Asthma Attack recovery

[Flamingo17]

Hey Everyone,

Currently in recovery from quite a bad asthma attack last week. Developed an awful cough after it and really struggling to sleep. Anyone got any tips with dealing with both of them please?

Thanks in advance

[twinkly29]

It sounds like the flare has not settled - does your GP know? Are you on prednisolone? If not then you probably need to call them.

[Flamingo17 in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks for replying, yeh on prednisone on 2nd week of 3 weeks dosage. Gp has been great

[Darceydoo in reply to Flamingo17]

What mg are you on?

[twinkly29 in reply to Flamingo17]

Ah that's good that it's in hand with a decent run at pred. It may just be that more time is needed but do contact them again if needed.

The not sleeping could well be to do with the pred unfortunately - and it's a right pain but kind of just has to be put up with. Sorry that's not very helpful is it?! 😂

[Flamingo17 in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks so much, its the coughing at night just do not know how to control it and stop keeping the whole house up!!

[twinkly29 in reply to Flamingo17]

Are you using ventolin? If so, take peak flow first, do a couple of puffs of vent (taken separately, ideally through a spacer) then redo pf 15 mins later. It most likely is your asthma given the situation but that will help to prove the ventbis helping. And if after that you need to do 2 more puffs that's fine. But if you're still needing a lot of vent or it's not helping contact GP. Are you on antihamines? That might be worth a go if not in case grass pollen has also joined in. It's gone really high since last Weds so may be making things worse for you.

[Flamingo17 in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you x

[twinkly29 in reply to Flamingo17]

No probs - coughing is a nightmare!

[Flamingo17 in reply to twinkly29]

Just spoke to one of the asthma nurses on the helpline and she was really helpful

[nmcv13]

Are you on montelukast? I had this a while ago and was started on montelukast which helped a lot. Ventolin definitely helps when I do still cough at night. Presume you have had a COVID test? Hope you feel better very soon.

[Flamingo17]

No i am not on montelukast but think i will mention it to my gp. Yeh all covid free. Thanks so much

[hilary39]

It can take weeks to recover from an attack. Take it easy on yourself and be gentle with yourself. Your lungs and throat are probably very irritated and it will take time for them to settle down. Drink some hot tea with honey before bed and maybe try magnesium, it's a powerful anti-inflammatory. You'll feel better soon but it's always so awful during and right after a bad attack.

[Annnor]

Hi I have been like you and nebulised twice. 3rd dose of steroids. Doc gave me dyamist nasal spray which I use twice a day and it has helped. X

[strongmouse]

If I get a coughing fit in bed, I first sit up and make sure that I have cleared any phelgm away a- the ventolin is good with asthma for opening up the airways. But if I seem to have got into a coughing fit, which isn't producing any thinything then I knw that I need to calm it down. Honey and lemo can definitely help, but also I find rubbing my chest slowly to give it the physical message to calm down. It helps me feel less anxious too, you will find if it helps as you will start coughing less. Only once is has settled lie down again. Obiously if you need to clear chest this won't work! Hope you soon feel better xx

[Evesham]

Plenty of rest. Drink Plenty. Have you tried steaming.

[Flamingo17 in reply to Evesham]

Whats steaming sorry xx

[Evesham in reply to Flamingo17]

Either get a mug of hot water or a bowl. Lean over and breathe in the steam. Turkish baths are also helpful.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Evesham]

Just wanted to say here that not everyone can tolerate steam - for some people it can be an asthma trigger. Fine for those who are ok with it (though may be too hot right now!) but please be careful with this kind of home remedy.

[Terry40]

Hi sorry to hear this I hope your feeling better. Ive suffered with asmtha since I was 4. If you start to struggle with your breathing. Blow into a small paper bag. Also try to drink water. And the other thing to do is sit out side and gently breathe in the air.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Terry40]

I appreciate this was meant helpfully, but breathing into a paper bag really isn't recommended for asthma, either acutely or in recovery from an attack, and can actually be dangerous - even if someone is panicking when they have asthma (not that this seems to be something Flamingo is asking about, but more generally). It isn't recommended for panic attacks either anymore.

I would also be careful about sitting outside at the moment as it is quite hot and the pollen is high, both of which can be an asthma trigger for some people. I appreciate it may help you Terry40, but just flagging for others reading as people's triggers can vary quite a lot -sometimes I'm best off inside!

[Terry40 in reply to Lysistrata]

I was in ICU for 4 years with asmtha severe. I do know what works for me if I don't know after 41 years how to deal with asmtha I never will.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Terry40]

You know how to deal with *your* asthma. Other people's may not be the same, including potential triggers as I said.

Having asthma, even if it's severe, doesn't in itself make you an expert in it. Sharing experiences and support can be valuable and that is obviously the point of this forum, but not recommending unsafe practices. As I mentioned above in reply to another post, even apparently harmless home remedies like steam can be problematic for some people with asthma.

And breathing into a paper bag is not currently recommended for anyone with asthma, even if you have used it yourself.

[Flamingo17]

Thanks everyone xx

[Js706]

Sorry but there’s no need on here to be so rude.

Lysistrata was only trying to point out for other readers that breathing into a paper bag isn’t recommended (and can be dangerous) in asthma and that triggers vary so sitting outdoors may not help some people’s asthma even if it helps you (like me, I currently break out in hives and rashes if I sit outside currently due to the pollen, but some of my friends do brilliantly in the summer)

[Terry40 in reply to Js706]

I appreciate that but she or he was being orrgant by saying i was an expert not once did I say that so before you judge see what it said.

[Js706 in reply to Terry40]

I think that they were trying to say generally that having asthma doesn’t make any of us an expert rather than you claiming it specifically.

[Terry40 in reply to Js706]

Well it didn't read that way all I was trying to do was help. Not to be judged or anything. How well time to delete

[Maltesemama]

My Doc gave me cough syrup with Codine. Really helped. I’m sorry you have it, it will go away. Feel better!