Weird Breathlessness

[Carriejen]

I'm not sure if its normal or not, I assume not, but recently I've become more aware that after I take my meds morning and evening I'm a little bit breathless. Its not a new thing its been ongoing for a number of months, and its nothing major, just a bit of discomfort more than anything, and it eases after 5 or 10 minutes. I'm taking fostair (DPI) and spireva (and salbutsmol but i dont have the breathlessness after salbutamol), plus montelukast, and other than this wee weird 10 minutes these medications have massively improved my life. Is it worth rocking the boat with regards to my medications because of the discomfort or should I just persevere? I'm worried changing my inhalers will be detrimental to my health.

[twinkly29]

Asthma medications, particularly inhalers I think, do have that as a common side effect. . It could also be a reflex reaction rather than a side effect of the medication itself, like a weird (but also harmless) breathing pattern response to inhaling the substances (like doing so can make some people cough briefly as it catches the back of the throat). Given that it is mild and lasts such a short time, I would put it down to either of these reasons but not worry about it - if it was severe or long-lasting it would be be different but mild and very short time I'd just ignore it.

[Carriejen in reply to twinkly29]

OK thats good to know. I did wonder if it was maybe because of the powder. Like I mentioned - no issue with salbutamol which is an aerosol one. Thank you!!

[Carriejen in reply to twinkly29]

Also you responded to me the other day with my weird lung pain post! Just to update you I have been off work for 2 days, diagnosed with a chest infection and given antibiotics and steroids to use if the antibiotics don't help over the next couple of days 😃 been sleeping a lot which is helping...

[twinkly29 in reply to Carriejen]

Glad you've hopefully got an answer there - hope you feel better soon!

[Poobah]

I have Fostair and a LAMA inhaler too, taking morning and evening. I have to wait for about an hour before I can go out in the morning as I have SOB after taking the inhalers. But once they've kicked in then I'm good for about 7 hours. Prior to the morning inhalers I'm OK, no SOB. I put it down to the long acting bronchodilator - never really got on with them and they were especially detrimental to my asthma back in the 90s when they were single med inhalers. All my inhalers are dry powder and if the SOB is still a problem and I need to get going, I just take a puff of Ventolin. Always does the trick. It doesn't fit what my asthma nurse etc expect but we've tried all sorts of regimes in order to avoid Ventolin use, but my lungs are contrary.

[Carriejen in reply to Poobah]

Ah well thats good to know. Like I mentioned it does go away fairly quickly. Its been something that's made me wonder if I dont have asthma but haven't mentioned it to the gp in case they take me off my meds which I do know help.

[Poobah in reply to Carriejen]

You could ask your pharmacist about it, they are probably more aware of meds side effects and can allay any concerns that you have. But if they think that it's necessary to discuss it with your doctor then they'll say.

[Carriejen in reply to Poobah]

OK ill maybe try the pharmacy then. I took salbutamol before my fostair tonight bevause I felt a bit out of breath, and noticed i didn't have the breathless thing. It doesn't really bother me a huge amount its more discomfort but other than that I think fostair is doing me wonderfully 😃

[Carriejen in reply to Poobah]

Thank you!!!