Asthma

[Happy103]

I'm on a high level of medication for my asthma I've been with lung specialist for 5 years, I was diagnosed with asthma in the 90s but it was mild enough for me to continue work, however as the years increased my asthma was starting to become a problem, well anyway now my asthma has become a real problem I've had chest infections after chest infections hence why I'm seeing a lung specialist for 5 years, I'm on loads of medication inhalers, tablets, nebuliser for saline therapy and injections of benralizumab which have helped with exacerbations and lung infections.However I still get very breathless doing things round the house climbing stairs and walking short distances, I'm just enquiring if anyone else is having similar issues ?

[helenlw7]

I too get breathless walking up stairs and have to use my blue inhaler before I start. I’m also on 3 other inhalers and montelukast.

I used to get lots of chest infection until I was put on Azithromycin a few years ago and I’ve only had one since then, until December last year, when I had to stop taking it due to having a rheumatoid arthritis drug changed. Since then I had two chest infections in December and one in January, admittedly not very bad ones, but in February I was admitted to hospital with pneumonia, from wher I escaped from last week! I would see if your dr will go down the Azithromycin route. The usual dose is 250g three times a week, but I was on 500 g three times a week as research said that, at this dose, it helped asthma sufferers more.

[Happy103 in reply to helenlw7]

Thank you.

[ghousrider]

good day yes i have copd/ tracky in the kneck bad asma i move out of 2 bed colud not handle the stairs walking rough / having asma injections now also stage 3 kidney infections gloucomma in fat eye 10 % all this started 2013 now 2024 and still standing age 60 male very bad mood swing thou in morning been up since 530 having bad dreams about dying / keep smiling all the best ghoust rider

[Alberta56 in reply to ghousrider]

Hope the bad dreams don't come back. Dreams can leave a nasty taste in the mouth, even though we now they were only dreams. Keep standing- and keep posting. Alberta xxx

[ghousrider in reply to Alberta56]

ok thanks for reply ghoust rider

[knitter in reply to ghousrider]

One of my inhalers gives me dreadful nightmares , but not quite as bad as the one I had before …Clenil.

I used to sleep for a bit , nightmare , sleep, nightmare ….half awake half asleep dreadful .

[Ern007 in reply to ghousrider]

I had bad dream, not about dying, just bad dreams - I not take Zopiclone and it works. I have a lot of condition including cancer and it wears you down at time, but we are where we are so get help for your dreams. Did you mean CKD Stage three kidney disease? Mine is stage three but other stuff will get me before it reached stage 5.

If you are having "bad mood swings" when you get up because of dreams, you need help with that one, I had dreams that paralized my body and sometimes I can't breath, don't know how I put up with that, eventually I got it sorted at doctors,

Good luck and hope you get rid of the dreams.

[GintyFerguson]

This could have been me years ago . I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis. I'm not saying that is what you have . I'm nort nedically trained but it was the same pattern I experienced and bronchiectasis was confirmed by scan and bronchoscopy. I'm now on the appropriate inhalers and much better.

Good luck.

[Pwkav1]

Long term asthmatic Azythromycin 500mg has helped my asthma too in the long term and i can do so much more now and chest infection free for at least 4 years now. I take the strongest inhalers and montelukast too and find Azythromycin taken weekly was only drug that helped me too. Xxx

[peege]

Mine has definitely deteriorated since I was diagnosed in the noughties, however after a few years I had my first pneumonia in Nov '09. Thinking back I always had a nasty infection over the Xmas break from work for the 10 previous yrs. Long story short, I've been taking prophylactic antibiotic Azithromycin 250mgs on Mon, Wed, Fri from November to April this has helped enormously with keeping infections at bay alongside taking vitamins/minerals & supplements (for immune system) and as much exercise as I can manage to keep up a bit of strength/stamina and keeping weight down (I've not done so well on that this winter & put on weight which most definitely doesn't help).

I can only offer my experience because I know my immune system was shot to pieces after endless infections and antibiotics. I think you need a serious chat with your medics for a bit of support , ask them about prophylactic antibiotics. Request a CT scan to see if anything else has developed in your lungs which if treated could give you a better quality of life.

[Biker88]

I asked my chest consultant why am I also so breathless so he said you have Aspergillosis, emphysema, a leaky heart valve, lung scarring what do you expect. Breathlessness is now my normal and I have to take into consideration with everything I do. I use a mobility scooter for anything other than a very short walk, I have a stair lift at home and things get done in stages with regular rest breaks while I get my breath back. I have been prescribed Oramorph which helps and have a blue inhaler, I did have a dry powder preventer inhaler which he has recently stopped as the dry powder was drying out my lungs, the preventer has been replaced by the Oramorph, my conditions aren’t the same as asthma therefore not prone to asthma type attacks.

[knitter]

sounds a bit like me …..3 visits A and E recently , three phone calls surgery , two visits to surgery and nurse yesterday . Another course of doxycycline.

Yet another chest infection , awake coughing most of the night .

I told nurse yesterday climbing stairs was so difficult . Even slowly , gasping and white knuckle panic at the top . I described tight chest , cough etc , but I think she found it difficult to understand .

The only thing that works for me is antibiotic plus an increased dose of my normal oral Steroid….but not allowed for some reason I have asked , maybe it’s my osteoporosis putting them off .

Phone call with doctor next week , but last time he said no increase steroid dose .

Sorry I have used your post to vent my frustration with my symptoms , but I do so sympathise with you .

[Alberta56 in reply to knitter]

I wish health professionals dealing with our sorts of infections had some idea what it's like to actually be inflicted with them. I'm not surprised you're frustrated.

[knitter in reply to Alberta56]

Thanks for the reply .

I spoke to another nurse , I asked if could have one more pack of 1mg pred so I could double up for a few days , and it’s starting to work. Easier to breathe .

I must admit I watched my mother, my daughters , my OH struggling with acute asthma attacks , only when mine started did I really understand the fear and panic .

[Alberta56 in reply to knitter]

I hope the extra preds will do the trick. Panic is a horrible thing. xxx

[Patk1]

Have u been taught lung clearance technique to get the mucous up? Also " controlled pursed lips breathing technique is very useful for walking,stairs etc.u cld ask for referral to lung physio but meanwhilel look at aluk website & practice using them.also SLOW down,and u will go further when combined with controlled breathing.id request a ct scan on chest x

[Didgeydo]

Hi to you, I have had asthma now for over 20 years plus and on 9 tablets a day, nebuliser and ,inhalers and yes I do not do stairs any more as I sound like an old steam train,I am constantly out of breath. Have been diagnosed with bronchitect ..I know my limitations and do what I can but some days are harder than others,as an OAP most things take me longer to achieve,but we are alive which is a blessing. Hope you soon have some days where you can breathe easier.👋🙏🤞