To repeat myself....I have been on atrovent and salbutamol for 2 years, but 6 months ago It was said I needed something extra........I have

[siestasue]

used Seritide, Symbicort, Oxis and Qvar for a month at a time with no added help. I have now been prescribed ....Fostair as a last resort before I am sent to a consultant. Does anyone have any experience of Fostair?

[knitter]

I have tried oxis and symbicort and qvar in the past, but one at a time, and I have been taking Clenil as well as a maintenance dose of prednisolone for a few years . I still have asthma symptoms and a productive cough and take Combivent in my nebuliser when I really need it, but I have a problem with bronchodilators .

I am awake and wheezing now and trying the pursed lips breathing as well as sitting forward supported by a pile of pillows.

I have been given FOSTAIR recently but I haven't used it yet as I have had a chest infection and wanted to clear that first. I posted a request recently here asking if anyone had tried FOSTAIR but had no replies. Have you used yours yet...I am a worried as I had a bad reaction to the combined inhaler, serovent in the past

[siestasue in reply to knitter]

Hi Knitter, I tried all those inhalers for a month one at a time not all together! But as I said they had no effect on me.

I have used the Fostair literally one minute ago for the first time........I will let you know how it goes!

[hazel101]

Hi, I've was given fostair about 3 years ago, instead of Qvar as breathlessness increased after cold. I found it helped and apart from dry mouth... no problems. I've recently been taken off it as exacerbation has meant a rethink of treatment.

[siestasue in reply to hazel101]

Thanks Hazel

[Steph57]

Hi sue I've been on fostair for 2 years and it's helped me no end. The only problem is you can suffer with a dry mouth and you can have problems with your throat and voice now and again.

[Hidden in reply to Steph57]

is fostair for asthma only?

[hazel101 in reply to Hidden]

I have COPD and asthma, Fostair is a combination of bronco dilator and corticosteriod, helps with a variety lung conditions as far as I understood it.

[Hidden in reply to hazel101]

thanks.

[siestasue in reply to Hidden]

Hi, You are right, according to my resp. nurse Fostair is at the moment unlicensed for COPD but this about to change which is why I could have it.

[O2Trees in reply to siestasue]

Hi sue, do you know if Fostair is meant to be a "better" treatment for COPD?

i ask because I've been on symbicort for years, and its worked well (with various additions now and then of spiriva and singulair which gave no improvement to the symbicort on its own). My GP says there are more up to date meds and wants me to try a newer one. I'm loathe to do so unless there is one with much less steroid in it, or even none at all. But dubious as I've never found anything without inhaled steroids has been helpful). Im kind of "let well alone" but info would be useful.

[siestasue in reply to Steph57]

Thanks for that info Steph.

[doublecee]

Another popular treatment is with Tiotropium. (Spiriva). Many people prefer it to the usual band of inhalers.

[siestasue in reply to doublecee]

Hi, It was a toss up between Spiriva or Fostair. I mentioned that the chemist had told me to ask for Fostair as it was the latest thing out. The resp. nurse looked it up and agreed for me to have it.

[diggerruth in reply to siestasue]

Hi siestasue, I noticed that you were taking seretide for a short time, just wondered if you found it beneficial at all and what side effects if any you experienced. I am just about to try it for a 3 month period and am a bit anxious about changing medication. I have mild copd at the moment and Astema Diggerruth. ta

[siestasue in reply to diggerruth]

Hi Ruth, I took seretide for a month last September as my first additional inhaler. I really cannot recall my exact side effects....just that I did not feel very well, it gave me a cough and I wasn't sleeping well. Having said that we all know side effects are different with each person. The three following inhalers had no effect....good nor bad. Which is why I am now on fostair as my next experiment!!

[peege in reply to diggerruth]

Hi Digger, did you ask why they're changing it?

I've found Seretide a great improvement to Symbicort but we're all different. Just make sure you gargle & rinse mouth well to avoid thrush. Good luck. xx

[diggerruth in reply to peege]

Thank you peeg. nurse suggested seretide as I have recently been experience some discomfort when walking on flat surface which is unusual for me- normally that only happens on an incline. Seretide will replace Salmeterol and Clenil. Just a bit worried about the change? Lovely to have people to share experiences. Thanks. xx

[siestasue in reply to diggerruth]

Hi Ruth, I am intrigued by your comment about ' discomfort when walking on a flat surface '. Does this mean that certain medicines can cause this sometimes!!! I am astonished by this. Please explain?

