Major Exacerbation.....

[ilovesun]

Hi everyone, Since the beginning of September I have had my usual minor asthma symptoms get terribly worse :/ Two months.....

This is the most awful it has been in decades... five decades maybe? I'm almost 73 and regularly walk with added light weight lifting at home. I'm not overweight and our home is really clean with no irritants.

I was sob quite badly overnight at the beginning and it got awful!

My GP referred me to my hospital asthma consultant (nice people) who has booked me in for Monday when I think I am going to be given biologics.... This is all new to me but I have "read up" on them using authority websites.

I take Prednisolone for PMR and my GP upped me from my regular 7mg to 40 mg.

I am feeling SOB constantly and the feeling is awful.

I take Ventolin but mainly use Easyhaler. Trelegy Ellipta and Spiriva each day too. Montelukast early evening. The inhalers do work but not as well as they did

I did have a covid and flu jab at the beginning of October.

This is really bad and I will take in any advice, tips, hints +++

D

[Homely2 Administrator]

First tip is ring the helpline on 0300 2225800, they are great.

Second tip. Has what irritates your asthma changed. My allergy to any perfume has greatly increased. So keep a diary of your asthma attacks and look for the patterns.

I have had a number of long term asthma exacerbations, that did not respond to normal treatments.

The worst one, the consultant stopped with three week 40 mg prednisone course plus weaning.

The most recent one, was caused by an alteration to my inhalers, which upset my asthma balance for a couple of months. We stopped it with prednisone then maxing all my inhalers, then going away for two weeks.

The going away bit works for me, I cannot do it when my asthma is too bad, but if I can recover enough, going to an environment where my asthma is happier helps me hugely and breaks the cycle of asthma coming back, when the steroids are reduced. My asthma loves clean air, somewhere remote in the hills.

Good luck with the biologics.

[ilovesun in reply to Homely2]

Thank you I do keep a diary and all (not usual) medication is noted along with my symptoms. Nowhere close to anything that has set me off in the past. I love fresh air and live in a neighbourhood with lots of walks in the woods..... my happy place. I think if I get worse today I will call 111 and ask for help.

I think I may have had biologics before when I lived in California. Not sure.

D

[Patk1]

I would use Yr ventolin as soon as u become symptomatic

I'm on biologic fasenra.it works for me altho it does wear off last 2wks,as it's ea8wks.definately worth a try

[Helloeveryone_]

Just a thought that we’ve had a very wet September could the woods be a trigger this year?

[Patk1]

Have u tried antihistamines

[ilovesun in reply to Patk1]

Yes. A few days ago. Loratadine. The symptoms got a little better. I haven't been outside for about a week either. Thank you. D