Asthma diagnosed at 44

[JoMB]

Hi, last year a lot happened in my life I lost my dad, i was diagnosed as peri menopausal and then asthma after getting a cold and sinusitis, think I have struggled to accept I have asthma because I can’t understand how I have got to age 44 without any symptoms previously. I now notice a huge change in symptoms. I was on clenil preventer for a year but last 4 weeks I was changed to Fostair, it has been a terrible 4 weeks. I am a reasonably fit person running 3/4 times a week but my running times have reduced significantly and I struggle with getting my breath, I take my blue inhaler which has very little effect. I wake through the night, have terrible leg cramps, tingling in arms, tight chest, pains in centre of chest. I am going back to the asthma clinic this week to get back on clenil, not sure why they changed it but as they are the medical professionals you take their lead but I can’t cope with feeling so rotten now. Sorry for the moan but just needed to say things to others who may have experienced same things and if you have any advice, thanks for reading

[Junglechicken]

Hello JoMB. I’ve had asthma since the age of 2 so it’s hard for me to put myself in your shoes, as for me asthma has just been part of my life. What I can understand is a suddenly change in the severity of symptoms. I was severely asthmatic as a child which then became milder and almost disappeared until a year ago. I had a mini flare which warranted a short course of oral steroids and Clenil 100. Everything was fine until the start of May this year when I noticed that my blue inhaler was becoming less effective and I was using it very regularly. I also had chest pain every now and again. At the end of May, I was sent to A and E by GP for breathing difficulties. Turned out I had pneumonia. I was treated for this and was improving until two weeks later I had a severe asthma attack, my first in 25 years (very scary, I didn’t understand what was happening to be honest). Went to GP and explained what had happened ( I was still breathing very badly) I was put onto Seretide 500. I was well for a few days then I started to have severe attacks every other day. Long story short after seeing a specialist, I had chronic sinusitis as a complication of pneumonia. Since I received treatment my attacks have stopped and I am much improved. No one really knows if my asthma will be as mild as it was or whether I how have moderate asthma, triggered by pneumonia which requires a different type of treatment for the foreseeable future. I’m also a fit person but I am now struggling on the bike and in the pool.

[JoMB in reply to Junglechicken]

Thanks for reply Junglechicken, you have it rough, do you take a daily preventer?

[Junglechicken in reply to JoMB]

Yes, Seretide 500 is a combination inhaler which is a preventer and long lasting bronchodilator together. It’s used if a steroid only inhaler like Clenil is not controlling the asthma.

[JoMB in reply to Junglechicken]

Oh ok, I was on clenil but my nurse changed me to Fostair it’s been a nightmare, going back Friday to see about changing back

[Idontknow748]

Hi jo

Mhm sounds like my story except not really been given a direct asthma diagnosis

I’m constantly breathless throughout the day and no one can tell me why

Healthy gym freak on the daily which I haven’t been able to go ever since a month ago with this happening to me

[JoMB in reply to Idontknow748]

Hi, thanks for the reply, have you been given anything at all?

For me I had enough one evening of struggling to catch my breath and called 111 for advice and they sent an ambulance, I was given ventolin and a day of steroids but have had to continue with more inhalers. Going back tomorrow and see what’s next x got to get off Fostair x

[Idontknow748 in reply to JoMB]

Do you have instant relief from ventolin?

What’s fostair and does it relieve symptoms?

I was given steroids to use everyday and ventolin doesn’t really work that well with me

I now suspect i might have vocal cord dysfunction which mimics asthma but i don’t know

[JoMB in reply to Idontknow748]

Hi

Ventolin worked brilliantly for me but with Fostair it doesn’t have the same impact

Went to see my nurse yesterday she was amazing! I was worried she would not listen or believe that Fostair had such s negative impact but she has put me straight back in Clenil and double the steroid dose in it

Also they think I have post nasal drip so I have a spray and antibiotics as I also had a temporary so they want to rule out any infection

I tell yeah it comes in threes doesn’t it

Just got to get everything to settle now

Are you due to go back for assessment to try and pin point want is causing all of this for you?

[Hidden]

So sorry about your Dad.

I developed asthma at age 69 so you can trust the doctor. You can most certainly develop it at 44. The peri menopause could be partly to blame.

Stick with it. Google asthma “stepwise treatment.” Doctors work slowly and methodically to add more meds if needed. Tell the specialist everything you said here. Stress (losing your Dad), the peri menopause, but particularly the trouble running.

These are all pieces of a puzzle. It may take a while for you to really have a handle on it. It’s very frustrating but that’s how it is.

