be helping hugely so it's not the inhaler making someone worse but the body not yet getting the meds, if that makes sense. So having to use reliever inhalers (and sometimes a short course of oral steroids) is common with new medication. Depending what you were on before, it's possible things will become effective more quickly though (ie if you were on Clenil before, then I think that's the same steroid base as is in Fostair so you're not starting again).

I hope this is the inhaler for you because that would be easier and quicker for your improvement... but there are plenty of options if it's not!

[gasman27 in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you for your reply, that is very good of you.I have been told very little about the treatment and go back to the nurse in 3 weeks.

I am also awaiting a hospital appointment to see the asthma clinic

So keep taking the tablets !!

Thanks again

[twinkly29 in reply to gasman27]

Ah I see. That might be for lung function tests and so on or maybe a consultant - but I guess you'll find out when you get there! Hope it's not too long a wait and good to be in the system so to speak.

In the meantime, these background posts might be useful. Apologies if it's stuff you know already!

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk... (asthma info)

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk... (inhalers)

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk... (peak flow)

[gasman27 in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you that is brilliant!! I have had a quick glance but will read it in depth asapYour a star Thanks again

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

It could be that you need a short course of prednisolone to get on top of things properly and then the new inhaler has a chance to kick in quicker.

The other thing is to sleep elevated/on a slope. But it really does sound like you need something more than just a change in preventer to get out of this acute flare.

Remember if your PF is below 50% after taking vent in the prior 4hrs you need more urgent help

Hope you feel better soon

[gasman27 in reply to EmmaF91]

Hi Emma,Thank you for your message.

I have had a course of prednisolone and amoxicillin 2 weeks ago, and I am also on Carbocisteine as well as the new inhaler.

I am trying your suggestion of raising my head up and its a little better.

i go back to the nurse in 3 weeks, and I am also awaiting a hospital appointment to see the asthma clinic

Thanks again

Take care

[Oscarmartin]

Hi,

This may not be news to you but i wanted to mention it just incase you weren’t aware.

I used to suffer from very similar symptoms as you mention above - struggling to sleep and catching my breath, it’s exhausting.

But recently I have been following breathing techniques and advise from ‘Patrick Mckeown’. A book I highly recommend you buying is ‘close to your mouth’.

It discusses and highlights all the benefits of breathing through your nose and how this can significantly reduce and minimise symptoms of asthma. I myself have been following this for about 3 weeks now and seen a drastic change in my breathing/sleeping and asthma in general.

I can’t stress enough how useful this has been for me, so I wanted to share this just in case you weren’t aware of his work.

Somewhere I’d recommend starting to get a high level understanding of his work is a podcast by ‘Ben Coombers radio’ episode 599 ‘less oxygen is better’. If you can’t find this Patrick has a tonne of content on YouTube.

I hope this helps.

[gasman27 in reply to Oscarmartin]

Thank you that is great! I will certainly have a lookThanks again

Take care