Introduction

[Queen63]

Hello Everyone, I have discovered this site and charity asthma /Lung UK which has been reassuring. I am still not sore what my diagnosis is and until now was running half marathons , weekly park runs and keep fit. I have been coping with wheeze, cough and chest congestion since 4rh Feb where I’ve have had 3 lots of antibiotics thinking it was an ongoing chest infection. I have results stating no infection, but wait to attend a breathing clinic in 4 weeks. So I’ve been coping with symptoms for 2 months. I hope that once I get a diagnosis which I am thinking is late onset asthma, triggered by exercise and initial chest infection these symptoms will go away with medication. I am using a blue inhaler at the moment which helps. Connecting on this hub is hoping to receive some advice, reassurance and lived experience of this sort of problem. Thank you 🙏

[Patk1]

Welcome to the forum.a lot of people are posting that cough/breathlessness is lingering for months. Ru producing mucous? X

[Homely2 Administrator]

Welcome

Asthma UK also have a great helpline, staffed by experienced asthma nurses on 0300 2225800, office hours. You can ask them anything re asthma, and they have no time limits. They have helped me hugely.

[Poobah]

Hi Queen63 and welcome to the forum. It can be rather bewildering as to why anyone develops asthma, especially when living a very active life. The symptoms can be irratic and interfere with our lives, uncomfortable and scary at times.

It sounds like you have done the right thing seeking answers and a diagnosis can open up access to treatment. If you are confirmed as having asthma and prescribed an inhaler, it can take several weeks to get the full effect as inhaled steroids don't work immediately. If the inhaler also contains a long acting bronchodilator, that element will start to help symptoms the same day (your blue inhaler is a short acting bronchodilator).

One thing to keep in mind, not every inhaler helps or suits everyone, and so sometimes only trial and error can find the best combination inhaler. If after 6 weeks you're not experiencing any improvement, don't hesitate to return to see your prescribing doctor ask to try a different inhaler.

I definitely recommend talking with the Asthma UK nurses on the helpline. They are very knowledgeable and helpful and can talk you through what to expect and how best to return to your exercise activities once your treatment starts to work. Understanding how to approach things after an asthma flare up is important, especially if triggered by exercise.

In the meantime, don't hesitate to request a second blue inhaler, especially if it's helping. Having a new inhaler at hand when the old one runs out is the first rule of asthma club.

All the best.

Asthma UK helpline details: asthmaandlung.org.uk/about-...