Thank you :) (For everyone who helped on my most recent post)

I just wanted to thank everyone for all your responses and advice over the last few days - if nothing else it's kept my sanity in check!!

I can't figure out if posting this as a comment below my latest post would mean you'd all get to read it or not, so decided I'd start a new post - hope that's ok?!

Things are improving, back down to 10 puffs yesterday and currently at just 8 so far today and chest feels clear at the moment, after last few puffs.

Went to GP today but met someone different to usual doctor. Was slightly short of breath in with her but once she ruled out wheezing and infection was happy I didn't need anything other than to just keep taking Ventolin as I have been. And I got a nice lecture on compliance and taking the inhalers properly to boot

Got my nasal spray changed to Avamys from Flixonase; preventer is now Seretide; daily antihistamines; Montelukast; and obviously Ventolin. We're going to try this for a month and see how things go.

Had been on Symbicort 400/12 then was changed two months ago to Flutiform 250/10 and have now been changed to Seretide 50/25. Not sure why the change in dose (Flutiform 250 = Seretide 250) as I only noticed this in the chemist but sure I'll give it a go and hopefully will help.

Anyone might know why this is?

Doc is happy it's likely all driven by post-nasal drip due to chronic sinusitis (which I have had and been treated for for a few years now), and that maybe my lungs are just a bit "twitchy" as she called it - leading to my noticing things that trigger my shortness of breath and chest tightness (or not knowing what triggers it as the case more often is).

And she doesn't seem very hopeful the cough will disappear anytime soon, been told to expect it might never properly go away, lol!

Let's see how this goes! Hopefully will help. Thanks again for all your suggestions, support and comments - really lovely to see such a nice group of people here. And sure even if this does turn out to be all in my head at least you've also told me what I can do about that.

PS - to everyone out there who actually is suffering from asthma...I salute you! It can't be easy to struggle daily to get simple tasks done or to plan life not knowing when the next exacerbation will hit. I wish life wasn't like that for you. Keep fighting the good fight, I hope you all stay well

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi, glad things seem to be improving for you!

To answer your question, flutiform and seretide have different LABAs (long-acting beta agonists) so your GP may be thinking that the salmeterol xinafoate in the seretide will be better for you than the formoterol fumarate in the flutiform. The change in dose may also be their way of ‘weaning’ you off the steroid inhaler, especially as you’ve gone from 400/12, to 250/10 initially on the first pump change! If you can cope on a lower dose of 50/25 (less steroid, more LABA) than it’s much better for you, and it could potentially lead to not needing to take a preventer at all if your lungs calm down! Hope that helps explain what your doc might be thinking a little

Hope everything gets sorted for you and I’m glad that things seem to be looking up!