Asthma

[Ca12345]

Age 25 male peak flow is 600 and oxygen stats 98% but still breathless??

[floating_]

Have you done your breathing exercises?

[Ca12345 in reply to floating_]

Yeah ive been doing classes for about 3weeks but feel no better what so ever?

[twinkly29 in reply to Ca12345]

You will need to do the exercises repeatedly throughout the day, every day, as well as at classes. Also as the respiratory specialists and respiratory physios have said that while your asthma is controlled and fine, your breathing dysfunction is severe, so it may take months of persistence and perseverance to improve.

[Ca12345 in reply to twinkly29]

What i find stange when i wake up at like 5am in morning struggling to breath till i have my blue inhaler it calms it but still struggle but not as much

[Ca12345 in reply to Ca12345]

If it was dysfucional breathing surely blue inhaler wouldnt help?

[twinkly29 in reply to Ca12345]

It could be that the inhaler is helping because the brain knows "blue inhaler helps breathing" so by using it the brain makes the body relax and the breathing calms down, which is then what actually helps (ie the calmer breathing style).

The blue inhaler won't actually cause harm so, if it helps in any way at the moment while your DB is still severe and the exercises are new, maybe use a puff or two of the blue almost to calm things a bit and then sit and do the breathing exercises. It might be easier to work on them at this once things are less "bad" anyway rather than using them at the onset of symptoms. They do work even for severe breathlessness with seemingly sudden onset - but I think it's a case of constantly telling yourself thimgs that reaffirm that too, such as "it's not asthma/it's my body behaving weirdly/I'm retraining it/these exercises are the answer/they are slowing my breathing down". It's understandable that one might panic if waking up seemingly struggling to breathe but fairly high level anxiety that it's asthma instead or that the exercises don't work and so on is only going to exacerbate the cycle and add to the breathing symptoms.

So for now, use your blue inhaler initially it helps you to do so, but then use the exercises until things have calmed right down, while also reminding yourself that this is the key, that this is what will work. It may take time (over time of course for generally better breathing but also literally at the time of symptoms for them to pass) but embracing that will help. Over time you should then be able to use the exercises without needing the blue inhaler initially.

[Tree20862 in reply to Ca12345]

Any new exercise takes time to develop new muscles and coordination to to it better and more efficiently. Keep up with the home routine. Tell your therapist about how it is going at home, especially if you feel it is not working. That is feedback the therapist needs to develop a program that helps you to improve.

[Geegee2]

Hello , May I ask what the exercises are? My doctor has never mentioned them to me. Thanks.

[twinkly29 in reply to Geegee2]

They will be from respiratory physio rather than a GP or other doctor. I don't know specifically what Ca12345 has been given but the British Lung Foundation (BLF) recommends these: blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

Different exercises will suit different people (preference as much as anything) so it can be a bit of trial and error. I found the breathing rectangle one excellent with breathlessness when/after I had covid and such exercises really help when symptomatic with other random breathlessness too.

[Ilis]

Hello! Ca12345 I've just read your previous posts and discussion with twinkly twinkly29 and I noticed a sentence "If it was my db surely blue inhaler wouldn't help"; Twinkly answered correctly, your brain knows that your blue inhaler helps when you feel dyspnea so it makes you calm down and helps with your DB. I just wanted to add, it can also be the big breath you take when you take your blue inhaler that can help your dysfunctional breathing pattern. So this could make you feel better!

I am also an asthmatic with DBP btw!