How do you know when to go to the doctor?

Okay let me start off by giving a bit of background information. I was diagnosed a couple of years ago, I'm generally mild and exercise induced, I only use salbutamol and antihistamines as far as medication for asthma. The nurse keeps saying we might put you onto a steroid inhaler but we'll see. So my question is when do you go to the doctors for a flare up? I don't have an action plan (good lord my doctor seems useless) but since the start of the week every night I've had trouble with tight chestedness, wheezing and coughing which has kept my poor boyfriend awake with how loud my wheezing was. Now the symptoms have started appearing in the day and for the third time today I feel tight chested and wheezy, have often found myself just feeling exhausted and getting ever so slightly out of breath talking. After about half an hour after a good coughing fit or taking my inhaler the symptoms will let up. Do I wait and see if this goes away or go to a doctor ASAP? I was thinking of monitoring my peak flows for a few days first but I'm not sure, help?

[angievere]

I would go to the doctor ASAP. Your asthma is not being controlled and with all the colds/viruses around you could be vulnerable to a chest infection. f you feel breathless talking, you shouldnt really wait but see a doctor now. Might be a good idea to ring out of hours doctor service, explain the situation, tell them your peak flow and see what they say.

By the way, you have posted this in 2 places - you may get 2 threads going!

[Hidden]

Heya, I will if it keeps up! My peak flows are really high though, well I've only took it once during this ""flare"" and that was in the evening half hour after ventolin, so I'm not sure the doc will believe me. Chest was quite bad today, walked around shopping in the cold for 4 hours, but symptoms subsided after sitting in the warm for half an hour??

EDIT: And I know I didn't mean to and it won't let me delete the other one, so sorry about that, didn't mean to spam.