I am a 50 year old menopausal woman who has just been diagnosed with Asthma. I have had a cough since start December which has got progressively worse and started making me struggle for breath and wheeze. I noticed it was worse at night and I am getting very little sleep. In the last week I have had two trips to the GP, an Ambulance called and a stay in hospital. All have have prescribed a Salamol inhaler which hasn’t worked at all. I am now on another one that I take in the morning and haven’t noticed any difference. I am constantly wheezing, coughing and have a pain in my chest from the over use of the inhaler. I feel so unwell I am at my wits end . I get out of breath every time I move. I just want to be back to normal and hope the diagnosis is correct.
When I was in A&E the doctor thought I had a slightly collapsed lung and a small mass and want it looked at. The urgent car dr dismissed that idea and maintained Asthma . Any help and advice would be great
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Hendo73
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I did indeed have a chest xray which the A&E doctor sail looked like a slightly collapsed lung. I was sent to a ward where a general dr said that wasn’t the case and sent me home with Antibiotics for an infection I have. Got amd a spirola inhaler and salamol which makes no difference at all.
Ru using a spacer - aerochamber plus,with in halers?there's been bad viral cough this past cpl mths,people struggling to shift it for.weeks & often resulting in bacterial infection.i hope antibiotics help u.id take look on aluk website for tips on " controlled breathing".it can help to relax Airways.i often gargle,as far back as I can snd tspn clear honey is gd to relieve+ coat throat.x
I think the first thing to say is that if it worsens ring 111 or 999 immediately. I am wary as if you do have asthma and the salamol is ineffective that is a major warning sign.
Asthma can get scary quite quickly, so do not care about asking for help too early.
Second thing is, ring the asthma UK helpline, when it opens at 9. 15 on Monday morning on 0300 2225800. A nurse there will go through all the above and help you work out what to say to a GP, to get the help you need.
The above is what matters, now I will ramble with my thoughts.
Re the possible asthma diagnosis, you need this tested for properly and treated correctly. In my GP practice, that means going to see the asthma nurse, he or she can help you access the whole asthma care system. If there is no asthma nurse, then find out which GP has an interest in asthma, and try to see that GP.
If it is asthma, you need to be taught about peak flow meters, spacers, and have the various inhaler described to you, and to be told how to use them. You also need an asthma plan. Somebody cannot just tell you, that you have asthma, here is some salamol.
So ring 111 or 999 if it worsens, otherwise talk to the asthma helpline Monday morning.
Trial of treatment is a thing, so this does happen sometimes where they’ll prescribe a blue and tell you to note things down about how you’re feeling and when it’s used etc for a period of time and in my case they combined this with a peak flow so I’d so that morning and night as well.
I was first diagnosed with asthma, by a four week trial, firstly using salamol, then adding in clenil. Lots of peak flow readings, to check the effect of the inhalers.
it might jig actually be asthma - have you been checked out gif acid reflux and hiatus hernia - totally similar symptoms re breathlessness and worse at night - lying down
like Birthday60 I would also suggest that a consideration is given to GERD or acid reflux. I have cough variant asthma and over the last six years my asthma drugs have been changed and increased until a locum doctor in October suggested I had a gastroscopy to see if I had a hiatal hernia. Not only do I have one but also severe gastritis!
The extra drugs prescribed for this has greatly improved my ‘asthma’.
I agree with the others in that if it is asthma it needs addressing properly and you should be given a preventer as well as a reliever. I would definitely make an appointment with the GP or asthma nurse and also talk to the asthma UK nurses, they are fantastic.
You say you're menopausal. Are you on Hrt? The change in hormones could be causing issues. Hope you feel better soon x
When I was diagnosed with possible asthma I was given an aerosol inhaler & things went from bad to worse. They then put me on a dry powder inhaler & things rapidly improved. It turns out that the propellent in the inhaler was doing more harm than the drug was doing good. I know I'm not the only one with this problem so it could be worth querying it with your GP.
Yes, I discovered that the propellant was giving me asthma. It was the worst I've ever had it until I went on a powdered form of ventolin. Was back to normal after a week. Now I take Easyhaler (same product - powdered salbutamol - but different company). GSK stopped the powdered form of ventolin in Australia and I was left "up the creek without a paddle" until I discovered Easyhaler.
You need a consultant. Breathless can be caused by a number of things, not just asthma and the indication of a possible lung collapse should be investigated further. It sounds as if you have been dismissed as fussing, which you are not. Unfortunately, quite often with the NHS you have to firmly insist on the specialist advice you need. Good luck!
I agree with Homely2. It's important that you see your asthma nurse or best asthma GP in order to review your worsening symptoms. And I would recommend you discuss your case with the Asthma UK nurses in order to prepare for your appointment. They can advise on what's important to tell your asthma nurse/doctor - appointments can be time limited, so giving them the right highlighted facts will help you get the best out of your appointment.
Asthma treatment is varied and it can take a few tries to find the right inhalers that suit you. So don't be shy in going back to your asthma nurse/doctor if things aren't improving. They should review all new meds anyway, to ensure they're having a positive impact, but the patient often has to take the initiative. And definitely highlight that Salamol isn't working as expected, as there are better reliever inhalers available.
BTW, I couldn't take certain HRT or hypertension pills, so have a think what changed to start the cough and breathlessness. It could be anything or nothing - late onset asthma is a thing and often there's no explanation. This Asthma UK link is helpful, asthmaandlung.org.uk/condit....
Go to another doctor and request follow up investigation. Even if it is asthma, you need to be sure it is nothing else. Another trip to A&E might help get further tests.
Salbutamol usually works for asthma. However some people react to the propellant in the pressurized form. It makes them worse. Powdered salbutamol might help. I use a product called the Easyhaler (powdered salbutamol).
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