Hi guys I just did my a levels and in September I went on a trip to Switzerland and when I came back I had this terrible cough. I was prescribed antibiotics and pred. Later that day I had an asthma attack and was admitted to a and e. I spent 24 hrs in resus as I was extremely short of breath and was kept in hospital for 5 days. After 2 weeks of rest I returned to skl and by the end of the day my cough was back. I went to the gp the next day who took 1 listen to my Chest and immediately gave me a nebuliser at the gp then sent me to a and e. After another 4 day stay in hospital I had another asthma attack in November but was fine after 1 nebuliser and sent home. In December I went to my gp again with the cough and chest tightness and yet again he sent me to a and e and I was kept under observation for 48 hours. Since September I have attended a and e 10 times with asthma attacks treated with prednisolne and salbutamol and ibuprofen nebulisers. I have been switched form clenil 100 to fostair, but that caused tachycardia and tremors. Then to flutiform 125. Then to flutiform 250 which caused muscle cramps, headaches and tremors. To relvar elipta and now onto trimbow. I tried montelukast which caused severe insomnia. And spiriva gave me blood in my mucus and jitteriness. I have had nearly 15 courses of pred since September and am just fed up. This cough is still ongoing and I hv a flare up just about every 2 weeks. My gp just gives me pred now as he says I don't know what to do as I am running out of options. My peak flows are at best 450 and are usually around 380 or 360 on the daily. My spirometry is normal. I have high igg Aspergillus but my consultant says I don't meet the criteria for ABPA. I also hv high ige of over 1200. I get chest tightness at times even as I'm writing this now but it's not excessive. I always feel I am breathing really fast and am genuinely exhausted. This has causes me to miss 3 of my a level exams as well as I had an asthma attack just b4 I entered the exam hall and had to get wheelchaired out the scho and straight to A and E yet again. Even the consultant has said he's run out of options of what to do and has referred me to guys for consideration of biological agents for my severe asthma. I still have difficulty sleeping as the cough is always disrupting my sleep. I have many allergies especially grade 3 to grass and a grade 6 allergy to house dust mite. I also have chronic headaches but I am allergic to all the medication and nsaids such as ibuprofen so he says there is nothing he can do. Thank you for making it to the end ans plz share any experience or advice I would be eternally grateful as I hv no options now..
Constant asthma flare ups: Hi guys I... - Asthma Community ...
Constant asthma flare ups
You have certainly been through the wars. Hopefully they will find a suitable treatment so you can get your life back ..
I feel for you okkjh, what an awful time you've had since September. I'm shocked a consultant has said there's nothing more s/he can do, I think the very least is to refer you to somewhere like the Royal Brompton for specialist help at a respiratory hospital.
I'm wondering about CT scans and whether or not you've actually had an allergy test for aspergillus (I believe aspergillosis also shows up on CT scans).
Do give the helpline a call on Monday 0300 222 5800 9.15 - 5pm. Or copy your post to the WhatsApp line on 07999 377 775.
I'm also sorry about your A levels and hope you get another opportunity by appeal if necessary. Thinking of you
My x rays have always been clear so my consultant said there is nothing to suggest. The need for a ct scan. I've had allergy tests done 3 times in the last 8 months , I'm positive to dogs, trees, grass and dust. Yes tge consultant has now referred me to guys and st Thomas for biological agents. Thank you, I did at least 1 exam for each of my subjects so I am still able to get grades which the exam board calculate and I hv special consideration for the exams I did sit.
Talk to the asthma UK team on 0300 2225800, on Monday.
If your asthma medics cannot get your asthma under control they need to refer you to someone, who can, hopefully the referral for biologics will help. Where I live that would mean you had been referred to a tertiary centre, which is the level above the local hospital, and is the right place for you.
It took them approx three years to get me off my asthma attacks needing prednisone.
so sorry to hear you are going through this, it’s so hard when asthma isn’t controlled and trying to get people to take your serious is a trial. I see from your replies you have been referred elsewhere and I hope they can get you sorted.
i feel so sorry for you having to deal with all this.
My asthma which was controlled has been uncontrolled since catching Covid and/or having the vaccinations but cannot be proved. I cough all night
I shouldnt complain with what you are going through. I have had 7 chest infections this year alone all being treated with antibiotics and steroids but never fully clears.
My bed head has been raised and I have a humidifier in my bedroom at night.
Have u phoned Asthma UK for advice?
Really sorry I cant offer you a magic wand…take care 🙏
Thank you for your reply. Chest infections are exhausting I had bronchitis when I was first admitted and it took 2 hospital stays to clear up. And then in December I had a rhinovirus. I sleep with 2 pillows sometimes 3 when I'm having a bad day. I hv a humidifier as well which helps me to relax a bit.
