Went to the out of hours doctor today :(

[ash6]

So i had an appointment today after the ringing the 111 nhs number and was seen by a nurse. She did my blood pressure, oxygen levels twice, peak flow and had a good listen to my chest and said it was clear but she gave me a course of antibiotics if i need them. She said about my weight again aswell as it could be my anxiety setting of the asthma, i really feel like my qeight could be a big part of my issues now. I have never been this heavy in my life, i am 32 yr old male, 6ft1 in height and just over 20st

Its really getting me down now

[Flowergirl78]

Hi, sorry you are not feeling great at the moment. As no one had replied I wanted to just acknowledge that someone has read your post as I know when I have felt the need to post i think I needed to see someone reply. I'm not saying that you do but thought I would reply just in case. I feel a bit fed up with asthma at the moment, I to suffer with anxiety and I know it can affect my asthma and am constantly juggling the anxiety vs asthma symptoms. I am noticing the older I get the more exhausted I get walking up the stairs and the more my muscles feel so fatigued. Sometimes everything feels a bit rubbish. Can't give you too much productive advice but just wanted you to see that people do care and people hear you.

Hope things get better soon, but people are always hear to listen when you need them too.

[gillbee]

Hi completely understand, I had similar issues, your 6ft 1 & 20 stone I was 5ft 6 and 20 stone. The weight is an issue however anxiety is also another problem. I started off doing Holly Honchos 10-12 min HIIT & weight excerise for overweight people. Cut down on carbs and went for gentle walks. When I start to get anxious I try to relax my breathing and listen to a 3 min breathing/mindfulness excerise. Combined together it’s helped a lot. My anxiety and my weight. I’m not on a strict diet but since doing this from Christmas I’ve lost 3 stone. I’m more at peace and confident. My asthma is more under control and my fittness has improved dramatically. Hope this helps

[twinkly29 in reply to gillbee]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

So often symptoms that are thought to be asthma are actually anxiety symptoms which won't be improved by asthma drugs and need other strategies to manage.

Of course people very often have both asthma and anxiety - in some, the anxiety makes their asthma worse but, in others, it's entirely separate.

I'm glad you've found ways to manage your anxiety which in turn had helped your asthma. This hopefully doesn't come across as patronising as it does in my head 😬 but well done! It's not easy to work on the anxiety side of things.

These breathing exercises are really good for breathing pattern issues but might also help anyone looking for breathing exercises as they relax the breathing:

blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

I find the breathing rectangle particularly good but, as with most things, I imagine it's personal as to what suits different people.

[Poobah in reply to gillbee]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I'm going to look at Holly H and try and follow your example. Just got back from blood tests and BP check and BP has crept up again so definitely need to lose weight and take more exercise. Well done and keep it up.

[Wheesy]

I know what you are feeling. Firstly I always have trouble with all medics as I do not wheeze and can have good peakflow readings, but the weight problem is due to the steroids have caused me to gain a lot of weight from a 30" waste to a 44" waste and also has resulted in me suffering with sleep apnoea. I have tried to diet but with very little affect. I hoped that biologics would help but although it has improved my asthma it has had no effect on my weight. Even diet specialists do not have any comments on this problem apart from the use of steroids. I am just going around in circles with the weight problem. Sorry I can not be of any assistance but at least we know that we are not the only ones suffering with this problem.Keep Well and Stay Safe

[gillbee in reply to Wheesy]

I was in the same boat but don’t think of it as a diet. I bought 5:2 recipe book and reduced carbs. I still have a bit of what I fancy! Also the virtual gastric band Hypnotherapy seems to have worked. At least it makes me think twice before I shove something in my mouth. But everything combined has brought my asthma under control, weight, mental health and fitness

[ash6 in reply to Wheesy]

Thanks for your response, so a side effect of prednisilone is weight gain?

[twinkly29 in reply to ash6]

Long-term pred can cause weight gain, or many repeated courses. The occasional short course probably wouldn't.

[ash6]

Thank you all for your replies, i still feel a bit rubbish and feel really bloated. Not sure if being bloated would effect my breathing though

[twinkly29 in reply to ash6]

It can sometimes feel harder to breath if bloated. But anxiety definitely will affect breathing. It often feels like asthma flares but doesn't respond to/improve with asthma medications.