New to asthma

[taylorreid92]

Hello I’m new to this I was just diagnosed. I know asthmas a pretty common disease but seems to not be well understood by people. I’ve been having issues with my treatments if anyone has experience with nebulizer please message me it would be much appreciated❤️

[Troilus]

Hi taylorreid.

The only experience I have with nebulisers is as an emergency treatment when an ambulance has been called.

Can I ask why you are asking?

The standard home treatment for asthma is a preventer inhaler and a blue rescue inhaler.

[taylorreid92 in reply to Troilus]

I’m in the United States where Nebulizers are more commonly used. I was prescribed one

[Troilus in reply to taylorreid92]

Oh, right. I’m in the U.K. Here they are mostly used in an emergency setting, although some people do have them at home. We are recommended to use 9 salbutamol in an emergency.

Sorry I can’t help you, except to say that if you are needed to nebulise you may need your daily meds reviewing.

[taylorreid92 in reply to Troilus]

We have different rescue inhalers here and I’ve been told not to use them that much and instead use a nebulizer. maybe the dosage is different or something

[sbspidel]

I’m in the US also. I use a daily preventative (Arnuity Ellipta) and a rescuer inhaler. I don’t need the rescue inhaler often because the preventative keeps my asthma pretty well controlled. I was diagnosed with asthma as an adult a couple years. It was explained to me that the rescue inhaler and nebulizer are the same . medication, albuterol just delivered differently. Some people say they do better with one over the other. I would ask your provider why they have opted for the nebulizer vs. the inhaler. I have one but I much prefer the inhaler. It’s easier, more convenient, I can always carry it with me and it’s more affordable. My son used a nebulizer as a baby/toddler because littles aren’t great at using inhalers. He graduated to an inhaler with a spacer as a tot. Sometimes adults also use the spacer with the inhaler. I believe many doctors think we just don’t get the full dose with the inhaler due to error. With a nebulizer or spacer, the user doesn’t have to worry about whether they inhaled just right.

[sbspidel in reply to sbspidel]

Also, some docs will prescribe pill form meds like singular for allergy Triggered asthma.

[mixmix]

Hey

A nebusuliser is a mask that is operated by oxygen and they put medicine in it. Is that what you use instead of inhalers?

[Hidden]

FYI - As I was told when I was first diagnosed, which that the time I did not officially and fully have it yet, that "Asthma" is a generic term for many breathing conditions. The Dr explained that what I did have was more akin to "ARAD/RAD" - "Adult Reactive Airway Disease" another set of terms for this generic realm of a broad malady. It all adds up to they need something to put in the paperwork. Also to satisfy the "Insurance Companies".

So yes, this "malady" is not very well understood by those that may have it. That's why, especially these days you need to interrogate your Doctor to get as much info as you can to know then and to do as much research as you can. And whether the treatment that they prescribe, Nebulizers, Inhalers (Albuterol and Budesonide) and other drugs are "appropriate" for your condition. Be sure really rinse out your mouth and gargle to clear out your throat. If you start to have throat problems, use a mouthwash with alcohol in it. I still do.

My personal history on the topic of knowledge of "not knowing":

This day and age the Dr is not "The end all, be all!" as they use to be. If you are uncomfortable with your Dr, the care, information or lack there of, go elsewhere. It took 16 Doctors/Teams of Doctors before I was abandoned by Team #16 (a major hospital organization) and encountered Team 17 in the resulting hospital stay. Of which, the Dr at their outside practice that I got, with the info from his associates at the hospital, one visit with him and a blood test, was able to diagnose me with "Eosinophilia". Which in my case translated into "Eosinophilia Asthma". It doesn't always manifest as a "breathing disorder". But why couldn't the previous groups have found this out?!!

After 20ish years of drugs that I didn't need, Prednisone the worst which left serious marks of use, of which helped move me into the malady of which I would otherwise probably not have today and wasting 20 years of my life, as time went on I learned, had to, how to monitor, research and to a point treat with the assistance of a couple Drs, myself. They had no clue of what was going on. One even told me so.

Now, I am being properly and effectively treated with Nucala for the Eosinophilia and am still on Pulmacort, an inhaled Steroid, which I get the impression that I may be taken off of soon. I have noticed that it's not helping and is causing issues of its own. Two weeks ago I had my first appointment with my Dr in a long time, previously was a couple with my PA and I could call a "Personal Account Rep", that is a nurse, anytime. We had a great relationship and shared "the" info that I have yearned for years. Other factors of which there were many that ate up time that delayed getting on the Nucala and then about a year for it to "work". The PFT, Pulmonary Function Test, which I took then that I swear I botched, was "normal". WOW! As for the blood test, my Eosinophil count went from 1.0, way too high, to 0.0, which 0.0 to 0.4 is normal. But the Dr wanted to see the Hemoglobin level more so since it was also high in the beginning which is now "normal". I feel great on many levels, am getting what's left of my life back in order. But there needs to be more time headed in the right direction, now that I have the "correct" diagnosis and treatment before I really know where I stand. But at least I have the right people to help me now. P.S., They know nothing of the early terms I was constantly told, especially, "Pump and Dump" that basically sealed my fate.

Be severely proactive in your interactions with your Drs and feel free to question your treatment to your satisfaction. Sorry for the book . . .

[Maxineto]

I have had asthma since a teen. After moving to a dryer climate, it went away, but in my old age, it's returned but now it's COPD. I have used a nebulizer and it helps me breathe better for about half a day, but it's so annoying to set up and use so I'm not doing it. I do use an inhaler each morning with two puffs. I try not to over exert or walk too long so I can get a breath. It's not an easy way to live, but I don't run around the way I used to what with the Covid I stay home mostly. Take things slowly if my advice.

[wiserlady]

Hi I have used a nebuliser for quite a while and had my own, what would you like to know?