Chronic allergic asthma restricting breathing at all times.

[tabbyjade]

Hello everyone, any exercise or activity such as a shower severely impairs my breathing. This has worsened considerably over the past yearI manage this at home by resting between activities and TaiChi breathing. Outside I can walk slowly when accompanied but tend to feel panicky when alone. In a shop I struggle to function normally. Neither blue nor brown inhalers have any effect. Lung x-ray normal, heart valves show slight leakiness. GP puts it down to allergy but doesn’t suggest any treatment. Peak flow below 40. I am allergic to all environmental allergens especially gas, diesel, petrol, smoke and pollen. As I approach my 82nd birthday, I wonder if this will ever improve or just deteriorate further. Thank you for reading.

[Idreamedadream]

Hi tabby jadeI too have been having problems similar to you…I was diagnosed with asthma 3 years ago but now as you described I find it has got worse and am having investigations for my heart..echo showed diastolic dysfunction and trivial valve regurgitation but it doesn’t feel trivial!! I was working in a day nursery which I liked but I’ve had to find a different job as I can no longer pick up even a baby as my chest can’t take it…or even crouch down or do nappies on floor as I have chest pain and short of breath…all on exertion…even now when I walk 10mins I get out of breath so now I take my ventolin before going anywhere….I used to be so active going to the gym but this hits you hard but as my dear mum used to say there’s someone always worse off than you…altho at times it doesn’t feel like it!

I hope you take it steady and they find a solution for you tabbyjane… x

[Idreamedadream]

Continuing on…. I know my allergies now…pollen, animal fur, perfume, aerosols, fabric conditioner, even spices and wine I give a wheeze lol I take cetrizine daily and inhalers regularly but also montelukast and omeprazole so my body is well equipped to fight these nasties!

I also have difficulty lying down especially at night so trying to take it in my stride and not worry….it is what it is and try and be kind to myself and soldier on positively…cup half full as a friend always says…

I hope this has helped you to feel like you are not alone and I wish you all the best…just be kind to yourself and take care x

[tabbyjade in reply to Idreamedadream]

Thank you your attitude is encouraging.

[Poobah]

Hello tabbyjade. There are other inhalers available so I would ask your doctor if you can try an alternative to the brown inhaler, which sounds like it could just be Becotide, a steroid only inhaler. You may benefit from a combination inhaler, such as Seretide or Fostair. They contain a steroid as well as a long acting bronchodilator. They come in different strengths, so your doctor could try something more effective than your current brown inhaler.

Ventolin (blue inhaler) also comes in different strengths and so a stronger version may help too.

Technique when taking your inhalers is very important, so you can make it easier by using a device called a spacer. The inhaler fits onto one end and you place the other end in your mouth. When you depressed the inhaler canister, the medication is caught in the spacer so you get to inhale all the medication over several breaths. Your doctor can prescribe a spacer for you.

To help with any allergens, your doctor can prescribe Montelukast, a tablet which is taken daily. It can have some side effects but most people do well on it. I can tolerate my known allergies much better and I only get vivid dreams as a side effect (I take my tablet by 8pm, but you can take it a bit earlier if that helps you).

As for breathing exercises, I use exercises specifically for dysfunctional breathing,called Buteyko. It's a method to improve the mechanics of breathing and it corrects mouth breathing, which can lead to asthma like symptoms and breathlessness. This short video explains the Buteyko breathing method. youtu.be/5IUJ_YBS1b8(Not working as expected?)

You may wish to have a chat about your asthma and treatment with an Asthma UK nurse, you can call them on 0300 222 5800, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. This may help you make your mind up what to ask your doctor for in order to improve your quality of life.

All the best.

[tabbyjade in reply to Poobah]

Thank you very much Poobah, you have given me a lot to consider.

[MMBJI]

Hi Tabbyjade, I suspect your GP could do more to help, there are alternative inhalers and add on medications worth trying. I know I am repeating what has been said, but if your symptoms are allergy driven, it might be worth taking a daily anti- histamine, eg; loratadine or cetirizine- both available at supermarkets. GPS can prescribe stronger antihistamines. Montelukast can also help allergic asthma, available on prescription. However since you say that you can control your breathing at home, I wonder if there might be an element of breathing pattern problems. A respiratory physio would help with that. Your GP would need to refer you.

