Hi everyone and thank you for reading because I'm a bit at a loss. As my post title says, the doctor prescribed Advair, but the pharmacy gave me Wixela Inhub, fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder 250 mcg/ 50 mcg. First of all, is this the same? Anyone here know if these 2 medications are equivalent to each other?
I'm on day 2...I know it's awfully early, but I'm not seeing a difference in fact, my lungs feel a little bit worse. I'm really hoping that this will improve.
Those of you who have read my original post, know that I have had completely controlled asthma for over 30+ years. The doctor and others have all said my new discomforts in my lungs are now stress induced, and I would not disagree. But it doesn't feel like an asthma attack. Just tightness.
I'm at a loss...and of course my mind does wander off and wonder if it's now another lung disease? Or worse, cancer.😔
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Bubblelicious
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Wixela is the same as Advisor, according to Google. Wixela is the generic form, like salbutamol is the generic form and Ventolin (in the UK) is the brand name.
It won't be showing an improvement yet though as it's way too soon.
The problem is that no asthma medication will take away tightness or other symptoms that are caused by anxiety - so whatever they try won't help if it's that. Also changing preventers for asthma should take about 8 weeks to kick in properly so each change is then potentially upsetting your asthma for a few/several weeks each time which could actually be causing more symptoms, then making you think it's not working or is worse or just not improving.
If they think it's stress/amxiety related, which sounds highly likely as you've had a huge amount to deal with over many months and also the asthma meds aren't helping (and things were well controlled before all this), then they need to actually be suggesting what you do to help that, rather than keep giving different medications which won't help if it's not asthma (or in your case your asthma is/was controlled so while you do have asthma, it's not that that's causing the symptoms).
I think I'd ask directly "what you do I do about the anxiety then?"
I know you've got a good ongoing plan for yourself with the meditation etc you do during the week, which is great. But maybe there are things they can add. Think of that side of things as like the maintenance/preventer medication for asthma.
Then you need something for when symptoms (so the tightness or shortness of breath etc) appear. Or if they're there all the time, to do a few times a day initially.
I have used the breathing rectangle on this site (scroll down a bit til you find it) but, a bit like medication, it's probably a personal thing so other techniques might work better for you or you might just prefer another (can't remember what it was now but one a physio suggested I hate so I ignore that one 😆).
The Calm app or Headspace app are good too for general relaxation things.
It's hard things going on for so long, never mind everything that happened that caused it in the first place, as things never seem to improve, which then makes you worry even more, so it becomes self perpetuating. I think you need to kind of pick an inhaler and stick to it (to ensure your asthma is covered) and try and focus on the stress/anxiety side or it's going to just carry on. The doctor might be able to prescribe something for the anxiety but the breathing techniques should help for relief in situ.
Twinkley29, I have had to wait a few days to reply back to your comment because I had to process, and really think it through. I'm absolutely blown away how helpful you've been to me. And you are right about how it won't matter what Asthma medications are thrown at me to try, because it's not asthma related and it's stress related. This has been unchartered territory for me, as my anxiety had never affected my chest, and lungs before. With the on-set of this new situation, I didn't know that my anxiety could cause such disruption.
After your comments, and really processing and paying attention observing my routines, behaviors, I have come to a few conclusions.
1. The 2 new medications, have not improved the situation, because they simply can't, as it is not an asthma attack (as you mentioned). It's tightness in my lungs caused immediately by my anxiety.
2. I know this because: I am not waken up at night by asthma. I actually sleep very well, wake up feeling good, no tightness, until the second my thoughts start to stir, and I get anxiety and BANG, my lungs get that feeling. I made sure to observe that process the last 2 mornings.
3. Therefore, it's literally in my head...and it's anxiety induced. So upon the realization of this, I started to calm down, and I know everything will be ok. I have an appointment on April 21st with a psychiatrist and we will discuss COGNITIVE tools I can use to diffuse this behavior. Easier said than done I'm sure, but I am aware.
4. The Advair was bothering me, and I was too scarred to use last night, and therefore omitted the last dose. This has made no difference this morning, as I may not even need it. I will continue to see how I feel.
5. I have been meditating since March 4th. On several occasions, I have meditated myself out of chest tightness and out of my anxiety, therefore this is helping so well. There are some breathing techniques I use during meditation, but I need to explore the links you sent me so I can fully understand and try them. I do Transcendental Meditation 2 times per day, approximately 30 to 45 minutes per session.
It will be interesting if or how I recover from this and how long it will take, and I believe it will depend on my mind set, and ability to diffuse the anxiety to have a direct impact on my chest tightness and lungs.
