Stopped smoking, my asthma a nightmare

[Emilzapad]

Hi everyone, I am an asthmatic, I stopped smoking the 24th of November 2019.....so it is just over 5 month ago, my asthma has always been light, I used to use salbutamol ( the blue inhaler, the reliever ).

I was told years ago I had to use the brown preventer inhaler twice a day morning and evening but I am stupid and never did.

Now....since I stopped smoking my asthma became a nightmare, a part from the light asthma attacks that I used to have and make them stop easily with the blue inhaler when I used to smoke, now they come and the blue inhaler doesn't really work. I went a few times to my gp but unfortunately not a specialist and I have never done a spirometry, but all the times I went to the gp and got my lungs checked I have been told that my lungs were clear ( just with a stethoscope ) and checked the oxygen level and it was fine . I was just given fostair 200/6 inhaler to be taken twice a day......two puffs in the morning two puffs before sleeping ( and I have been taking it since I had it prescribed ), I still have asthma at night which wakes me up ..let's say 4 times a week.....but this used to happen even when I used to smoke ( and it's not a good thing I know ). The thing which is really worrying me is this breathlessness which happens during the day, we say in italian hanger of hair, breathlessness, I dont really know how to explain it but it's different then my normal asthma, it is really frightening, which I never had before I stopped smoking.

So overall my asthma got much worse with this new drowning sensation.

I know now everybody is allarmed by this bloody coronavirus but I am sure it is not that as I have been with this problem since I stopped smoking which is for the last 5 months and nothing has changed since then....I have no cough at all no fever no nothing plus I have been almost two months at home because here in italy as most of you might know it is illegal to go out unless for shopping or emergencies...........I was in england up to the 4th of March.

I know I could go to a specialist but i am so scared to go because of this bloody virus.

I would please like to know if any of you experienced something similar.

Thank you in advance

[hypercat54]

Hi nice to meet you and welcome to the site. I had mild asthma for many years and stupidly didn't stop smoking. Then around 12 years ago was told I had mild copd as well. A couple of years ago I stopped smoking and my symptoms got worse and I felt terrible the whole time, more breathless and completely lethargic. In the end I went back to smoking.

The smoke from cigarettes has a soporific effect on the lungs which masks the symptoms of your asthma so, when you stop the full effects hit you and you feel more breathless. But if you start again your lungs become more damaged over time and you run the risk of copd or worse. My copd has got worse since I started smoking again. I also found when I stopped my thyroid levels were low, smoking can mask this or even cause it.

My advice to you is to persevere with the stopping and use the inhalers your doctor has given you and you should see some improvement over time. I would also insist on a spirometry test. There is a very good quit smoking site here who will be able to help with the symptoms of stopping and who will give you moral support to stay off the cigs.

healthunlocked.com/quitsupport

[Emilzapad in reply to hypercat54]

Hi hypercat

Thanks for replying and nice to meet you too

I have heard that smoking masks asthma's symptoms, i just hope one day you will be able to stop smoking again, as i am sure no matter what not smoking is always better then smoking.

As soon as i can i will go for a professional visit.

Thanks again

[Tugun in reply to Emilzapad]

Hi,

Welcome and wishing you all the best. I don't know if it will help but try powdered salbutamol (Ventolin). Glaxo Smith Kline stopped producing the powdered form in Australia in 2019 but Orion produces a powdered form called Salbutamol Easyhaler. It may be worth a try. Give it a week or two to see if there is any change and have the other on hand in case it is worse for you and not better.

I find the powdered form much better for me but we are all different. All the best.

[Muttley_08]

I am new here and in a sort of similar situation - had a chest infection, followed by what seemed to be an asthma attack (I got asthma when I was younger and have always carried ventolin but not used it). I gave up smoking and was put on Clenil, then Fostair for the asthma but my breathing got worse and worse and my anxiety levels rocketed. I gasp for air and it feels like breathing through a straw -it was bringing on panic and horrible.

XRay was normal and CT scan showed area of infection/scarring which is still clearing but wasn't enough according to the medics, to be affecting my breathing. The initial spirometry test was inconclusive - "asthma/COPD?" My follow-up spirometry tests due now are now postponed to the end of the year due to the virus pandemic.

The doctor says it is likely a combination of asthma and anxiety - I am in a loop and my breathing control has gone. Sometimes it is better than others but always feels as if part of my lungs have gone missing! I have just been switched to Seretide 100 as apparently that is supposed to be better for not causing anxiety. I think quitting smoking was a huge shock to my system and am hoping the Seretide suits me. I have only just switched over so need to see after a couple of weeks but today although I had a headache I found I could breathe more normally as I went up stairs, however sitting still my breathing reverts to 'overbreathing'/gasping still.

[Muttley_08]

Asthma sufferers tend to breathe too much even when not experiencing symptoms. Have just cracked the breathlessness for myself- it was anxiety causing shallow gasping and a build up of C02 which was driving more gasping - really exhausting. Try Box Breathing - it helped me. medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

[Muttley_08]

Helpful info about anxiety and breathlessness my.dchs.nhs.uk/Portals/0/He...