Asthma flare and a&e

[charlottemack03]

Been to a&e a couple days ago and sat for 3hrs got sats checked and as usual o2 levels were fine so sent home - again been up all night coughing it’s currently 3am and I’m very breathless coughing til I’m vomiting, prednisolone not working etc and i don’t know whether to go back to a&e as I don’t want to just be sent home again anyone got any suggestions? x

[Jen74]

I have been told I have asthma but i dont regularly use an inhaler as my sister has had severe asthma her whole life and i feel i dont have similar symptoms.however past 2 weeks i have have had to use salbutumol inhaler steroids and amoxicillin for a chest infection.i also was sent for a chest xray. I have never been dependent on the inhaler before and have to do emergency breaths through the aerochamber.how long before I get better as never experienced this before and already had to take 4 days off work. Cant sleep at night and peak flow is between 230 to 260.any advice is welcome x

[charlottemack03 in reply to Jen74]

I had a chest infection about a month ago and I was on amoxicillin 5 puffs of salbutamol every 4hrs and prednisolone and I was off school for about 2.5 weeks which wasn’t great as I then was doing School show the week after and as I’m in 5th year it’s a crucial stage so I had no choice I had to catch up and i think I’ve overworked myself so I wouldn’t go back to work until you feel fully recovered x

[Hidden]

Blue inhaler springs to mind - are you taking ten puffs of blue inhaler every four hours?

If you are I am afraid it is back to A and E.

[charlottemack03 in reply to Hidden]

I’m trying to take 10puffs every 4hrs but I keep needing it more regularly x

[CrystalAngel1]

If you are needing 10 puffs of salbutamol more regularly than 4 hourly you have to be seen again. You could go via your out of hours gp on 111 but a+e is the answer. I hope you don't mind me asking....how old are you? What other treatments are you on? Do you have a peak flow meter and do you know what it is now compared to normal? In a+e they hopefully listened to your chest, did a peak flow, possibly a chest xray and blood tests as well as your finger tip oxygen saturation levels? I've been admitted before with normal oxygen levels because of the level of treatment I was needing to maintain them. It's also about other factors, we call work of breathing. Good luck and hope you feel better soon. NEVER feel bad for going back / making a fuss. You can't be too careful with asthma and we know our bodies and when things aren't right. X

[charlottemack03 in reply to CrystalAngel1]

I’m 16 I’m on Seretide 125 2 puffs morning and night and at the moment 40mg of prednisolone I’ve got a peek flow meter my best is 430 my usual is around 380/90 and it’s currently around 170 when I went to a&e they listened to my chest but I don’t wheeze never have, they checked my peak flow and it was 150 didn’t do bloods or chest X-ray they did my oxygen saturation but it was normal as it always is and they just said to go home and review my medications with the doctor (even tho I had been earlier in the week) cause my o2 was fine and I wasn’t wheezing I tried to explain that I didn’t wheeze and they just kinda made out as if they thought it was just panic attacks but I am asthmatic I just don’t wheeze and my o2 levels are always fine so I’ve not been given anything to help my breathing I just don’t want to sit in a&e for ages to be sent home again as I still live with my Mum and obviously can’t drive so I have to get her to drive me but i feel guilty when I’m waking her up in the early hours to go to a&e when they don’t do anything but send me Home

[charlottemack03 in reply to CrystalAngel1]

I went back to a&e and they did the same thing. However today I couldn’t stop coughing and my mum phoned nhs 24 who instantly told her to phone an ambulance long story short they gave me a neb but every time I take the mask of I start coughing again they think I’ve now got croup which isn’t really common in my age group but they think that’s why my asthma has been appearing to be worse so in hospital just now waiting to be assessed again because I might be getting admitted x

[charlottemack03]

I’m 16 I’m on Seretide 125 2 puffs morning and night and at the moment 40mg of prednisolone I’ve got a peek flow meter my best is 430 my usual is around 380/90 and it’s currently around 170 when I went to a&e they listened to my chest but I don’t wheeze never have, they checked my peak flow and it was 150 didn’t do bloods or chest X-ray they did my oxygen saturation but it was normal as it always is and they just said to go home and review my medications with the doctor (even tho I had been earlier in the week) cause my o2 was fine and I wasn’t wheezing I tried to explain that I didn’t wheeze and they just kinda made out as if they thought it was just panic attacks but I am asthmatic I just don’t wheeze and my o2 levels are always fine so I’ve not been given anything to help my breathing I just don’t want to sit in a&e for ages to be sent home again as I still live with my Mum and obviously can’t drive so I have to get her to drive me but i feel guilty when I’m waking her up in the early hours to go to a&e when they don’t do anything but send me Home x

[CrystalAngel1 in reply to charlottemack03]

As a fellow asthmatic but also as a registered nurse, I urge you to be seen again. A peak flow that is 50% less than your usual is serious, especially as youve been on Prednisolone. Please be safe. That peak flow really worries me. Especially if you've also been having 10 puffs salbutamol regularly. Surely your mum won't mind, she must be concerned too. Im really worried by the numbers you've told me and with the treatment you are on / using. Something isn't right. The thing is, you have nothing left to play with if you get any worse. It's far better to seek help now before it becomes a 999 emergency. There are lots of other treatments we give in hospital but we observe you to check they are working and for side effects etc. Salbutamol is great but, if you are having 10 puffs more regularly than every 4 hours, your inhalers may run out and, again, there are side effects from that amount of Salbutamol we like to monitor. I have a nebuliser at home but I have a plan that I have to be dialling 999 as I start my 2nd one. 10 puffs of salbutamol via a spacer is shown to equate to a nebuliser. Im sure nobody will be cross with you and you must be seen. Also.....have you done pre and post salbutamol peak flows? That would be very useful. X

[charlottemack03 in reply to CrystalAngel1]

Yea my pre salbutamol peak flow is like 130ish x

[dinadina]

You definitely need to be seen. Your peak flow is too low. I can't imagine why the doctor sent you back home with that low of a peak flow. Please seek help.

[Chloe2057]

Go back to A & E Please! Do not allow an organisation that should be providing you with the right healthcare to intimidate you. I know the “Yo Yo” feeling very well. My husband had to take me back 4 times on one occasion until they grudgingly admitted me. I was then kept in the hospital for 10 days! The vital signs they monitor are also worth looking at!! Unbelievably so many of the software programmes have been re-written with the express purpose of “the Prevention from Hospital Policy” and this is not just about the NHS not having enough funds! Many hospitals are running at 75/80% of capacity due to the current Terrir threat in Britain! I really wanted to share this with you. l am extremely lucky that l have discussions regarding “what is actually going on in the NHS” with a dear friend of mine who is a Senior Consultant and despises the manner in which healthcare workers are “Gagged” and the information that the public are “fed”! He has a conscience and morality!

So as far as you are concerned it’s really awful but keep going back! If necessary also refuse to leave until you have had a second opinion. Be aware too of the “sheets of paper”’soon to become computerised that Ambulance paramedics complete. They are also compelled to adopt the “Prevention from Hospital” policy. Sadly, shortly all will be secure “online for them” and we will be unable to see written data. Beware of appearing as fit as Mo Farah! I did on one occasion and then collapsed and needed the ITU!

Good luck and just keep going back if you are unwell and worried! 😊👍