Amber zone treatment : Hi all I am a... - Asthma Community ...

Asthma Community Forum

21,545 members24,420 posts

Amber zone treatment

Bethjbarrett profile image
1 Reply

Hi all

I am a brittle and severe asthmatic with a history of circa 10-14 admissions a year and multiple ICU admissions under my belt. Luckily, I’m relatively well between these flairs and am able to work.

My local hospital is great and the consultants and respiratory ward nurses and drs. work hard for me.

I respond well to Aminophylline IV (alongside hydrocortisone, magnesium, heliox and ketamine) on admission. I take theophylline (which my body struggles to absorb, nebs, antihistamines, prednisolone etc.) at home.

I now know my symptoms well enough to know 2-5 days before I have a big attack. I up my steroids at home and increase nebulisers myself. The problem I have is the next bit... I have to wait at home to get worse, bad enough for A&E and emergency treatment. What to do? Ideally I’d check myself in for a day or two on Aminophylline and avoid a two week admission. Saving major drama for my family and work... This just doesn’t seem to be an option.

Does anyone have any thoughts about some kind of middle ground treatment? What else can be done between ‘well’ and resus!?

Written by
Bethjbarrett profile image
Bethjbarrett
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
1 Reply
EmmaF91 profile image
EmmaF91Community Ambassador

Hi Beth

Are you under a specialist hospital or just your local? If not I’d definitely suggest asking for a referral!

I know my specialist hosp does ‘maintenance’ aminophylline treatments for some of the more severe asthmatics. They either have it booked for every x amount of weeks or they ring up when they know they start to need it.

Alternatively you could have a chat with your local hosp and ask if that’s an option. At my old local we came up with a plan where I could upas a&e and just turn up to amu for hydrocortisone therapy as an outpatient for a few days when I felt it was needed. It definitely cut down my admissions and allowed me to keep functioning at uni and work etc

It’s definitely worth breaching with your cons as part of your management plan!

Good luck and I hope you manage to get it sorted without needing to spiral to resus levels!

You may also like...

Losing my confidence in treatment.

I am losing my confidence in treatment. When my asthma got really bad and I forced the doctor to...

Counter-productive Montelukast treatment?

watcher and a few times poster, hope you’re all well. Just wanted some advice… My doctor last...

Chronic Sinusitis from Allergies- what other treatment is there aside nasal steroids?

using steri-mar daily (saline water) but it’s not enough to stop the headaches. I am on the waiting...

Recurrent croup and asthma

babies with regular hospital admissions and dexamethasone steroid treatment. They haven't had a...

Asthma, pneumonia A&E and admission

Well it's day 3 of my treatment for pneumonia with oxygen, rescue steriods antibiotics and neubs (if