Asthma flare up

[Monty89]

So I had my review the other day and the nurse said it doesn’t seem well controlled at the moment and I’ve got a new plan. A new thing that’s started recently is waking up in the night coughing and it’s really exhausting. It’s every few hours, weird cough and also quite worrying.

Does anyone have any tips to help this at night or is it just a case of taking my reliever when I wake up?

I’m on fostair 2 puffs twice a day and ventolin as and when but I'm having to take this several times a day the last few days.

[Snowdrop27]

Hi Monty89 I take fostair nexthaler too and found it to be an excellent inhaler to keep my asthma under control. How long have you been taking this inhaler? If its new then you need to give it time to work and this could be up to 2-4 weeks.

As you are using your reliever twice a day then your obviously as you said isn't under control. Is there anything that has changed for you ie Pollen count, change of washing liquid, perfumes etc.

As for taking your reliever at night you need to take it and stay awake long enough for it to kick in (20 min). I know this is not something you want to do stay awake. I have been there.

Lastly if your asthma isn't getting better then go back to your doctors asap.

Please feel free to ask any more questions.

[Monty89 in reply to Snowdrop27]

Thank you. I have been on Fostair for a few years. The only thing that has changed is I have been working away recently in a high pollution area so I’m guessing that may have exacerbated it. I had reduced to one puff twice a day as I was waiting for my review to get a repeat prescription as I was running low. But upped it back to two twice and I’ll see how it goes over the next few weeks. Thank you for the tip on staying awake after taking my reliever I’ll remember that.

[Snowdrop27 in reply to Monty89]

Hi Monty89,If you are working in a high pollen area then an antihistamine could be needed to your medications.

Please dont reduce your inhaler puffs. If you are running low then tell your GPs this could be one of the reason why you are having a flare up. Asthma medications should be taken as directed.

I have been told off before for having reliever which had run out. That time I was having a flare up and treating it with this reliever. I ended up in A & E felt a bit silly.

Hope and pray for feel better soon.

[Hidden in reply to Monty89]

Your problems may well be related to reducing your fostair intake for a short period while you were running short. The effects would not be immediate but would kick in with increased asthma symptoms after a week or two.It's best to always have sufficient medication....as soon as you start your last fostair, order two new ones.

[Monty89 in reply to Hidden]

I will see if my doctor will allow this as currently nothing on my repeat prescriptions list since I moved doctors. They’ve also been funny before about only issuing one salbutamol at a time. I’ll ask them if this is possible though as it would help massively especially working away from home so much good to have a back up.

[Idreamedadream]

Hi thereI went through a similar phase after having a virus and it took ages to get it under control but got there in the end.

I was taking my ventolin frequently throughout the day along with my preventer morning and night but eventually it settled down…u can actually take ventolin up to 10 times a day although if it gets to that stage you need to contact your GP or asthma nurse as they may be able to prescribe you something else to help…I’m on montelukast nightly which seems to help-also try a v-shaped pillow to help you sleep upright-ish…. Like the other person said try taking an antihistamine daily to see if that helps? Avoid all aerosols and any perfumed things. Obviously environment has a lot to do with it too.

[Monty89 in reply to Idreamedadream]

Ah yes I’ll get my v shaped pillow out and try that. I will defo get some antihistamines too as I’m sure pollen count is increasing.

Thank you for your help.

[Keisha192001 in reply to Idreamedadream]

Salbutamol can actually be taken a lot more frequently than that just make sure you are engaging with your gp about it

[Ghoulette]

Hi. I'm sorry you are struggling more at the minute. I used to wake up at night almost like i was choking. I had montelukast added into my treatment quite early on (although I've had a lot more added I since). That dud seem to help me. Might be worth asking the nurse about trying it?

[Monty89 in reply to Ghoulette]

Thank you. That’s exactly what it feels like at night. I will defo speak with my asthma nurse. Thank you.

[Celbie]

Hi It might be worth considering getting getting a humidifier for your bedroom. I use one as the air gets so dry and it helps reduce the coughing at night time for me.

Now I know humidity can aggravate some people with asthma but it is very beneficial to many so it might be worth a go.

Stay on top of the meds don't let them run low, take as prescribed. When this has settled and is well under control you can discuss a step down plan then with your GP but not unguided.

[Monty89 in reply to Celbie]

Thank you. I will defo look at a humidifier. Yeah I’m back on it now. I recently changed doctors and was hoping I’d be able to order repeat of it on the app but since I changed they’ve taken al my repeats off the app so it took a little longer to get sorted.

[Emer1000]

I rarely take ventolin when I am well. I have Singulair and Relvar and that is normally enough for me. I find I then ‘suddenly’ find I need ventolin which is me noticing symptoms. What I’ve done for past 2/3 years is I every now and then check my oxygen levels using a finger pulse oximeter and I’ve now realised one of the early symptoms of low oxygen is being exhausted, so we when I see a number below 97 on my pulse oximeter I take 2 puffs of ventolin for usually 1 or 2 days and I’m back to normal.

when the number is 93/94 I know it’s far too low and I limit what I’m doing and take 2 puffs of ventolin every 4 hours.

I suggest you buy one of these finger pulse oximeters track your numbers and talk to you doc or nurse about how to manage these numbers based on your asthma. I’ve found by using this I’ve no night time coughing. I’m asthmatic 30 years and honestly I wish I had done this from the start and it helps me stay on top of my asthma as the no’s are clear but symptoms are easy to dismiss until they’re a big problem which was the trap I’d fallen into.

[Monty89 in reply to Emer1000]

Thank you. I have the blood o2 on my Apple Watch but when I’ve had a bad attack before my stats didn’t really drop. Even when the paramedics took it. Although I will defo keep an eye on it and track it. Maybe if I did it more frequent I’ll be able to identify any slight changes. Thank you.

[EDreams1]

I am in a similar position and am on same medication too. The asthma nurse mentioned that I may have post nasal drip which was keeping me awake and also giving me cold like symptoms and a cough as soon as I woke up. She prescribed me Avamys for post nasal drip and I slept like a log that night and for the past few weeks. I didn’t realise I had a mucus problem. I was extremely naive and thought mucus was the awful dark Green stuff (sorry, I can’t describe it any other way). Once I realised that mucus is also transparent and also excess saliva, I realised that I have had this for a long time but had normalised it. I have a horrendous cough which sounds like a barking seal. I have it every day as my asthma is uncontrolled. Hope new meds will fix it soon once they have kicked in. I also recently started taking an antihistamine each day as advised by my asthma nurse too. Jus5 remember that when isthmi is uncontrolled you are more sensitive and susceptible to your asthma triggers.

[Monty89 in reply to EDreams1]

Sorry to hear you’re suffering too. Glad you new meds are working and kicking in though. Thank you for the tips. I will be getting some antihistamines to take daily. I do usually have a mucus cough but this one waking me up is dry and it’s almost like I’m been choked. I shall see how o get on the next few days. I’m defo better than I was before the weekend. Although heading to see family next week and they have a cat which is a trigger! So may well be back to square one!

Thank you for your help. X