[JoMB in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for the reply, I will be telling the nurse everything tomorrow

Thank you

[Swimmingaddict]

I have read this with interest. I have a lot of allergies, had bad eczema as a baby, have a family history of asthma.

I had an Ventolin inhaler in my late teens, and then nothing until 2009 when I started to react to airborne triggers (in this case perfume). Until 2014 I wasn't too bad, but then exposure to more triggers caused more frequent reactions, and I was again prescribed Ventolin as I also had shortness of breath.

I had a bad cold at the start of this year and couldn't take time off sick as I would have been given a formal warning (due to have been off previously for shoulder surgery).

Ever since then I have struggled. My VO2 max is way down and not recovering. I used to swim loads (80 lengths two times, 136 and 140 lengths once each in a week) and run 10k twice a week in an hour. I used to do 100 lengths with tumble turns no problem, 64 lengths in a smidge over 34 minutes. Now I can do nowhere near this, and frequently stop for my inhaler. It feels like I can't exhale fully, and then I don't get enough air in, and tumble turns are no longer possible. Running is not as bad, but that is only due to a lower pace.

I am plagued with mucus, cough and throat clearing plus still at times short of breath and wheezy.

I did have a lot of stress and anxiety in the last 12 months. My Dad had a heart attack and triple by pass surgery, three months at work on standby waiting for the company to be put in administration, and a manager asking me when I was going to be normal again, then my husband diagnosed as severely sight impaired and then had a serious infection leading to sepsis and a stay in intensive care, then made redundant in May, and now caring for my husband.

So, these tales make me feel like I am not alone.

[Junglechicken in reply to Swimmingaddict]

I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had a rough time. It is very easy to feel alone when you are ill as no one can experience directly what you are feeling physically and mentally. I do sometimes wish I could swap places with a medic just for a little while so they could know exactly how I am feeling, especially when stats are saying I am fine and it’s blatantly obviously that I am not. Asthma is an awful illness and for some who have never experienced it is regarded as “just” asthma. I’ve felt very alone especially when you feel ill, having attack after attack, medics are not helping, being told it’s all in your head and have lectures from family about keeping active, going out etc when you are actually drained. My mum as a fellow suffer understands how bad it can get and doesn’t push me. My dad although has been sitting up with me through the night during my recent attacks, doesn’t quite understand that you don’t magically go from very ill to perfectly well after an attack although it may look like it. It’s a chronic illness that ebbs and flows but never goes. I did chuckle to myself the other day when he said to me “ you are well now aren’t you” (err, no dad, asthma is an ongoing illness that I’ve had since I was 2) It’s also tough that asthma at times gives you a taste of what it feels like to be asthma free or nearly so then takes it all away. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever have severe attacks again but it happened. It was unreal and I felt like I would wake up soon from a terrible dream. My brain started to disassociate from what was happening. Everyone in the community is supporting you and you are definitely not alone.

[Swimmingaddict in reply to Junglechicken]

Thank you for your reply. I have been following your struggles, and being able to understand some of the challenges you have had, especially when you mentioned swimming.

My asthma nurse is great, GP less so as she hasn’t heard a wheeze, or seen low SATS. Paramedics did though when I had my first very bad attack. They took me to A&E but the hospital had been trying to get hold of me as my husband was so poorly so I wasn’t booked in.

I have been waiting since April to see a respiratory consultant, and it is still another 6 month wait!

Hope you get the help you need too.

[Junglechicken in reply to Swimmingaddict]

That’s awful that you have to wait so long to see a consultant. Through my medical insurance I was able to see a specialist within 10 days. I was shocked however when I got a breakdown of the cost that my insurers had paid. It was over £1,000! but I’ve been paying in for 15 years so I guess it’s not a lot when you add it up. Not everyone is as lucky as me and have the funds to take out insurance sadly.

[Swimmingaddict in reply to Junglechicken]

I had been asked by work to see a consultant, and at that point I had medical insurance through the company, but the GP didn’t write the referral letter as she wasn’t convinced!

[JoMB in reply to Swimmingaddict]

So sorry to hear your struggles, thinking of you.

It is so frustrating but life surely has an impact, hope you are getting the support you need x

[Swimmingaddict in reply to JoMB]

Thank you for your kind wishes. Asthma nurse is great, GP less so but since stopping work at least I have some respite.

[Hope680]

Hi I understand where you are coming from. I would be a walker and have in the past don't marathons. I was also on the Fostair and felt no better for being on it. I'm now on Seretide 125 , it has taken a while for my asthma to settle but yes go back and ask to be put onto the inhaler that you Feel best works for you. Good luck.