Respiratory hot clinic asthma care (first time beyond GP care)

[Snowdrop27]

Today I wait for an appointment by phone to see the Respiratory Hot clinic at my local hospital. I was referred yesterday after my asthma has deteriorated in the last four days. (flare up started over 2 wks ago) Consisting of two asthma attacks (resolved at home) and then checked out at A &E twice. Day 12 of Prednisolone with Flixotide 250 (twice a day) added to my inhaler of Seretide 250 (twice a day). Taking Monkelaust too for 'allergic asthma'

So desperate for sleep as now I have nasal discharge (cold) and have been unable to sleep on my side or back for two days. The prednisolone is making me have chronic insomnia. I also losing weight (with normal appetite) in the last 3 days. I feel like I shrinking before my very own eyes.

Peak flow is rock solid but suspect I have small airway inflamation as no wheezing detected by GP or A &E doctors. Blood test came back negative for kidney/liver and thyroid on Friday. I had raise infection markers could be due to cold developed on sunday or my Painful Bladder sydrome flaring up. (this give a white blood cell marker in flare up). Taking regualr ventolin 4 hourly or more if necessary.

I know the plan is to look at my asthma plan, inhaler technique, and discuss history.

What is next I am wondering? I need to be back in control of my asthma not it in control of me.

[Ergendl]

Hope your appointment by phone goes well for you and you manage to start taking back control.

[Snowdrop27 in reply to Ergendl]

Correction the clinic is ringing me today with an appointment to go in and see them. Sorry if my post was confusing blame it on tiredness

[Ergendl in reply to Snowdrop27]

No, it was probably me misreading your post this early in the day. Hope things all work out for you.

[katieoxo60]

Hope your appointment sorts things out for you. Sounds like you need some changes and the cold won't have helped your asthma control. Best Wishes

[Snowdrop27 in reply to katieoxo60]

Yes I personally think it was the cold and humidity. Live somewhere where it can be very damp. 83% humidity today .....

[Snowdrop27]

Thank you folks now waiting for that phone call.

[knitter]

I found that the Buteyko Breathing exercises helped with my asthma control.......but they are not suitable for everyone . You could ask for their opinion.

Learning to maintain gentle, nasal, relaxed belly breathing has helped me too. It's just the chest infections that I keep on getting knock me for six.

[corriena]

Have you tried putting a pillow or two on a dining table and sitting down lean forwad on folded arms to see if you can sleep that way i know it sounds odd but it helpes me sleep when i am realy porly i hope this is of some use. Unfortunatly it sounds like you are using so much energy to eat and breath you are not getting the calories you need to maintain your waight. You could try high protine shakes as they take no effort to drink but will help maintain your weight. Good luck i hope they manage to get you well again soon.

[Snowdrop27 in reply to corriena]

Thanks for advice will try any thing to get sleep. 5 more days of Prednisolone then sleep?!

[wheezybronch]

No wheezing so why the prednisolone ? Before going to bed ( an hour approx. ) flush your sinus with saline and clear them as well as possible. Also do chest clearance so that it as clear as is possible. If you need prednisolone take it first thing in the morning. Stop using the internet and watching TV and replace with some relaxing techniques before retiring. Do you take salbutamol inhaler or nebulise when you have problems with your asthma or neither ?

[Snowdrop27]

No wheezing well not this time but did appear the first time I had an asthma attack. Hence not being Not A typical Asthma patient the consultant said . Rock solid peak flow but then that can be not so too.

Why the prednisolone because he said it obviously works for me. I had it for 7/7 days til last Thursday then went off it and then crash again on Friday last week. The consultant is quite happy for me to keep taking it. In fact he wrote a prescription for more as I was going to run out. New dosage says 40mg for 15 days not liking that. Obviously this time was needed.

Can you tell me how to flush my sinsus with saline? I did drop off sitting up before I settle down for the night. I woke up after having a very weird dream while I was trying to shout at my house but was gurgling my words. I think I dream that because I of my nasal discharge yes cold too. Hence why I can't lie down at the moment because I start to cough.

I will be doing more relaxing before bedtime. I was sitting in the dark yesteday evening and relaxing as I had a tension headache listening to the sound of my family. So hard to come down when your wired with prednisolone.

[Caspiana]

Hello Snowdrop27 . What an awful time you've been having. I do sympathize. I really hope you start to feel better very soon. These lapses can seem to last forever. Hang in there. Sending happy thoughts. xx 🍀

[Snowdrop27]

Hi Caspiana

Thanks for your kind wishes. I feeling a lot better today and got some real sleep last night. I think this is because the cold I had is clearing up. Trying not to go mad tidying around the house. Still on the prednisolone so having the shakes and the energy burst. I think tonight I will have an even better nights sleep. Off to sit down and sew on some badges for my camp blanket.( I am a brownie leader) Love a badge