My Respiratory Physio told me to stay well away from the Buteyko method. Rule number 1 is to ensure that you breathe through your nose as it is our inbuilt filter.

You might have to persist with your GP, maybe ask to see a different GP if they don’t help .

Good luck, I hope you improve soon.

[tabbyjade in reply to MMBJI]

Many thanks MMBJI, it is good to know there are so many possible approaches to alleviate my symptoms. Clearly I must request more help from the GP.

[Celie1 in reply to MMBJI]

Hi,Sorry to jump in on someone else’s post 😬.

I was just intrigued by what your physio said about the Buteyko method. Can I ask what exactly they don’t like about it? I’ve found it very helpful personally and just wondered. 🤔

Thanks

[MMBJI in reply to Celie1]

I am not sure what the reason was, it's been a year since I first started seeing the resp physio. I think she said it could further compound my breathing pattern disorder. I will try to remember to ask next time I go.

[Celie1 in reply to MMBJI]

Thanks, I would be interested to know. 😁

[Poobah in reply to MMBJI]

My respiratory physiotherapist advised me to take up Buteyko as it trains you to breath through your nose ( I tend to mouth breath), so I'm not sure why they thought the method was anything but learning how to breath efficiently through the nose. My asthma nurse us a big fan too (she's asthmatic).

[MMBJI in reply to Poobah]

I was a mouth breather too. I can't remember the physio's reason for not trying the Buteyko method. One of my problems with breathing is that I tend to overbreathe. My aim is to slow my breathing down, and to always breathe through my nose. It's certainly a test of endurance to persevere with trying to correct my breathing pattern. I don't know what the Buteyko method is. Just goes to show how different the advice can be that we all get. Or maybe that's down to our various presentations. Who knows?!

[Poobah in reply to MMBJI]

I must admit that it took the physio to convince me to try it and it really has helped me, but I have to focus as my default is to mouth breath, raise my shoulders and use my diaphragm the wrong way. The exercises were exactly what the physio had taught me, and she's attached to our hospital respiratory team. I only wish I had started years ago.

My guess it's only recommended if dysfunctional breathing has been identified, but it is only a guess. I know that other NHS Trusts physiotherapist teams do offer Buteyko among a range of treatments for respiratory patients as it's listed on their webpages.

My niece is a physiotherapist and has, over the years since she qualified, been sent for training and exams in a range of therapies I would have thought wouldn't have been considered traditional for a physio. Her department even offers acupuncture and reflexology (not specifically for asthma). So I shouldn't have been surprised when my respiratory physio recommended Buteyko.

[hilary39]

That sounds so frustrating. What inhalers and meds are you taking?

[tabbyjade in reply to hilary39]

No meds and although I have ventolin and becotide I do not use them. Becotide because it made no difference; ventolin I keep with me but haven’t used it for years. It is not effective unless I have a chest infection and then barely. I suffered with acute asthma for many years, at first being treated with oral salbutamol and prednisone, and then coming to rely on ventolin, using it prolifically causing shaking which has persisted. I understand that salbutamol mimics adrenaline and seems to have left me with an easily triggered flight/fight reaction, hence the panickyness I mentioned.

I am grateful for all replies 🙏 and I will go back to the GP. 😊

[hilary39 in reply to tabbyjade]

That sounds like a good plan. Maybe the GP will add a controller medicine to help things get managed and then step back down. I hope you find some relief!!

[tabbyjade in reply to hilary39]

Thank you

[Jamesd1986]

Hello, I have similar issues with allergic asthma but mainly at night. I am on lots of asthma medication (symbicort, ventolin and montelukast), but my asthma nurse has also advised an all day anit-histamine morning and again before bed + classic piriton if things get really bad. Steroid nasal sprays can also help with allergies. Perhaps trying to address the allergies is the best way to go.

[tabbyjade in reply to Jamesd1986]

Thank you James, yes that makes sense, they certainly can’t be avoided.