Night time waking possibly asthma or acid reflux

[elanaoali]

I have had two times where I have woken up in the last few weeks. The first time I woke up 4 times 1 hour apart. I used my inhaler each time and went back to sleep. I was fine in the morning.

Last night I woke up twice due to phelgm down my throat (in the early hours of the morning) I used my inhaler (fostair 100/6 smart regime and again twice and it was effective.

I am on acid reflux medication (which I can increase to twice a day) and Glavison after meals and at night. I sleep with two pillows and a wedge behind them so I don't sleep flat.

I am confused.

[runcyclexcski]

Elanaoali, is dust mite a trigger for your asthma?

I used to wake up with my airways fully blocked by a spasm (used to be very scary when it first happened), and like you they put me on anti-reflux medication to manage that. I also avoid heavy and reflux-inducing meals right before sleep. With such measures, these instances became less frequent (and I am not as terrified anymore when they happen).

[elanaoali in reply to runcyclexcski]

I take monkelaust as well as I am very allergic to house dust mite. I am also on spriva inhaler 1 puff twice a day. I try not eat after 7pm. I am in bed and asleep by 10:30pm. I try to avoid dairy too.

[runcyclexcski in reply to elanaoali]

For dust mite, I take insane measures to avoid it -- by enclosing pillows and the mattress in non-breathable bags, using polyester bedding and washing bedding and pillow cases at 60C weekly. No carpets and no upholstery in the bedroom, with constant HEPA filtration at the maximum speed, wet wiping weekly and keeping summer humidity below 50C Whatever tiny amount of dust gets picked up has been tested at a clinic, and there was no dust mite detected in it.

[TheBard1]

Hello,Do you eat in the evening? I have a similar problem (reflux and asthma). It could be reflux, caused by eating after 8 pm and laying down too soon, even if the head-end of the bed is elevated. My doctor told me to not eat after about 6 pm, as food needs 3-4 hours to fully digest. If not, it can come back up and wake you up (I used to often wake up choking). Just a thought. Hope you get it sorted.

Sue

[Xlizixx in reply to TheBard1]

Good advice Sue I'm the same never eat after 6. What people don't always realise is that reflux triggers asthma, something which I researched, no one told me.

[TheBard1 in reply to Xlizixx]

You always find out more after diagnosis; the doctors seem to tell you the bare minimum and assume you have the wherewithal to find out more by yourself. With asthma/reflux, it always seems like chicken & egg. I sometimes take some Gaviscon around 9 pm, but more often than not, water is OK. Hope you are OK.

[Xlizixx in reply to TheBard1]

Thank you, yes I'm OK at the mo, resorting to steroids, low dose because of asthma but do feel so much better on them. Hope you are ok too.

[elanaoali in reply to Xlizixx]

I knew that acid reflux can cause asthma to trigger. I am going to up my acid reflux medication to see if that helps. I also get hayfever and take a prescribed antihistamine. So you can all see I am on alot of medication for my asthma (2 inhaler plus monkelaust and dymista spray too).

[Xlizixx in reply to elanaoali]

Yes - that's all you can do really. I take pretty much the same, Inc montelukast and antihistamine but I've only got a beconase nasal spray, is the dymista good? Thanks for you reply.

[elanaoali]

Dymista is good. Mine is prescribed by my GP.

[DannyQ]

Have your doctors considered your acid reflux could be gastro issues as I suffer with it and if I eat the foods that don't agree with me, then I really do suffer, an example of this was over Christmas where I ate 3 boxes of mince pies over a couple of days and boy did I suffer for about 6 or 7 weeks.

[elanaoali]

My acid reflux symptoms were thoroughly investigated when I first had acid reflux. I was sent to hospital to have a camera looking at my stomach. A 24 hr monitor of my acid reflux. The investigation showed that I had some small damage to my stomach lining. I was then put on acid reflux medication and glavison.

My rescue steroids are gastro resistant so if I need them they won't irritate my stomach.

My diet is pretty plain without rich food because of another unrelated long term health condition. I am unable to eat chocolate,. I don't eat biscuits or cakes or crisps. I am unable to drink alcohol or fizzy drinks. I try to drink plenty of water. I don't drink drinks with caffeine.

I try to keep my weight under control and excerise regularly.