recently diagnosed

[keatsy]

Brilliant site, I Dr Googled and considered going to bed and waiting to die!! I'm on a blue inhaler and have a pink one Fostair, I don't get particularly breathless, have a slight cough now and then and the blue inhaler sorts me out if needed. The numbers from the spiro test had me asthma/copd but not even mild copd. Although thats what the nurse has diagnosed as she reminded me my travel insurance would now go up loads!. I don't particularly want to take the steroid inhaler as I was told it will mess with my immune system and give me osteoporosis ! Do I have to use it if I feel I don't need it??

[peege]

Hi, the Fostair inhaler - called a 'preventer' is to help manage the condition and to remain at mild. Blue inhaler is the 'rescue' one to use if you're breathless &/or wheezy and just before extra exertion IE walking up a steep hill. You probably know that already!

The inhalers come in different strengths, you're probably on a low one. When taking high dose steroid ones after some time you can get thinning of the skin. I must stress HIGH DOSE. Also high doses & continued use of the tablet Prednisalone can deplete the bone. We have a choice, take the inhaler to prevent deterioration of lung disease - or not. You can't reverse the damage that repeated lung infections cause once its occurred. I know that if my asthma was diagnosed earlier I wouldn't have succumbed to many pneumonia & infections. Wish I could turn the clock back. Many people with smoking induced copd probably wish they could turn back the clock too.

I take Fostair, it's brilliant. I also take extra vitamin D3 for my bones plus plenty of live yogurt & milk, eat healthily, try to keep to a healthy weight and exercise regularly. My immune system is now loads stronger - ciggies, alcohol, poor diet, stress and pollution can also knock your immune system out.

Good luck, Peege

[keatsy in reply to peege]

thank you Peege, really useful info I did not know any of that! Love your picture, Chocolate Labs always a wise choice!!

[peege in reply to keatsy]

You're welcome! I knew little back in 2012, learnt so much from lovely sharing people on this site to turn my life around 😃 hope you do too. P

[mrsmummy]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[Christabella153]

I was told my 3 Inhalers have Steroids the blue 1 (Ventolin i presume) is to a reliever to help stop exaberations & believe you would not be prescribed if not needed.

[watergazer]

Hi and welcome Keatsy- I was asthma and early bronchiectasis diagnosed when I was 50+ after a really bad case of pneumonia and pleurisy and then was put on inhalers and rescue packs ordered for when necessary. It looks like I had asthma / lung problems since I was a little girl and would have been healthier if I was on inhalers. I take Fostair ( which has been the best inhaler so far ) 2 puffs every morning and night. I don't usually take the blue reliever.

Last winter was my best ever- no infections after October . I can only think it was because I was prescribed the Fostair inhaler then and I also took omega 3 and vitamin D with C.

My doctor recently said the steroid dose in my inhaler is quite small .

Take care.

[Mardi]

Ventolin doesn't have steroids only most of the preventers, seretide etc.

[Christabella153 in reply to Mardi]

My Heart Specialist said Ventolin had Steroids & told me to use it only for emergencies just check you are right sorry it was the Specialist who got it wrong!

[lKeith]

keatsy

Hi, Info on the net is always frightening, best to ignore it and carry on. Over use of anything does you harm, if limited use of the steroid inhaler helps the problem use it. Loss of lung power is far worse than osteoporosis, I've unfortunately got both and know what I would sooner have commanvd of, it's breathing freely, energy and the ability to do things that require effort. If you are at an early stage use the steriod sparingly but do not disregard it, use only when needed.

Keith

[Dragonmum]

Fostair is a brilliant inhaler; as far as I can gather it contains beclametazone which I believe is a steroid? I always rinse my mouth after use (another thing they don't always tell you) as any steroid can cause oral thrush which is quite unpleasant. To the best of my knowledge Ventolin is simply a short-term reliever which I assumed was non-steroidal. Google should have this info.