Tight chest and phlegm

[WheezyElf]

I've been having an excruciatingly tight chest (at times painful), for ages now along with a tight throat and bringing up some clear phlegm. I had stopped taking my prevention inhaler. Could these symptoms be caused by that? I haven't been coughing or wheezing. I'm female and 28 if that makes a difference.

[twinkly29]

Tight chest and phlegm can be caused by many things, not just asthma, but given you'd not been taking your preventer inhaler it's possible it is because of that. Preventer inhalers need to be taken all the time as prescribed because they take about 8 weeks to kick in properly which is a long time when one notices they need them to be working and they haven't been used. If you're not already back using it as prescribed then do that and give it 8 weeks or so and re-evaluate how you feel.

[Poobah]

I agree with Twinkly. You will experience asthma symptoms if you don't take your preventer inhaler. Now it will take at least 8 weeks to build up the benefits of the preventer, that's why that it's taken every day, regardless of how well one feels.

Ideally, never adjust your asthma meds without medical supervision unless you're following an asthma plan provided by your asthma practitioner. If you're taking your reliever inhaler more than 3 times a week then your asthma is not controlled and normally you would seek advice from your asthma nurse or doctor. Make sure your preventer inhaler is still in date just in case you need to order a new one.

Hope you feel better soon.