[peege]

Hi there, nice to see you. I cant comment on your inhalers Siesta but I'm wondering what your diagnosis is and why you haven't seen a consultant already. They have the proper equipment to diagnose.

Hoping you find relief soon. P

[Hidden in reply to peege]

I agree peeg.

Really concerned for you sue, I personally would be happier with a specialist doctor who is more suitably qualified to prescribe your medications.

It will help take a lot of the guesswork out of what medicine you should try.

[siestasue in reply to Hidden]

BC, I am so glad I have joined this site. But what can a specialist doctor prescribe that a gp can't?

[Hidden in reply to siestasue]

A specialist doc is more familiar with your lung condition (if the specialist respiratory doctor has already diagnosed you) A GP is a general practitioner and may not be fully versed in treating lung conditions. IMO Respiratory nurses should not be prescribing these medicines, your reply to doublecee above suggests this. When I read statements like these I wonder if it was the respiratory nurse who actually diagnosed you, in which case I would be concerned for you in not getting the right medical care and the appropriate medications to suit.

[siestasue in reply to Hidden]

Hi bc, as I've just said to peeg thanks for your concern. I now realise reading your post that having never been sent to see any sort of specialist has not been in my best interest. Thank You So Much.

[siestasue in reply to peege]

Hi Peeg, I have copd and after joining this site and reading various posts I too wondered why I haven't been sent to see a consultant. Although the resp. nurse at my docs said if this fostair doesn't help she will refer me. I could not walk 100yds without needing to catch my breath.

[sued007 in reply to siestasue]

this sounds like the samepttern thy took me down for my asthsma,since 5ysolfd i hve tried evey drug anf inhaler going andvetolin seretde atrovent all through nnebs am curren siutlton was on preds 40mg most of time nd breathing dreadfuxl 150 max peak flow. trying thophyline was the finsl straw and i demanded to br freferred on as losig life and job due to continuous sick. hadspirometry ad scans of neck thyriod chest, hey presto a huge goitre that was pressing on my windpipe squashing it ti the\size of a flattened straw on a good day. my thyroid levels were within norml range so not picked by bloods. had my thyroid totally removed inan op 10days agoa mass wieghing 3kilo was removed and my peak flow immedietly over400- i knew this wasnt asthma and wished gps had picked this up. i will always be asthmatic but i have more breath than ive had in the lst 5yrs- please ask to have your throats scannefor goitre you cannot alwasys tell you have one

[peege in reply to sued007]

Blimey. Just shows why people must see a specialist with access to proper equipment & tests to diagnose.

So glad you're sorted now.

[peege in reply to siestasue]

Morning Sue, COPD is on my medical record, my GP was convinced I had Bronchiectasis or Aspergillosis, specialist proved I have neither. Poorly controlled asthma is dx with minimal damage to actual lungs from 5 x pneumonia, chronic infections (which might have been avoided if I'd seen a specialist earlier).

Now, at last I'm on the right meds for me, Seretide 500 Accuhaler 2 x daily (when I'm well in summer it will go down to 125), Easibreathe blue reliever inhaler, Mucodyne, Montelukast for the allergy to mould aspect - I always new my digestive system couldn't tolerate mould/fungi but it never occurred to me it affected my airways, found this out from specialists. I 'presumed' it was house dust mite or the dog!

Had dozens of chest X-rays requested by GPs that were always 'clear', CT scan showed the small amount of lung damage but also showed the rest of my lungs are very healthy.

If I hadn't seen a specialist I would still be suffering constant chronic bronchitis, however, this winter is my best for a very long time with one 6 week infection and a much stronger immune system.

Perhaps your GP will be proved right but only a specialist will be able confirm a diagnosis and which of the lung diseases you have ensuring you get the right treatment tailored to you.

All the best, P

[siestasue in reply to peege]

Thanks so much for your concern peeg. Your story is really interesting, it certainly is food for thought for my situation. But I think I probably have copd because l smoked. The Fostair which l have been on for 48 hours now seems to working, the first additional that has. But l will ask to be referred to the hospital should l go down hill again. Sue

[Steph57]

Hi Siestasue I use fostair and have done for 2 yrs Iit's helped me a lot it is relatively new compared to other inhalers of it's kind. I was prescribed it by my consultant. You should ask your doctor to refer you to a consultant as your not happy with your condition. Good luck. X

[Hidden]

I am using clenil and ventolin but never used FOSTAIR inhalers but I did have to get used to the clenil I still have asthma symptoms during the day but the clenil inhaler has reduced my symptoms