I forgot to say…if ur cough is productive get your sputum checked. At least u get the correct antibiotic. I always have a pot and form at the ready. All the best
Have you tried a wedge pillow? I use one under my normal pillow and have found I sleep much better since then.
I'm the opposite to you in that I need a dehumidifier rather than a humidifier (but I do live in a very damp house in a damp area!) but at the moment, I'm finding I'm using the air purifier mode more than the dehumidifying mode, and it's unusual for me to react to pollen etc. So if your humidifier also has an air purifier mode, it might be worth trying that instead.
Hi I have separate humidifiers and air purifiers which I keep on when I'm sitting in a room for a long time. I'm always doing something haha. I sleep with 2 pillows now but during a flare up its more like 3.
Antihistamines? Do you know your triggers ? Some more unusual ones I have in addition to mites, pollen etc are in response to yeast, yeast extract, marmite, wine, wine/vinegar fumes during cooking and asthmatic response to alcohol in different ways.
I take fexofenadine twice a day. And I have pretty much all the airborne triggers like pollen dust trees dogs and any kind of fumes or bad smells. I am muslim so I don't drink. I do notice a weird feeling in my throat when cooking or frying and try to turn on a fan.
I take fexofenadine twice a day. And I have pretty much all the airborne triggers like pollen dust trees dogs and any kind of fumes or bad smells. I am muslim so I don't drink. I do notice a weird feeling in my throat when cooking or frying and try to turn on a fan.
I have finally received my referral letter and my appointment which is supposed to be urgent is at the end of September. I Don't know how I'm going to cope the next few months
Do you have air purifier(s) at home? One or more might help. It seems that
I hv one in each room I spend more time in but I still don't hv that much improvement
Did you see my comment about air fresheners - so called - varying from plug ins to sprays and ‘fir tree’ type things. Those, as well as spray perfumes and spray deodorants can be highly irritating and cause asthmatic responses and asthma attacks.
Yes I don't go anywhere near those. My asthma is very sensitive to smells and fumes I start having coughing fits almost immediately. Thanks 😊
I've heard alot about biological agents and they can be a real game changer. I hv so many triggers hay-fever, perfumes, fumes, smoke, cold weather pretty much any asthma trigger I have it. I hv been given a steroids nasal spray that I used for 5 months. I didn't have any nasal symptoms so the Dr said to only use it when I do. To be honest I didn't see any improvement when using it. I take fexofenadine twice a day due to my many allergies and severe hay fever. I have finally received my referral letter and my appointment which is supposed to be urgent is at the end of September. I Don't know how I'm going to cope the next few months I have humidifiers and lots of mini air filters around my house. Even this morning my chest suddenly started feeling tight so I had to take 4 puffs of the blue. And then the leg and hand tremors started as well as my heart rate increasing but I was fine the rest of the day. Its been a while since I've had to go to a and e touch wood. I think my cough is starting to come back now a bit. Also the warm weather and pollen gives me chest tightness and an itchy nose. I'm going on holiday for a few days as I'm turning 18 in a few days so I hope all goes well. I wish could afford to receive treatment privately cos the strain on my body is too much. Even the last week I keep getting this sudden chest pain for like 30 seconds
I’m so sorry that you’re feeling so unwell. My house tends to be damp so I have a dehumidifier to use at times. Are the air filters at home electric ones - with fans and a filter?
The relief inhaler takes up to 15 minutes to gain full effect so it would be better to allow a space between puffs - even if you feel the need to take more than one puff, just take two and give it a chance to be effective - particularly as you then get side effects when taking 4 puffs - then add another puff if needed and see if there’s any improvement, try and wait for 15 minutes before taking a fourth puff if you still need it.
I assume that your home is spotlessly clean, no animals, no feather or down duvets, cushions etc, bed linen washed weekly, fresh clothes daily, coats jackets etc cleaned frequently, no open coal fires. If so, then I think you need to look at your diet. You could ask to see a dietician and/or google for information on how to start a basic diet, then slowly add additional food items.
As a child I was given Benylin to help loosen the phlegm in my lungs when I had an asthma attack, it did help, that and Franol tablets - which I’ve since learned contain Theophylline. They weren’t very effective but I’d recover from a bad attack after 3 weeks, apparently there’s theophylline in coffee. Have you tried inhaling steam - boil a kettle full of water, pour into a bowl, put your face over it with a towel over your head to enclose it. Ask the pharmacist for advice on anything you could add to the water to relax your lungs. Plain water might help.
Have a chat with the nurses on this site for their advice.
Asthma very unstable.
Asthma & Medication
Asthma Attack followed by Chest Infection and Pleurisy 
Asthma attack from air freshener at work
