Hello everyone
Been coughing since December, GP says it’s asthma. I’m on ventolin and clenil inhalers, omeprazole (in case it’s acid reflux) and the latest montelukast 10mg. I’m taking my hay fever medication fenofexadine 180mg and mometasone nasal spray. I also take Vit D 3000iu when I remember. The thing is though I’m still coughing morning, noon and night. I can’t lie flat in bed at night on my back throat starts to irritate feel like clearing my throat then coughing starts. I managed to get two weeks sleep when the GP put me on 40mg prednisolone (steroids) it was magic. Was on it for five days. The cough is just awful sometimes it makes me retch, chest hurts all the time just miserable. From reading through posts I’ve learnt a few things but any advice? I’m starting to wonder if it’s even asthma.
When you're coughing, do you use your ventolin and does it help? It might be useful to do your peak flow when you have symptoms, then use the ventolin (ideally 2 puffs, inhaled one after the other not 2 presses together, through a spacer). Then 15-20 mins later repeat your peak flow. The impact on peak flow and on your symptoms can show whether the ventolin is helping.
But if the doctor thinks it is asthma then maybe ask about changing your inhaler from a just steroid one to a combi inhaler which contains steroid and and long-acting bronchodilator. But working out if the coughing is asthma would be useful first. Breathing tests like spirometry aren't necessarily helpful as they can be normal anyway (as asthma is variable) but impact of asthma medications on symptoms and peak flow is a useful tool. Also if you do your peak flow (and if the GP thought asthma they should have been getting you to do this from the start, although many seem not to bother with encouraging basic monitoring...!) has it improved since you started the Clenil (ie since December not literally straight after taking it)?
Thank you for responding. I only started using the ventolin at night after reading posts on here! All of this has been diagnosed over the phone I’ve not actually been seen in the flesh by a doc/nurse. It does help a little but effect doesn’t last. Last night I woke up coughing three times and used it. But I will do as you advise and start monitoring I stopped as no one asked for the results. Last week would’ve been week eight of the clenil and as was still coughing got started on montelukast. I think the clenil is helping but its not fully effective. The GP was going to put me on a combi inhaler but changed her mind and put me on the montelukast instead. Can’t say I’ve noticed any improvement but as it’s getting colder that seems to give me issues. She also said about waiting three months to see if it works before reviewing but not sure I will last. I have a months prescription of montelukast so will see if it improves things. Thank you Twinkly29👍
Diagnosing over the phone isn't necessarily any different to in person.so don't worry about that for now. They can hear a lot that way and will have been listening to what you're saying about symptoms which is really important.
The montelukast should be additional to the clenil not instead of - so if it's a switch I would maybe check they mean that. Waiting is sensible as all these preventer meds do take approx 8 weeks, some longer, to become fully effective. That said, do contact them at any point to discuss any queries you have - they're right to give them time but don't feel you can't discuss things in the meantime.
I kind of laughed about the giving up monitoring - in an understanding way! It does definitely feel a bit 😩😩😩 at times for that reason! Going back to it now sounds a good plan with the meds change.
If the clenil felt like it helped that's a sign that it was working (so therefore could well be asthma) - and therefore it does just need that bit extra that hopefully the montelukast will help.
You may have seen it from other posts on here but I wrote this post because so many people seem to not be told anything about asthma (symptoms, management, monitoring, etc) by GPs or nurses, in case that's any help:
healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...