Hi all, I have started a bit of a cold, feel a bit rubbish. And, of course, my asthma has kicked in, so I have increased my Symbicort. My peakflow is down to marginally above 80% of my best, so not that bad at all, at least not yet.
However, when I looked at the asthma U.K. website I noticed that they have now removed all references to percentages, and that I find difficult. Though I am better at noticing when things are not quite right, it is not often except when either really unwell or reacting to exercise that it even occurs to me to take extra ventolin, so that rule of thumb is useless for me, has always been.
How are we now supposed to know when to seek help? If it is quite bad it is easy, but if borderline? I have so far been prone to leaving it longer than adviceable, though I am getting better at managing it. I miss the numbers! (And could, of course, still use them, even if that is no longer on any guidance.) What do the rest of you do? Especially you with moderate asthma, like me?
Hi
I think maybe they took it off of the ‘patient’ pages, but it’s still there on the ‘professional’ pages;
asthma.org.uk/for-professio...
(Peak flow – in green, yellow and red sections)
There it states green >80% and red <60%.
Maybe asthma UK removed it because people (docs and patients!) over relying on the PF as an indicator for an attack and they are acknowledging that you can have issues bad enough to need ‘yellow’ without your PF changing.
Or they’ve removed as some people use different %’s... personally I use 75% and 50% mainly because I’m a severe, uncontrolled asthmatic and that’s what my hospital advised me so 🤷♀️
Use the numbers on your asthma plan like usual, especially if that’s what you rely on to prompt you to get help! I also ignore my symptoms and rely on my PF for prompts so... 😅
I hope that helps and that your cold finishes quickly without triggering your asthma badly! X
Thanks! What you say makes sense - and, yes, i still use numbers, but not only. I hadn’t seen the professionals page. I will have a look.
Thanks for the link to the professional guidance on this site, Emma. Suddenly I have a much clearer overview of asthma management, and where my symptoms fit in to the whole picture.
And at what point I really need to seek medical intervention. I’m poor at this, though meticulous about day to day management of my medication and my triggers. I really really hate hospital admission so stay home with a sad little bag of nightwear and toiletries at the ready, but hanging on and hoping. I have my own personal recovery systems sorted, and so far they’ve worked, but now realise how close to the wind I sail sometimes. I’ll mend my ways!
Take care, Penny.
You’re welcome
Don’t worry I have a hospital ‘go bag’ too - it’s got like 5 days worth of stuff inside 😅. That was the average time I’d be admitted if I was bad so hoping to ‘reduce’ it now! I usually pack the ‘essentials’ in my rucksack when I go to a&e, just in case tho too (so I don’t look too ‘keen’ to stay 😂)
Look after yourself x
And you! Sounds as though we’re all the same about hospital avoidance.....and prep 😂🤣
But I’ll not take risks any longer as I sometimes have, hopefully. Perhaps I’ll get myself an asthma plan...I’ve never been offered one. Might help me to make crucial decisions 🤔😳 xx
I think no one likes hospital, and we asthmatics can have ‘frequent flyer’ cards! I think many of us (esp severe asthmatics) either think we’re not ‘bad’ enough for a&e until we’re reaching ‘resus’ levels, or forget that if we head in earlier then we’re less likely to be admitted!
Personally I’ve had poor treatment when I wasn’t really bad (moderate-severe attack, told it was anxiety, not really treated til I returned the next day even worse) - I’ve found that the docs struggle with diagnosing/treating ‘low level’ attacks so I just feel like I’m time wasting or a fraud for attending a&e then, even if the GP has sent me!
Print your own plan off ( asthma.org.uk/advice/manage... ), and either fill it in yourself, or take it with you next time you see someone! I definitely good at giving you the prompt to seek help, and where to go! X
Yes you are.....I’ll be back! You’re very helpful.
My exacerbations have majorly reduced, fortunately, since I reaserched through my triggers, and have been going to a lot of trouble to understand and avoid them, as far as humanly possible.
One turned out to be salbutamol.....wondered why it didn’t work! Also GP prescribed montelukast and it has calmed my initial responses to triggers. After I joined this site, he finally allowed me a home rescue pack, which took a lot of the fear out of things, almost abolishing my breathless Sundays.....those were the especially sad bag days, when I blessed the day Buteyo was born! Just realised I’m not doing B breathing every bedtime any more.....I’ll start again....don’t want to lose the knack or the confidence it gave me when things went pear shaped.
Have a good, breathing Sunday. It’s sunny here in Cheshire ☀️ xx