I continue to do pottery as a hobby which keeps me very focused on the task at hand and doesn't not bring on any anxiety whatsoever, the yoga hasn't been consistent at all but I do plan on increasing my walking exercise on my breaks at work.
With all this being said, I will keep a watch on the real asthma symptoms and make sure they are addressed as well. Symbicort wasn't doing much for the chest tightness, but now I know why...it's anxiety. But at least, it didn't make me feel worse just gave me jitters after 10 minutes, and this would last about 30 minutes. I can live with that. The Advair I think gave me a worse reaction directly to my lungs. So I stopped it after reading the leaflet provided for side effects.
Again, my heartfelt thanks to you, for taking the time to review my concerns. You have and continue to help me so much.
Firstly, no problem at all - what I said may well not be the whole answer but if any bit helps at all then I'm glad because you've been through enough!
Secondly I'm really glad you're keeping an eye on your asthma too - it was so well controlled before all this it would be really unhelpful for it to be unsettled by all the changes to your meds. I guess with that, pick a preventer inhaler and stick with that for a couple of months and see how things are, ie if no worse or no noticeable asthma symptoms then it's ok. But if it is noticeably worse then ask to go back to the original one maybe? It's likely it was well controlled before because of the original inhaler - although of course see how things go.
With everything else, in a way it is in your head if it's stress/anxiety related - but not in a chosen way. All the things you've mentioned before would be hard enough to deal with individually but you've had a kind of onslaught. I'm glad you've got a plan, or various plans, to manage things. You'll find what works for you and it sounds as if the meditation was a great start to that.
Asthma and axiety can be so very hard to manage. Not in a strategy way as such but so often anxiety is mistaken for asthma (by medics as well as us commoners!) - or else when it is asthma that's causing the issues, the medics dismiss it as anxiety. And then there's the 2 occuring together. Like a heap of noodles needing untangling!
Glad you're feeling more in control of things though - and I'm sure your experiences will also help others too.
I agree with Twinkly. Having had two periods of anxiety and stress in my life at times when events had become overwhelming, either emotionally (bereavement) or responsibility (work & family), I ended up at my GP's not knowing how to ask for help. Fortunately, they twigged and signed me up for counselling and prescribed Amitryptiline. The counselling was so helpful, but I had resisted at first. It helped me unravel the tight concepts that were tying me up in knots. It was such a relief, like breathing out after holding my breath for years.
One tool I used after that was to listen to a Paul McKenna CD (now his stuff is freely available on YouTube) last thing at night, drifting off and what seemed like a couple of minutes, coming too and feeling relaxed and ready to sleep. No idea what he said as I always went under for about 30 minutes...came too then slept.
Some folk find meditation very helpful and my friend who had gruelling cancer treatment used it to cope with that period of her life and still uses it as, she says, the spectre of the cancer returning can be overwhelming at times.
I hope you find what works for you and you're able to tame your anxiety. 🤗
Thank you Poobah!! I am going to take a look at Paul McKenna on Youtube...I am normally doing Meditation before bed and that helps alot! I would love to be on a Anxiety medication, but I'm realy worried about the memory problems.
I was on one 5 years ago, and it took a good year and half to 2 years to improve my memory back, it was awfull. If there was a light anxiety med out there to just deal with anxiety I'd love that, but so far I know nothing that does this, without affecting other areas of our brain. There are natural supplements, but long term, they're not as good.
I have lots to look into now, it's going to be a journey and not a quick fix, but I'm finding with time, understanding, research and replies I have received here between you, Mozza26 and Twinkly29, have been my best sources and I'm so grateful for this platform.
I also agree. I have had controlled asthma for over 50 years and three weeks before the first lockdown I developed a tightness in my chest. This tightness has gone on for over a year, I have changed inhalers several times, had an X-ray and have now been referred to the respiratory clinic at the hospital. All this has been done over the phone as my Dr’s surgery will not allow people in.
After doing a lot of research on the internet I seen so many posts about breathing technique and started to see a link with anxiety and tightness in the chest. I suffer from anxiety under normal circumstances but I think with the pandemic the worry sent it through the roof.
Anyway, I started to notice my breathing and could see that at times I was holding it something I have never realised before. So I started to breathe using the techniques and I’m too scared to say it but for the past week the tightness I had in my chest has finally gone.
I feel exactly what you're saying, were in the same boat, and when it started, it really scared me...so much so, I got a cyst that came out on the side of temple. I thought I had Covid, themn worried it was cancer...your mind just races into all kinds of direction, hence anxiety.
It's been a really crazy year in more ways than one but I feel the worse is behind me. Now, to deal with the anxiety causing all this confusion in my chest, lungs and my mental well being.
Thanks for your contribution, it makes me feel a bit better I'm not the only one out there going through this.
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