Constant asthma flare ups

[okkjh]

Hi guys I just did my a levels and in September I went on a trip to Switzerland and when I came back I had this terrible cough. I was prescribed antibiotics and pred. Later that day I had an asthma attack and was admitted to a and e. I spent 24 hrs in resus as I was extremely short of breath and was kept in hospital for 5 days. After 2 weeks of rest I returned to skl and by the end of the day my cough was back. I went to the gp the next day who took 1 listen to my Chest and immediately gave me a nebuliser at the gp then sent me to a and e. After another 4 day stay in hospital I had another asthma attack in November but was fine after 1 nebuliser and sent home. In December I went to my gp again with the cough and chest tightness and yet again he sent me to a and e and I was kept under observation for 48 hours. Since September I have attended a and e 10 times with asthma attacks treated with prednisolne and salbutamol and ibuprofen nebulisers. I have been switched form clenil 100 to fostair, but that caused tachycardia and tremors. Then to flutiform 125. Then to flutiform 250 which caused muscle cramps, headaches and tremors. To relvar elipta and now onto trimbow. I tried montelukast which caused severe insomnia. And spiriva gave me blood in my mucus and jitteriness. I have had nearly 15 courses of pred since September and am just fed up. This cough is still ongoing and I hv a flare up just about every 2 weeks. My gp just gives me pred now as he says I don't know what to do as I am running out of options. My peak flows are at best 450 and are usually around 380 or 360 on the daily. My spirometry is normal. I have high igg Aspergillus but my consultant says I don't meet the criteria for ABPA. I also hv high ige of over 1200. I get chest tightness at times even as I'm writing this now but it's not excessive. I always feel I am breathing really fast and am genuinely exhausted. This has causes me to miss 3 of my a level exams as well as I had an asthma attack just b4 I entered the exam hall and had to get wheelchaired out the scho and straight to A and E yet again. Even the consultant has said he's run out of options of what to do and has referred me to guys for consideration of biological agents for my severe asthma. I still have difficulty sleeping as the cough is always disrupting my sleep. I have many allergies especially grade 3 to grass and a grade 6 allergy to house dust mite. I also have chronic headaches but I am allergic to all the medication and nsaids such as ibuprofen so he says there is nothing he can do. Thank you for making it to the end ans plz share any experience or advice I would be eternally grateful as I hv no options now..

[2uWallowa]

Dear Okkjh, reading your post brought back a lot of memories similar to what I was going through the last couple of years until my gp referred me to a pulmonologist and after a series of tests and lab was diagnosed with Esenophilic asthma and eventually was prescribed biologics but the thing that helped me after researching my diagnosis was changing my diet. As there are quite a lot of foods that were contributing to my mucus and deep wet cough. There is no cure for esenophilic asthma but can and does get better over time. Encourage you to do your research and be your biggest advocate. PS when gp are stumped they usually refer out to specialists.

Regards

[okkjh in reply to 2uWallowa]

Thank you. My cough is dry majority of the time, occasionally some clear mucus. I wad controlling my diet alot for 5 to 6 months but there was no change. I went to my gp who said he has nothing else to do then to a consultant who said the same now I have been referred to guys and St Thomas for biological still waiting on the letter

[Homely2]

You need to be at a specialist tertiary hospital, and if you are doing to St Thomas that should be the right place for you. Biologics have been great for many people.

If you want to do something while you wait, do some asthma breathing exercises, learn to nasal breathe and breathe from the stomach. See if you can see a respiratory physio to teach you.