Asthma

[TerryDavies1992]

Hi guys I suffer with mild asthma as my doctors call it I haven’t ever had any lung function tests or COPD tests I don’t smoke but on the 24th of march this year my breathing took a rapid decline and I have been struggling ever since for over a month now I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this for me please. And will my breathing return to its normal state is this something anyone has experienced?

[MELNEL]

Hi, the best way is to really speak to your GP or get in touch with the asthma nurse here on the website, they very helpful.

I suffer from severe asthma and ATM the pollen making it hard for me, that I struggle too.

I don't know if you might suffer as well from it, may try some antihistamines, or even get prescription for Montelukast used in the maintenance treatment of asthma.

Is always hard to tell what is wrong, with COPD you suffer definitely from Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities, also during walking, extremely when walking up a hill.

But better us to speak to a doctor to find out what is going on with your breathing problems.

I hope you getting help and getting better, stay safe and well!! 🎵🎶🎵

[sassy59]

Please contact your GP and tell him how you feel. He may well be able to help. Wishing you well. Xxx 😘

[TerryDavies1992 in reply to sassy59]

Thanks pal

[Tugun]

Hi Terry,

You need to see a doctor especially if you don't have any reliever medication on hand such as Ventolin (salbutamol). Never put up with poor breathing.

Not to scare you but to make you aware that it can be serious - In Melbourne Australia in 2016 ambulances and hospitals were run off their feet with over 8 000 hospital admissions from a phenomenon called Thunderstorm Asthma. Basically pollen was drawn into the atmosphere and people who had even never experienced asthma before had difficulty breathing. 10 died. Most of those who died never made it to hospital. One young lady who had never had symptoms of asthma before, died waiting for the ambulance. If a reliever such as salbutamol had been on hand, she might have made it.

So if you don't have a reliever on hand, please see a doctor and get one. You might never need it but it's worthwhile to have on hand - in your car - where ever.

Second question: Your doctor can help you work out why you are having difficulty. There are many reasons - allergies, mould, silica, work related dust, chest infection. Depending on the cause is how you and your doctor will treat it and whether your lungs will return to normal but don't delay getting it checked.

Good Luck.

[TerryDavies1992 in reply to Tugun]

Hi mate I should av mentioned I take fostair 2 puffs twice a day and I’m still using my reliever inhaler too I did hear about the pollen thing which is quite scary Tbh but yes tugan I’ve got my inahalers thanks that’s why I’m so stressed about it all because there not seeming to be controlling my asthma symptoms

[Tugun in reply to TerryDavies1992]

Hi,

glad to hear you have the medication. There's always a reason why there is a rapid decline. Why March 24th? Is there anything you can put it down to around that time? If you can work that out with your doctor hopefully things will improve. I agree with hypercat - you may need something extra to get over it.

I once thought I had a bad chest infection. I put up with it for weeks. It turned out to be bad asthma from the exhaust of the motor mower I had used. The nebuliser helped a lot.

Good Luck.

[Bingo88]

Hi TerryDavies1992. You need to call your gp. And get checked out pal. Blood pressure needs checking for starters from my experience. Let us know how you get on please. Brian

[Troilus]

Hi Terry. I agree with all of the above. As a starting point you need to get your asthma medication reviewed. You don’t mention a preventer inhaler, for instance.

It really is important that you do this as soon as possible. It is highly likely your GP will be able to prescribe for you over the phone,

[TerryDavies1992 in reply to Troilus]

Sorry mate I forgot to mention I take fostair and ventolin

[hypercat54]

Hi this sounds like an exacerbation which might need steroids to clear it. You have had some good replies on here but why not ask on the asthma site as well?

healthunlocked.com/asthmauk

[Paulaw22]

Definitely speak to your GP! But strangely my asthma did exactly the same a few days later. My GP thought I had contracted Covid as my daughter is a nurse and tested positive a week later. I’m better now but I’m very breathless and very mucussy. I’ve had asthma since a child and have chronic asthma but I’ve also got hay fever and it has been quite high early in the season.

Do you have asthma by any chance?

My son has mild asthma but suffers with hay fever and my daughter is the same .

But I would definitely have a chat with your GP surgery

[peege]

Hi, I suspect your asthma has taken a downturn as it does at times and you need to be checked out. Please make an appointment with the GP or practice respiratory nurse.

It's really important for asthma to be controlled in order to keep our airways open, they get inflamed for various reasons/triggers. It could be the recent high pollen that's triggered yours. Whatever it is don't leave it, I was mild for a long time, didn't realise why I was suffering with constant chest infections and pneumonia, it was mostly because my asthma wasn't adequately controlled. It can have quite a knock on effect on quality of life. P

[TerryDavies1992 in reply to peege]

I’ve never been so miserable tbh I don’t even want to get out of bed lately I’m confused as to why my doctors won’t look further into my condition instead they’re just throwing steroids at me that isn’t working

[peege in reply to TerryDavies1992]

Read up about Fostair. It's a MART inhaler, you can use it more when you need to and it can act as a reliever. I rarely need Ventolin. At the mo I take two puffs at night as that's when my asthma needs more control, one in the morning unless I expect to be more active(ie pilates class or Joe Wicks or uphill walks) when I'll have two. When all's well in summer time usually 1 puff 2 x daily is enough.

