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University

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Since being diagnosed with asthma about 10 years ago i have been reasonably well controlled, i am triggered by colds or coughs, cold weather, and exercise that i know about. Since starting university 6 weeks ago I have been taken to A&E in an ambulance three times, and was admitted twice. The second time my oxygen was briefly down to 85% but my chest sounded clear, the third time my chest was 'rattly' but my oxygen was fine, but i was given oxygen anyway (is that standard with nebulisers?) is that normal? for my asthma symptoms not to match up with how well i feel very well?

Also has anyone got any inspiration as to why my lungs might be feeling so cross? The vacuum cleaner is rubbish and so we're getting that replaced but i wouldn't have thought that would cause such a dramatic change. I don't feel particularly stressed, its not cold in my room. I have all my own bedding from home so I'm running out of ideas can anyone else think of anything? I'm on my 4th course of prednisilone in the time I've been here and I really don't like taking all these short courses, if nothing else my food bills sky rocket when i'm on it :-) and i just find it frustrating that its not getting sorted! If anyone does have any ideas that would be really helpful, Thanks in advance, Sophs

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Janna123 profile image
Janna123

Hey :) I started uni a few weeks ago too :)

I found that I got a lot worse for being in a city, where there's pollution and loads of people smoking. Being surrounded by people who have freshers flu also doesn't help.

Maybe it's just where you are, as in the change in environment? Also, check your room for mould. I found loads under my sink last week that I'll have to clean up when I go back tomorrow :(

This years mould and fungus levels have been extremely high, my own RAST test just came back off the scale for them having never had any problems with either. I'd definitely get checked for them as the timescale of six weeks fits mine.

Hi there,

I didn't know I had asthma in university, but I moved to a different area of the country, which had a much higher mould count. Also, a friend of mine who did have asthma had horrible trouble, and used some sort of filter to prove there was mold in our air vents. When I returned to uni. for my 3rd. year I could tell immediately that I could breathe better...well it turns out they removed 10 inches of mould from inside the vents!!

One thing I will say though, is that my asthma has changed over the years, so it could just be you're going through a rough patch. Hang in there! It does take some patience, but I bet once you get settled at school, you know more what to expect with classes and friends, and your lungs have had some time to calm down with the new meds, that things will get better.

I know I'm on oral steroids myself right now, because of the high mould count, but as long as my lungs stay calm I should be able to get down to a lower dose of inhaled steroids, but like I said it takes some patience because for the meds to work it takes time. It also takes time to work out the right plan for you, when your asthma does change. I've finally got a good action plan that works, and it's made a big difference in being able to take more meds when I need them, but also in being able to then move on and go about my day. But it took probably 6 months of tweaking to see how I responded to get the plan right.

Bee

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