Warning signs

[Fiona22]

Back on, after a bit of a break . Asthma has not improved . Just a quick question does anyone get any warning signs before an asthma attack . I seem to get extremely tired before one . Does anyone else have this problem? Many thanks in advance

[1974lovejoy]

I get really tired too ... and it takes a long time for me to recover as well .. recovery time could be related to being tired for So long prior to exacerbation!! I'll never know !!!

[Jandm]

If I'm exposed to a trigger then it can take a little while before I feel the full effects, but leading up to it I get extremely tired and feel disorientated and a bit dizzy.

[Kaleidoscope_Girl]

I find that my peak flow readings drop very slightly over 1-2 days before I have a sudden big drop and so an asthma attack. It's not very scientific but I do get an "inkling" that my asthma is going to go a couple of days before it does but it is very hard to convince someone who doesn't know me well to increase my steroids based on an inkling! However, my GP and Xolair team realise that I know my own asthma and will increase my steroids on this basis and up my regular nebs. As to tiredness I find it depends on the cause of the asthma exacerbation, ie if it is caused by a chest infection then I often feel very tired with that, if just asthma in its own right then not so much so. All the best to you

[Fiona22 in reply to Kaleidoscope_Girl]

What is xolair ? Is it like singular ?

[TuckBox2 in reply to Fiona22]

Hi Fiona,

Singulair is 'Montelukast Sodium' tablets for control of asthma.

Xolair is 'Omalizumab' normally given by injection.

You can click on the link below and read up about it

xolair.com/

[Fiona22 in reply to TuckBox2]

Thank you 😊

[Hidden]

Hi I don't get any warnings at all. Mine normally happen when I wake up suddenly at night unable to breathe. It then can take a few hours to bring my breathing fully under control. I have never had (so far) to call an ambulance thank goodness. x

[Fiona22 in reply to Hidden]

That's how I get a bad attack too. Wake up in the middle of the night coughing and choking . I have a few tricks . Hot water with honey , steaming myself to try and get it back to normal

[ferny_123]

Depends how severe your asthma is I think. For some people they can come on so suddenly that there is literally no warning and they can get very sick very quickly. Others will see their peak flow drop over a few days and can act. I have Brittle asthma so I have no warning at all when mine flares up. Usually I get chest tightness first, then the heart rate suddenly goes crazy and then the attack starts. When i am exhausted it tends to be a lot worse as I find I don't have the energy to fight it off and I know it's coming hours before it happens. Nebulisers fix it for a while and then it comes back twice and worse. Wish I had warnings more, my life would be a lot easier! I'm used to frequent exacerbations, ITU admissions and ambulance panics....but it has improved thanks to xolair in the last few months!

[Fiona22 in reply to ferny_123]

Hope you feel a bit betterxx . The actual attack comes on suddenly waking up in the middle of the night . But seem to be very tired a few days before so it seems to be linked . Know what you mean about the heart rate , races so much during the attack .

[Chip_y2kuk]

I find my pulse goes up quite drastically and my peak flow drops (apparently the two are related) with that comes an increased tiredness.... this happens a few days before an attack

[healthwish]

Yr heart goes faster since it has to work harder to help your breathing. Thats what i was told. So they do go hand in hand. Its scary when h feel heart beating very fast. Wish there was a cure for asthma.

[Fiona22 in reply to healthwish]

It's so scary , totally understand ❤️

[Triggerina]

I usually get warning. Earliest sign is an itchy chin...really!..... I have learnt not to ignore this. It seems to be a very good early warning system to take action . Then peak flow also slides down over a day or 2

[lauraDidy in reply to Triggerina]

I was going to say an itchy chin, glad it's not just me!

[Triggerina]

Two's company! Wonder how many others?

[Hidden]

Hi I get tired, I have difficulty breathing, chest is tight and my peak flow is lower than usual so I immediately follow my action plan, I start with 2 vento plus 2 atrovent or take my nebs but the aerosol is noisy enough to wake up the whole buildings so I do that during the day..If I don't improve I take 40mg of prednisolone, if no better I phone in for help