Following a CT scan, in May this year, I was diagnosed with Late Onset Asthma (very late - as I’m 73 years old...LOl). After an initial bombardment of Prednisone, Qvar 100 and Salbutamol, things eased a little however, the breathlessness, persistent tight band around the rib cage along with a little cough, all remained. On the suggestion of a consultation, the Qvar was changed to a Fostaire 200/6 (2x2 puffs am and pm). The cough is now reduced to throat clearing every so often and I am able to walk a little further before getting breathless but, the tight band, although not quite so persistent, still is very noticeable. I have now been referred to a Respiratory Clinic.
Having just given my asthma life history - I have what is probably a really dumb question. Needing to take the Fostaire 200 twice a day...please can folk advise as to the best time to take it....as I believe it is supposed to last for twelve hours? (I know it’s a.m and p.m.....)
Any help would be truly appreciated....thank you.
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DollyDutchGirl
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Am I do after I get up... it's important to make sure you wash your mouth out (hot tea, clean teeth and mouthwash etc) afterwards
Pm i do after dinner/tea its late enough that it should last till morning ish (based on 12 hours) and early enough that it won't cause me to be awake all night... And I usually have a cuppa after tea and that anyway so that's enough to get rid of any steroid residue from the inhaler
Thank you for your kind reply, it’s truly appreciated. Do you think it necessary to ensure there is a 12 hour gap between each dose, as sometimes I take the pm quite late at night....making the am dose well inside the 12 hours....??
I do it morning just before brushing my teeth (after breakfast) and evening just before brushing my teeth. I usually do this about half an hour before I go to bed. It seems to work. I keep a tumbler in the bathroom so I that I can rinse my mouth thoroughly after the inhaler and before brushing my teeth. It seems to work all right.
Your mouth wash regime is slightly wrong. The correct procedure should be as follows:
After every inhalation, immediately gargle your mouth and wash your teeth with lukewarm water and spit it out. This should be done thoroughly so that any residue of the steroid/medication does not remain in the mouth. Drinking hot tea immediately after inhalation is not recommended since it will cause the medicines to enter your stomach and get absorbed systemically. These steroids are not supposed to be ingested, they are supposed to be directly deposited inside the lungs. Best of luck. Wish you all good health.
The advice many years ago was to wash your mouth out or drink something hot to wash away any steroid residue and stop it from causing oral thrush/ tonsillitis I've done it for 15 years and I know the advice has changed I've also never had thrush so I will keep doing it as it works... I was told to do this by an asthma nurse many many years ago and when I mention it to them now they have never heard of having a hot drink..... weird
Absolutely and if isnt something I can stick to I wont follow it I get up and get showered and clean my teeth of a morning but I take my medication before breakfast... and then drink a hot cup of tea
As another late onset a few years ago, I am now very used to doing it when I brush my teeth. That way I brush teeth and rinse and gargle immediately after.
Thank you Wheezycat. That is exactly what I have been doing. Just was uncertain whether the night time until the morning inhalation’s were far enough apart, as they come in well under twelve hours....
I would say that is often me as well, but I have never noticed that being an issue. Mind you, if I have a bad flare I am far more likely to remember and think of spacing it evenly. I can’t remember, is Fostair a combo inhaler? I am on Symbicort, which is. The reliever part of Symbicort has a time limit before it stops relieving, but my gut sense is that with the preventer, the steroid part, is likely to be more important that you have the correct dose in 24 hours.
Thank you again for you kind reply...and yes, the Fostair 200/6 is a combination inhaler. I still have to back it up with a couple of puffs on the Salbutamol inhaler most days - as we are struggling to get it all under control....and I’m waiting for an appointment at the Respiratory Clinic that I have been referred to.... I’m sure all will be well eventually.
By the way I was diagnosed when I was 65, and ran into more problems at 67. But when I think back I would say the signs were there much earlier, even when I was a child. So far I am luckier than you as you seem to have it more badly, even though I do have my moments.
Oh by the way, I know they diagnosed the asthma after the CT scan, but it he CT scan didn’t show the asthma. What it did was rule out some other possible causes for your symptoms.
My email address is susansetley2@gmail.com. Email me if you want to see some of the research I found regarding asthma appearing in older people like us for the first time.
Having had a persistent cough since January that, by mid May had me barely being able to breath....I was rushed to A&E wheredoctors initially considered the possibility of blood clots in the lungs (I have had blood clots - and my mother had a pulmonary embolism)....hence the CT scan. Fortunately, the clots were ruled out but, the CT scan showed areas of ‘tree in bud’ along with a couple of other things - that indicated small airways disease....and the diagnosis of Asthma was made. A specialist consultant thinks that along with the Asthma, I may also have some form of fungal infection along with a reoccurring infection....and has requested the NHS to undertake more tests. I had a lung function test on Friday - and am back at the hospital tomorrow to see another consultant.... 😊
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