I've had asthma for 28 years and for the first time I'm actually at a loss as to what the heck is going on with my symptoms.
Initially this started off with a crackly cough and that crackly wheezy feeling in the chest like when you feel you have a chest infection. So given that it was at an earlys stage I went to the Dr who said all my 'asthma vitals' were fine and chest was clear but as I have asthma she suggested giving me a dose of antibiotics just incase something was brewing in the respiratory tract.
As the days went on the cough was becoming more productive, more chest, more crackly and my peak flow was dropping to 400 and under (normally a good strong 450-470) so I went back to the Dr 9 days later, explained all my symptoms, worsening cough etc and worsening peak flow and that I was now getting a lot of discomfort in my throat and on my back I'm assuming from the worsening of the cough. Despite my worsening peak flow I was sent away with more antibiotics - to say I was annoyed is an understatement as the 1st Dr I saw said if things got worse to go back and I'd probably need a course of prednisolone.
Another 5 days later and my symptoms are getting worse, peak flow faltering to 350 with a horrendous cough that feels its coming right from the lungs and so bad at times I'm struggling to catch a breath inbetween each 'batch' of coughing! Its like every cough is sucking the little air in my lungs out. I call my Dr's again and ask for a phone consultation with my known GP and over 3 hours later I get a call back. Eventually she decides to give me prednisolone after I politely decline the offer of going into an 'open free for all surgery' just to get them the next day. I've been twice already and cannot get out without relying on someone to take me.
So I have now been on prednisolone for 4 days... yet finding very little improvement in my peak flow or the coughing. I'm slightly breathless when I walk about my house, feel utterly lethargic, tired, like my back has been kicked by a size 10 boot, have muscle aches and feel utterly unwell. I also have this weird feeling in my throat, well according to diagrams its more around the trachea area (under the adams apple bit), its not a sore throat as such, more a feeling of when I breath in it feels... kind of like a cold air going over something inflamed! I guess in a way it probably is with all the coughing to be honest.
But what I'm struggling to get to grips with is that I never had a cold before this, the coughing just appeared. At first it was thought it could just be a respiratory infection but there is part of me wondering if its morphed into a form of bronchitis?
But I don't know what to do next? The coughing is a nightmare and with my peak flow not improving I don't know what to do next? Should I wait until after the weekend and see the Dr again or see someone sooner?
What also doesn't help is my Dr and my asthma nurse giving me conflicting advice. WHen my peak flow drops, according to my asthma nurse, the new guidance is to use the reliever inhaler as its an 'immediate effect', however the Dr told me to increase my preventer inhaler which I am led to believe can take a few days to get into the system? Whose guidance am I meant to follow?
While I have concerns that my peak flow hasn't shown signs of improving so far, my main concern is this cough, when I'm coughing it isw like my lungs are squeezing out every little last bit of air and I have to not panic and force myself to somehow get a breath as I know I'm going to cough again and trying not pass out.
thanks for reading.