Hi everyone,
Lately i have had a low peakflow between 330-350 personal best is 460. It has been at this level for about 6 weeks and hasnt varied that much. I don't feel to bad so was wondering if this is now my new personal best or a sign my asthma isnt controlled? As i feel reasonably well im guessing this is my new normal?
It's a sign your Asthma is less controlled, your peak flow is 75 percent of your best. Do you have an Asthma care plan? A plan would tell you what to do in this situation. I'd book an Asthma review as you likely need your inhalers stepping up. x
Are you having night time symptoms/day time symptoms/activities limited in any way? Are you using ventolin 3 x a week or more? These would indicate you need stepping up in your inhalers x
Hi thanks for your reply i use ventolin a few times a week mainly nighttime but has been like this a while. Im under consultant care but not due to go back till the new year.. Not sure if g.p will do anything as during the day im generally not symptomatic, so feel a bit of fraud going lol
Sorry forgot to say i dont have a care plan
Maybe go back and see GP? They could get your Consultants appointment brought forward? If your getting night time symptoms and peak flows dropped and using ventolin 3 or more times a week then your Asthma is not stable and you may need stepping up? x
Think im going to have to bite the bullet and go, just always feel like a timewaster when im not wheezy!
Your not wasting the Drs time: your being proactive in recognising your Asthma has worsened so it can be nipped in the bud xx
Hi there, I have Asthma and I don’t wheeze!
I have never wheezed and have moderate cough variant asthma. I have a persistent cough and my puffers loosen the mucus and that makes me cough more.
Hi
Your best PF counts if you’ve hit it at any point in the last 6 months. It sounds like you’re uncontrolled atm as you’re dropping to 70-75% (even if you don’t feel ‘asthma-ry’). The aim of the game is to keep you controlled so that you don’t reach the point of actually being bad and needing to go to hospital etc.
Defo book an appt to see you GP or practice asthma nurse and explain what your PF is doing, plus that you’re using your ventolin more often esp at night. If you print off an asthma plan from the asthma UK page they should be able to fill it out for you. If you’ve seen the consultant before you could also contact them for advice.
I know what you mean about feeling a fraud when you don’t feel that symptomatic but remember they’d rather ‘waste’ £43(ish) and 10 minutes giving you advice and support about your condition at the GP, then spend £100s-£1000s for an acute, potential fatal asthma attack requiring days-weeks worth of hospitalisation and lots of medication (plus all the extra paperwork that causes 😉).
To this point a&e would rather see someone at a ‘mild’ end of an attack than at ‘life-threatening’ end (it’s cheaper, quicker and a lot less stressful to everyone involved) so try not to delay until you feel ‘bad’ enough to warrant it!
Hope this helps and that whoever you speak to is useful!
FYI a link to the asthma UK asthma plan page
asthma.org.uk/advice/manage...
Hi, thanks for your reply. That link is super helpful. I think i will see if i can get an appointment with the asthma nurse at my doctors.
First thing I would advise is to get an asthma plan sorted out that way you can tell what action to take from your pf readings
Hi Melanie I would make an appointment with your asthma nurse or GP only they can tell you what’s happening hun.
Forgot to say - If you don’t want to bother them you can always contact an asthma nurse on ASTHMA UK - I’ve found them to be invaluable in the past. Good luck.
Completly forgot about asthma U.K will give them a ring!
Please let me know how get on.
Thankyou for all the replies!
I phoned asthma helpline. They have advised speaking to my g.p about being referred to a specialist asthma centre, as im on high dose of preventor and consultant care and its still uncontrolled. My g.p isnt normally the best so doubt i will get anywhere, but the asthma nurse did reccomend trying an antihistamine so may give that a try.
If you’re GP doesn’t do anything, then discuss it with your consultant - that’s who referred me (once I had had tried all the different med options and they knew I met the criteria for a biological). Good luck and I hope the antihistamine helps! Hope you’re feeling a little better today x
Glad you called asthma uk - if GP no good do you have an asthma nurse or clinic? They may be able to help you if you aren’t under a consultant then I’d be asking to be referred after all this is YOUR LIFE not theirs. Good luck please let me know how you get on. 🐶🐾
Hi, i am under a consultant but not due to be seen till after xmas. I have a gp appointment next week so fingers crossed i get somewhere 🤞
Good to hear it Melanie perhaps you can ask your GP if they can contact the consultant to bring your appt forward. Good luck. 🐾🐶🐾🐶
If you’re having issues and you can call the hospital and ask about bringing the appt forward - some hospitals will let that happen if your struggling. Good luck at your GP x
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