Confused with current symptoms

[jamieb977]

My chest is so tight especially in the back, almost feels like lungs are trying to burst through, hard to take a deep breath and my peak flow is down from 520 ish to 450 o2 is 98 but not wheezing or coughing up anything. Also stomach/abdomen is really bloated

It has been like it for over a week. Went to a&e last Thursday and they done the usual checks, ecg, xray and bloods, said heart is fine and didn't see anything on xray, no signs of infection on bloods

Tonight it has been horrible, im worried It could be pneumonia ? Or pleurisy, or maybe inflammation inside the lungs.

Background is I was on seretide 2 years upto till march then fostair nexthaler which I had trouble with and only took 1 or 2 times per day sometimes none, then tried revalr ellipta which was awful now since last week been on fostair pmdi which also seems to give me bad side effects worse than having a wheeze. So havnt really been having proper doses of steroid since February.

Also 2 weeks ago I sustained a type of chest crush injury which made my breathing feel bad, pains in left side of chest when I move or cough.

I just don't know whats going on and why the respiratory clinic seems intent on fostair, the seretode wasn't doing the Job but I was more functional than this.

Fostair contains a less potent and smaller dose of steroid as I understand it and according to info steroids are best treatment for allergy asthma

[Gwalltarian]

Have you tried antihistamines? Try them and if you’re still getting problems try taking simple ant-acids like Rennies or gaviscon. Speak to your GP.

[jamieb977 in reply to Gwalltarian]

I've been taking fenofoxatine , probably spelt that wrong lol and I do use rennies tablets as well.

All this happenening is probably a combination of factors I think, I want wanna not have a tight chest and more energy to do things, asthma sucks 😫 really think fostair is horrible, I said to the consultant about just having a steroid only inhalor not combination but he wasn't interested in that and persuaded me to go the fostair pmdi

I've only been on it one week after taking nothing for about 3/4 weeks but I just can't eat and taking the 2 doses close-by mornign or night makes me breathless and bloated

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

Fostair does contain a smaller dose of steroid but it's also ultra-fine particles, so you need less of it to get the same dose to the lungs as the ones with a higher dose without ultra-fine. Having said that, it doesn't suit everyone - if it's not working for you after a decent trial then they shouldn't be making you continue because it's 'a good inhaler' - these things are individual.

Did A&E know about the injury you mentioned? That definitely sounds like something you would need to get checked if you haven't already.

In terms of your O2 being 98, that doesn't mean you can't be having an asthma flare up. It's generally not really advised to use home monitoring of O2 for asthma as it doesn't necessarily show what's going on - see this post: healthunlocked.com/asthmauk... Unfortunately a lot of healthcare professionals are still overly fixated on good sats/no wheeze means no asthma.

I've probably recommended it before but you may find it helpful to chat to the nurses at this point: 0300 2225800 or WhatsApp on 07999 377 775 Monday-Friday 0915-5pm

[jamieb977 in reply to Lysistrata]

Thanks, the consultant did explain about the fine particles but as you say doesn't agree with everyone just despair really on my part as no inhaler seems to work/suit me

Yes as my tighter chest and peak flow was effected worse by the injury which is what prompted me to go to a&e, last week my peak flow was even lower 350 at one point after the chest trauma. I thing I forgot to mention was the Dr there said she could hear crackling in the lower left lung.

I'm going to ring that number it's been advised to me before on here but I've never actually tried it.

I've contacted my gp on their Web form this morning, wondering if they will want to give me prednisone?

[ChrissieMons]

All new medications take time to settle down and it looks as if you might not have been taking them as regularly as prescribed. If you feel ill - and you do - you should rest, relax as far as possible, and stick to the regime the doctor advised. If you're no better after a few days, go back to the GP. If A&E didn't find an infection, you won't have anything dreadful, so don't worry about that. Concentrate on getting better slowly.

[jamieb977 in reply to ChrissieMons]

I have been trying to take first the nexthaler since march and started on the aerosol one asthma Tuesday, at what point do you keep trying when the prescribed doses make me breathless and bloat me so much I cant eat cos if I do its horrendous, theese medications should make me feel better no, not worse than I was with asthma symptoms. The seretide I used to be on wasn't good but I managed, this is much worse. I've seen more than one person on this forum who struggles with these combination inhalers

I'm going to ring the helpline when I get time for advice, I saw go today at 11 and she said she doesn't think I'm having an asthma flare or anything and to contact the respiratory clinic for advice/review

[Collienut]

You've already had some great advice, I'll just add an extra bit.

Could you have the Fostair inhaler, instead of the Fostair Nexthaler? I refused the Nexthaler as my lungs have reacted to dry powder ones in the past and my asthma got worse. There's a big push for us to take environmentally friendly versions, but sometimes the old inhalers work better for some of us. Hope you feel better soon.xx

[jamieb977 in reply to Collienut]

I just started using that last Tuesday, was not so bad for first couple of days now its just the same as using the powder one unfortunately

[Collienut in reply to jamieb977]

Sorry, to hear that. xx

[Homely2 Administrator]

Not surprising you are not good, we are in main pollen season and your inhalers disagree with you. Get some ideas from the asthma UK helpline then talk to your medic again

[jamieb977 in reply to Homely2]

Thank you, that will be the plan

[Patk1]

Sounds like Yr injury has had an impact unsurprisingly.id take painkillers+ ride it out.if gp+ a+e show no infection/ inflammation I'd rest up,b kind to yrself and get back into a regime with yr inhalers.chopping+ changing frequently,doesn't allow u to get best effect from any.if u have anxiety,it will impact breathing+ pain,making both worse.can u do relaxation/ meditation: watch a favourite film or boxset,go 4 a walk or sit out for a bit? Whatever helps you x