Asthma ruining my life

[Lee_vee11]

I am afraid to play sports due to worrying about dying of asthma attack. I take regular meds fostair, montelukast… peak flow is 800 but when I play sports during summer months my breathing is worse. I get breathless doing light exercise I normally run 10k in under 45mins can’t run no more due to pollen months

[MELNEL]

Hiya Lee, have you spoken to your GP or your asthma nurse? It's always good to let them know how you feel, it's important. Do you take anything for the Hay fever? I see you taking Montelukast, but it also helps when taking some antihistamines for hay fever, just try some, when speaking to pharmacy, they help you too. 😃

Sure it can be very scary to get an asthma attack, we all afraid of it. But unfortunately we do have to live with it. I had no asthma attack over 2years. I wish I could do your excersise, I can't even run anymore, I would be greatful if I could go for 20min. But I can't. So you are not alone. Just don't give up, don't think on having or getting an attack. Take it easy and take your time but don't push yourself to hard.

Best wishes and hope you will getting better again, maybe antihistamines will help better with the Hay fever. 😉😁🍀🍀🍀

[Lee_vee11 in reply to MELNEL]

Thanks for the reply, I have had asthmaTests and they all came back fine that’s why the doctor is baffled. I’m currently on fostair and montelukast but still i cant play football to being short of breath. Chest very tight. Had chest x Ray and had all clear? What next?

[MELNEL in reply to Lee_vee11]

Don't give up. I know it must be hard not to play football anymore, but it's nothing you can do at this time when the doctor don't find the reason for it. The are so many different types of asthma you could have. It will take time. And still do your excersise the best you can to stay fit.

Sorry I know it's not much, but you are not alone. You take care and best wishes that you getting better again. 👍🍀🍀🍀

[kdr112]

Hi Lee!

I first have to ask if you have had a pulmonary function test to diagnose your asthma? Have you been checked for eosinophilic asthma?

Don’t give up in getting better control. There are lots of meds out there. I was almost bed ridden for 2 years before I received proper treatment. I am now up and going every day. Of course I know my triggers and try my best to avoid them but always take my medicine as prescribed.

Please check with your doctor and see is he/she might adjust your meds or do further testing.

Don’t give up!

[twinkly29]

As I mentioned on your other posts, your symptoms may not be your asthma. People assume all breathing symptoms are asthma related and very often they're not, whether one has asthma or not.

Breathing pattern disorders and anxiety both present in a similar way to asthma but, because they have a more mechanical cause and are not actual inflammation, they do not respond to asthma treatments so no matter how much escalation of medication happens, it wouldn't improve. Tests for asthma would also be normal too and peak flows good. Additionally, something might not start out as, for example, anxiety, but then because it was weird or concerning or whatever, one then becomes anxious about the symptoms so then although maybe the initial thing has actually passed by, anxiety about it has actually taken its place.

This post explains some of the asthma mimics and how they are different to asthma.

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...

Breathing issues with/after covid also fall into the asthma mimic category - they look and feel like asthma and people assume their asthma is worse or they've developed asthma but, most of the time, it's not asthma. Having been there myself, it actually doesn't feel like asthma at all but because everyone thinks "ooh breathing, it's asthma", they go down the wrong path and want asthma meds to control it. If it's not asthma, they won't help.

Breathing exercises work very very well for asthma mimics. Being mechanical in cause, we often need to retrain our bodies to breathe properly. Done regularly the exercises are recommended (by respiratory physios) for reducing the occurrence of symptoms and done when symptomatic (eg if you're running and need to stop because of breathing symptoms) they mean the symptoms go away. Over time they should work more quickly too although, as with anything, they will need a bit of practise so you feel comfortable doing them when required.

It might be worth asking your GP if you can be referred to a respiratory physiotherapist.

This site from the British Lung Foundation (blf.org.uk/support-for-you/... ) has some information and exercises on it. I think Poobah has a link with more information. (Apologies Poobah if I've misremembered that!)

[Poobah in reply to twinkly29]

Twinkly, do you mean this link for sports respiratory physiotherapy? iseh.co.uk/patients/clinica... pattern disorders should be ruled out, but if it's wholly pollen related here's advice from Allergy UK treated.com/allergies/how-t...

How much help a patient gets from their GP practice can fluctuate, but it's the place to start in order for a referral to specialist services, be it physiotherapy or an allergy clinic.

[twinkly29 in reply to Poobah]

Yes the sports physio one I was thinking of - thank you! I was also conscious of some GPs being less open or willing to do do things, especially with physios maybe being in demand after covid - but it's definitely a good place to start and if someone is willing to consider the possibility of non-asthma issues then there is plenty of (sensible) stuff online (by sensible I mean linked to hospital trusts, sports physio, BLF etc) that people could try in the meantime.

[Poobah in reply to twinkly29]

I must admit that I've used private physiotherapy when waitlists are long and found the money well spent, especially if pain is making life miserable. I've seen a respiratory physiotherapist on the NHS for breathing exercises and techniques. That referral was provided by my consultant and definitely a great help. Sports physiotherapy is definitely more likely to be available in the private sector and worth using if one values their sporting interests.

The same probably goes for specialist allergy services that may be restricted to severe cases. Looking at our local hospital, the wait time is 14 weeks from GP referral to appointment. And then the clinic would need to specialise in aero-allergen allergy. But desensitisation therapy looks to be reserved for patients who are at risk of anaphylaxis. All NHS Trusts now list enough information on their websites in order to decide whether to pursue available services via one's own GP or to seek private treatment and advice.

[twinkly29 in reply to Poobah]

Yes I agree there probably will be long waits. People not on antihistamines or not sure if allergy plays a part need to be properly trialling off the shelf antihistamines (and other things like nasal sprays) really - with the guidance of a GP or pharmacist if they wish as not only is trial and error how many things are discovered, the treatment would be off-the-shelf for allergy initially anyway.

Of course further down the line investigations are useful and yes there's likely to be a wait for that.

Years ago, my sister saw a sports physio for a shoulder injury (caused some years prior to that falling down the stairs!) and they were fantastic. I always thought oh private, they'll fleece you but I was well and truly proved wrong - the therapist said she could probably do with a second session but it would be "ok" without - but after that she was sorted and no "oh you need a whole course" etc. So if people are able to then seeking private help is always an option if they want to.

I think the NHS could do with many more respiratory physios actually - for asthma and other respiratory conditions it would be a useful resource for everyone and for anyone post covid with breathing issues it should be a huge part of their management. But I expect they're like hens' teeth!

[Tugun]

Fostair has a long-acting bronchodilator as one of its two main ingredients. When there is an acute asthma attack, a short-acting or "reliever" medication such as Ventolin is required. Has the doctor given you a reliever medication?

From your post, I'm assuming that this is fairly recent. (You haven't had this problem for most of your life). If that is the case and you have suddenly become more sensitive to pollen, then you need to look at any changes in your life - a move, different environment, change in diet, working too many hours etc. You may need to look into ways to improve you immune system.

[Lee_vee11]

Thanks for the comments guys. I’m just confused as my peak flow is 800 but I feel short of breath and am afraid to exercise strenuously. I take fedofexidine for my allergy. I’ve had a allergy test and it came back that I’m highly allergic to grass and tree pollen.

[twinkly29 in reply to Lee_vee11]

Peak flow remaining really good and asthma medications not helping is a key indicator that the symptoms are caused by something that is not asthma.

[twinkly29 in reply to Lee_vee11]

This gives more information about anxiety causing similar issues to asthma - healthline.com/health/asthm...