I'm surprised your GP or respiratory nurse hasn't told you this.

[B_Asthma]

I find in the Spring my asthma flares and since about 12 March, I have had a lot of issues with coughing. I used to take Fostair 200 / 6 and I have been just moved to Relvar. With the Relvar I take other inhalers and anti-histimines to help control it.

[TerryDavies1992 in reply to B_Asthma]

Is the relvar working for you

[B_Asthma]

When I was on Relvar with the steroids and for a few days after the steroids, Relvar relieved all of my asthma symptoms. Now, being off of steroids for nearly 2 weeks, I am finding some of the shortness of breath in the morning is returning and I am using my Ventolin. Also, periodically, I am finding upon wakening I have some dark brown phlegm but after moving around the phlegm is gone. So far, the shortness of breath during the moring is a lot less than when I was on Fostair. I attribute needing my Ventolin due to the time of year when I get flare-up. With that said, overall Relvar has brought me (so far) more relief, I can breathe better and even though, I still need my Ventolin, I use my Ventolin a lot less. In answer to your question, I am finding Relvar is (so far) working and I going to wait another few weeks before I am confident Relvar is providing the relief I need.

[Jobie1]

I just found this thread.This sounds identical to mine that started on 20/3. My dr has been throwing steroids and meds at me since. I’m now on 8 Prednisolone a day, manteluklast, fexofenadine, 3 piriton , Flixonase, trinbow and blue ventolin upto 49 times a day..oh and I’m just finishing my second course if anti biotics in case it’s a chest infection. Seems unlikely as it’s getting no better and flares up as soon as they drop the steroids. I finally had bloods taken today. I bought an oxygen can and air purifier anything to help. 8 weeks is a joke in these meds..not to mention my moon face !. Hope your dr sorts yours out better than mine!

[TerryDavies1992 in reply to Jobie1]

That’s what my doctor has done kept giving me steroids I’ve got a telephone appointment today I’m demanding he changes my asthma inhalers I’ve herd relvar is good for some people but it’s all very strange isn’t it mate I hope you get sorted also I had my bloods taken and came back normal but lung function isn’t available atm due to covid it’s a nightmare

[Jobie1]

If covid wasn’t like it is we wouldn’t all be left suffering like this. My dr had been calling every two days. I had Ambo out last week and they said there is a reduced airway entry to my upper right lobe..query infection or covid. I got changed from seretide to trinbow the new COPD inhaler with three meds in but nothing seems to work. There is no rhyme or treason as to when it’s better or worse. My blue inhaler has been up in the 40-50 times a day for the last 4 weeks with all the meds. Can’t be good for me and the drs know the usage. I will still have 8 weeks weaning off these steroids too when it’s all sorted. It’s sucks. Before this my asthma has always been controlled since a child other than when I have colds etc no need for blue inhaler, one flare up 2010 with steroids and manteluklast . It’s all Very strange and does not seem to be pollen related !

[TerryDavies1992 in reply to Jobie1]

That sucks mate honestly does I’m the same as you my asthma as always been controlled do u think anxiety might be playing a little roll in our symptoms I keep being told I’m anxious but I have also herd the pollen is outrageously high atm I mean it’s comforting to know we’re in the same Boat and maybe a lot of asthmatics are also having the same symptoms

[Jobie1 in reply to TerryDavies1992]

Ive been fine anxiety wise just really frustrated. The day I called the Ambo out I was a little anxious as I’d had 7 weeks and just read about covid and the silent respiratory part where people were fine then dropping dead. I didn’t have a way of checking my blood oxygen levels and that worried me with such bad breathing and no relief from my inhalers. I now have a finger oximetre to keep an eye on things and a oxygen boost can. The very high heart rate initially worried me. I go between 102-145 standard at rest due to all my meds but I’m getting used to that now. I did get relief from the fact I wasn’t the only one with the fact there is such high pollen this year. However again that’s never affected me. My dr pinned all his hopes on the fact as soon as it rained I would be fixed and that wasn’t the case. Covid is definitely making things difficult with no face to face and I think there are a lot of unexplained breathing problems that are possibly linked to it. I’m still sure mine are as I had symptoms at the start. However with no tests to see if you’ve had it then it’s a guessing game and it can take months to get right...I’m at 8 weeks 🤔. I am intrigued to see what my bloods show although I’m told the high steroids I’m on affect results 🙈. Forums like this and those on fb definitely are a comfort and help me 😊

[Hazyeyes in reply to TerryDavies1992]

I have mild asthma and the last 2 months I have had issues breathing more than any other summer and it makes me anxious which makes it worse. I have been told to take antihistamine each day. I think it is helping now but I stopped taking it for a couple of weeks and now I’m back on it. I take pulmicort twice daily which they have changed me to as they said it has some allergy reliever in it as well. I live in a rural area with lots of fields and think that has made it worse and going out in my garden more due to lockdown. Did you get any idea what made your symptoms worse?