New to the Forum

[Fluff51]

Hi I've had asthma since I was a child. It's been fairly well managed with the odd bad patch and hospitalization along the way. The last 4 years have been great and Ihad a marvellous asthma nurse at my doctors surgery.

Last summer my stress levels went through the roof and my asthma deteriorated, in the autumn we moved house to an old property in need of more tlc than we realised and changed doctors. Oh...and were surrounded by fields of rapeseed and trees...i really didn't think through the consequences of this move!!Since then I've had four chest infections, three a&e visits..I can't get my peakflow anywhere near where it was. I'm struggling to cope without steroids and my doctor has recently taken me off them and is trying Montelukast. It has helped but I had another attack last night. No action plan in place.

As a consequence Ive gained two stone in weight ( comfort eating) and I'm not exercising. I feel on a downward path which is not like me at all. I usually rally as the weather picks up but not this year.

Reading the Forum posts really helps enormously as I don't feel alone in all this. It's been a lifeline when I can't sleep.

I've decided to call the helpline for advice as my Dr surgery is very small with no asthma expert. I really miss my asthma nurse as she was so knowledgeable.

Thanks for providing such a great community it's lovely to be part of such a supportive group.

[Tracey1972]

Hi sorry to hear ur going through a roughy time and Wellcome aboard there a great team on here and have helped me through a lot of bad times like uni have. Been unwell a lot just lately going through a rough patch seems forever but the team on here have been amazing and been there for me every step of the way I couldn't thank them enough , there my. Right arm , I couldn't survive without my steroids I'm on 40mg a day and o go to London hospital every 2 months for the hydrocortisone infusion but mines starting to reject me lately and not doing the job but couldn't cope with out them I'm so sorry to hear they have stopped urs have I spoke to respitory nurse at ur local hospital might b worth looking into they can help and advise u on where to go, what to do etc may even put u in touch with he specialist there it's worth trying or go through ur gp hope u sort it. X

[Fluff51 in reply to Tracey1972]

Such a shame we all have to suffer so much. Definitely going to ask about the hospital support. My GP is lovely but not experienced so I feel she's just "trying" the next thing she can think of go on me off steroids as she was worried I wasn't producing any of my own - not sure what she meant. Thanks for the advice.

[emmasue]

Sorry to hear that you are having such a rough time. You might want to ask your GP about different anti-histamines. That's one thing that's been brought up with me lately. It's funny with asthma, when we are well, we don't think about it. It's only when we have a flare-up that it becomes a big issue! So don't feel too bad about the house move. It's not fair that we should have to suffer for the things that most people enjoy. Have you asked your GP if there is an asthma nurse based at the local hospital? You might be able to get on the list for a clinic there. Anyway, you definitely aren't alone. I hope you feel better soon. x

[Fluff51 in reply to emmasue]

Thank you so much. That's a great idea about the asthma nurse. I've been on the same antihistamine for years (citrizine) that maybe it's time to change.

[emmasue in reply to Fluff51]

I was on Cetirizine as well and just got put on Fexofenadine. It's not on my repeats yet so I will see how it goes.

[Fluff51 in reply to emmasue]

Interesting I'll mention it to my GP

[Fluff51]

Also my new GP doesn't have any of my meds on repeat is that normal as I'm not stable at the moment?

[Tre]

I'm a bit the opposite with my antihistamines, I'm on 2 x180 mg of fexofenaine in the morning & the GP put me on chorpheniramine ( periton) 4mg one at tea time & one before bed, they are the old school ones that make me drowsy, mind you that's helping at the moment as I'm on a week of steroids !!!! But I feel after 3 years the fexofenadine have stopped working, the nurse said there was no reason for it, but it does happen. So many drugs & still no control over the asthma.

Good luck with your quest, if you speak to the nurses on the Asthma uk helpline they will point you in the right direction & certainly make you feel better about the meds etc.

Take care,

Tre x

[Fluff51 in reply to Tre]

Thanks I was talking to my sister at the weekend and she mentioned that maybe my antihistamines just were not working anymore. X

[Hidden]

Hi Fluff51 ,

Sorry to hear your stress levels have been through the roof recently. I'm glad you find the community a supportive place.

Please do give our nurses helpline a call to talk through how you're feeling, you can reach them on 0300 222 5800 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

Take care, Dita

[Fluff51 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks