Lung crackles

[Vegetablelover]

I keep getting lung crackles and wheezing at the end of respiratory infections and needing steroids . The GP isn't interested and I always end up in A and E , given a nebuliser and a course is steroids to take home. My regular inhaler Fostair contains steroids but appears to be useless when I am.having problems. Not looking like heart problems luckily ECG is normal , but what can I do to help myself ? Thanks for advise

[Burghy]

I have crackles but the medication seems to help not many on it and a big tummy ache at first but specialist has lowered the dose as my liver counts where high

[Poobah]

Are you saying that when you experience a chest infection, your GP will only prescribe antibiotics & not Prednisolone? If you have a pattern of attending A&E, your GP should be reviewing your asthma treatment in a follow up appointment.

If you're using A&E because you can't get a GP appointment, you can use the 111 service and they will assess your need for an urgent GP appointment - they have a system called GP Connect which means patients get necessary appointments when deemed necessary, no later then the following day.

You could make a follow up appointment with your asthma nurse in order to discuss your future emergency treatment and to update your asthma plan. That way, your records will reflect how treatment with Prednisolone is beneficial.

[Vegetablelover in reply to Poobah]

Thanks I tried 111, but they didn't ever call back, but it's good advise to see the asthma nurse to review

[peege]

Just to say that you absolutely don't have to see your allocated GP. Check our your surgery's website, they should have a description of each GP and what their speciality is. Make an appointment with the one who favours respiratory. Personally, with an infection I always insist on at least 10 days of abs preferably 2 weeks and a decent antibiotic. Amoxicillin has never ever worked for me.

Do you gave a walk-in centre at your hospital?

[Vegetablelover in reply to peege]

We have A and E, they never turn anyone away thankfully

[Vegetablelover in reply to peege]

Not round here, but luckily A and E is very helpful , even for stuff that should be dealt with in primary care

[Gareth57]

if you are on Fostair 100/6 you can increase your doses to 8 a day from 4 during an exacerbation

[Ern007]

Fostair is a preventer and won't help if COPD is acute. Oral steroids are normally needed. Where I live at the hospital has an urgent care unit, I have used that rather than A&E - It's a walk in centre or ringing 111 will access the out of hours doctor for you. You need proper treatment with crackles.

Have you no rescue pack?

[Vegetablelover in reply to Ern007]

We don' t have walk in centres here. I sense a strongly worded email to my gp practice comming on, why they cant manage this

[Ern007 in reply to Vegetablelover]

I think if you can't access a doctor, 111 can get you in touch with one nearby. I found about these local doctors after I rang 111 with an eye bleed.

Of course you should be managed. Have you no other inhalers like Salbutamol or Atrovent?

[Vegetablelover in reply to Ern007]

Yes I think the asthma nurses need to understand Fostair is only for day to day prevention but no good for me when I have a virus

[Ern007 in reply to Vegetablelover]

That's true - You need you GP to give you inhalers that will help you when needed. Good Luck.

[Patk1]

Do u have a salbutamol inhaler? X

[Vegetablelover]

thanks for the tip, I love a bit of garlic

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Vegetablelover]

Hi, moderator here. I removed that post as there's no good evidence the capsules are helpful for asthma. Daleboy has repeatedly posted about these and recommended them to others as a remedy for asthma, which is against the forum rules:

healthunlocked.com/asthmalu...

You agree not to:

Post messages promoting any product that claims to cure asthma or reduce asthma symptoms. Any such post will be removed immediately by the moderator.

If you do use these capsules, please check they're ok for you to take - some natural remedies can actually trigger asthma or other conditions and can interact with medications.

[Vegetablelover]

I am going to be asking for one , thanks

[Patk1 in reply to Vegetablelover]

Sounds like u need it.it is a reliever - if chests tight, etc it relaxes + dilates the Airways quickly x

[hilary39]

I have a bad case of bronchitis and my lungs sound absolutely insane. Like the girl in the poltergeist. Really scary constant crackling and long wheezy sounds. I am not sure how to treat it either. I'm on antibiotics already coincidentally because of a tick bite so I'm thinking that'll knock out any infection but it is scary to hear your lungs making that kind of racket! I empathize. How are you doing now?

[Vegetablelover]

Just on my day 6 of steroids but lungs less noisy now, I have no idea what I caught but a bit wary of germs at the moment