hi, I’m looking for some advice a couple of months ago I was hospitalised after 2 asthma attacks in 3 days and then I got pneumonia. Throughout the course of getting better I was prescribed 6 courses of steroids as well as antibiotics.
Now it’s hayfever season and this seems to be playing havoc with my asthma, I am now on another course of steroids but my issue is I don’t want to be doing this relying on steroids for the next couple of months while my hayfever is around esp considering how many courses I have already had this year.
Yesterday i rang and spoke to the nurses from asthma Uk hoping for some advice, the lady I spoke to was lovely and really helpful and I came away feeling ready to speak to my gp about my next steps.. today I rang my gp and got a call back I relayed the information I was told to ask for eg asking for 180mg fexofenadine to help get my hayfever under control I was told I wasn’t allowed it as that strength is only prescribed for urticaria and for seasonal allergies the max dose is 120mg so I then asked about my inhalers etc and adding something else in to help me get it back under control to be told he couldn’t help me and he would send a message to the asthma nurse to book me an appointment. I don’t have a major issue with that the only thing being you seem to have to wait ages to get an appointment with the asthma nurse at my surgery.
I’m just so frustrated and a little emotional but I guess that’s because I’m not feeling great, I just want to get it sorted and under control before I end up in the same situation as before 😫
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Shorty_89
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I understand how you feel with hayfever affecting your asthma, as it is the same with me. I don't understand why the doctors haven't prescribed you the fexofenadine, as that is what I am on to control my hayfever. I hope you can get the help you need, as you shouldn't have to put up with it. As if you can get your hayfever under control, then your asthma should calm down too.
sorry I forgot to add in my post that I’m on the over the counter 120mg fexofenadine but the asthma nurse said I should ask for the 180mg.. that’s it I just want to get it sorted before it gets any worse x
Do you have a consultant and an asthma nurse at the hospital.
My asthma nurse at the hospital normally gets back to me the same day. The only issue is that her medicine changes get emailed to the gp surgery, which then loses them.
The advantage of my hospital asthma nurse is that she sees the consultant on the ward most days, so can get his advice and sign off, this is especially helpful if you want to do something that is non standard.
So I would be tempted if you get nowhere with the gp asthma nurse to try and see if the hospital will give access to one of their asthma nurses. Perhaps try your consultants secretary.
unfortunately I don’t at the moment I was referred after my stay in hospital but am still waiting to hear back at present.
I called about an appointment with my asthma nurse but it was a three week wait but they have managed to get me an out of hours appointment at the surgery connected to mine on Tuesday evening so hopefully she will be abit more helpful x
If you get nowhere on Tuesday then email the asthma department at the hospital, where you have been referred.
The asthma nurse at the gp surgery will have the address, if she will not give it to you, spend some time on Google. Medics hate things in writing as it leaves an audit trail.
In your email make it clear that you are trying to avoid being readmitted and need some help with your medicines. Also make it clear that you can do a short notice appointment.
That's b#£%t I'm on fexofenadine 180 and have been for years (have never had urticaria) ...many here are and are on it because it helps to keep allergies under control and in turn breathing
It boils my pee when doctors sprout crap because they don't want to prescribe it.... just to wind your GP up its no not a POM (prescription only medicine) anymore and you can actually buy it.... so I would buy it, see if it works and then get them to prescribe it
I have been on Fexofenadine 180mg for several years, prescribed by my GP, with the option of taking two if REALLY needed.
I only take one each evening all year but top it up with another antihistamine if needed during the summer months. I know that many will say don’t take more than one type of antihistamine but needs must!
Hello, what a load of rubbish. I've been taking fexafenadine 180 for years. Often through June I take two a day to keep hayfever under control. I know what you mean regarding steroid use, thankfully I've not needed any this pollen season(🤞). I'm not sure what other meds you are on but I have severe hayfever and take Fostair 200/6 3-4 puffs a day, fexafenadine, avamys, eye drops (prescription ones) and occasionally puriton if needed. So far these are really helping this year especially with the asthma. I do take sensible precautions too such as staying in doors if the pollen is very high. I have been offered immunotherapy for grass pollen so maybe this is something you could discuss when you finally get your hospital appointment.
I take fexofenadine 120mg twice a day and cetirizine 10mg once a day as advised by my doctor. I only got the twice daily fexofenadine on prescription though because I bought some over the counter to try twice (was already prescribed once) and it helped so I used that to ask for it twice a day.
I also take montelukast and avamys (a steroid nasal spray) advised by my asthma nurse.
I would either request an appt with a different GP or buy some fexofenadine over the counter and see if increasing to twice daily helps? Or add in a cetirizine first as that is a lot cheaper.
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