I am male, 34 yrs old with no history of asthma or allergies.
I have been ill since Sept 21 having mix of cold/sinus symptoms and both dry and wet cough mainly during the evenings and night since coming back from the Middle East (military). I had my COVID booster jab 22 Dec 21 then that week my symptoms got worse I was wheezing and coughing badly at night. I brought a peak flow meter from amazon and checked my peak flow when congested which measured 450 (my predicted 640).
I informed my GP who had me complete 2 weeks of worth peak flows and using Fostair 100/6 2 puffs twice daily which my peak flow improved to within 5% of my personal best/predicted (treatment by trial). My best score is 660 which I achieved once, most readings are 630-650. Fostair inhaler seemed to make my breathing tight on the inhale but I had high peak flows....
Two nights ago, I woke up with shortness of breath 1am. I checked my peak flow which was high near best score and I was advised by 111 to go to A&E. I got checked over at A&E and discharged with no abnormality found. My bloods, ecg and chest x-ray was normal. I have been waking up with increased acid reflux due to haitus hernia (i take 20mg omperazole daily). It seemed my asthma medication was causing increased acid reflux.
When I was discharged, my GP told me to stop taking Fostair 100/6 two puffs twice daily and double my omperazole to 40mg daily and continue with my peak flow readings (change of medication trial).
It has been 2 days since stopping my Fostair and my peak flows have been within 5% of my best score/predicted and my throat tightness on the inhale seem to be better.
Does the above sound similar to any of your experiences?
I am been medically investigated for cough and shortness of breath 4 months, foreign travel to Middle East.
Tricky to assess you say they did bloods were the eosinophils high or or your white blood cells these are inflammatory markers and your platelets were they all really normal no elevations? The acid reflux is definitely an issue acid reflux can make asthma worse and asthma can make acid reflux worse they go hand in hand. The acid can cause throat irritation, postnasal drip and hoarseness, as well as recurrent cough, chest congestion and lung inflammation leading to asthma and/or bronchitis/ pneumonia. A chest xray won't show up asthma. I would push ahead to get the acid reflux sorted asap as this is only going to exasperate your breathlessness more.
thank you for your post. Ive been taking 20mg omperazole for the last 13 years and unsure if my acid reflux (hernia got bigger?) has got worse.
I have just checked my A&E discharge papers and my blood tests were full blood count, liver function test and plasma c reactive protein - all within the correct parameters. ECG and chest x-ray - no abnormality detected.
In Oct/Nov, I was prescribed steroid nasal spray for suspected viral sinus infection, Nov/Dec, I was prescribed antibiotics for suspected bacterial sinus infection and Dec/Jan I was prescribed combination inhaler, steriod nasal spray and peak flow meter.
Mid Jan, I was prescribed Nystan oral suspension because the GP saw a small white patch right on the back of my throat (same side where my left nostril has been partially blocked). The GP was not sure if it was oral thrush, post-nasal drip.
I am been suffering from mainly a blocked nose (sometimes runny) since Sept.
I have been running high intensity outside in the cold high with a blocked nose and noticed my peak flow has dropped by 20% 10 mins after stopping exercise then increasing up. I am not sure if me feeling ill, blocked nose, high intensity and cold air in mouth has dropped my peak flow.
Today, my symptoms are partial congested nose with a peak flow of 650 having as directed been off my fostair. My predicted is 640 and best score is 660.
Post nasal drip I also have and I find it harder to manage than my asthma. I only was diagnosed with late onset eosinophilic asthma in 2017 just came out of the blue no reason I'm also fit, slim, middle age no indication why it turned up. I am also battling a sinus problem which I think is linked to the post nasal drip I try to manage on my second sinus infection now. Running outside could be irritating your airways I don't know where you live in terms of irritants, particulates but I wouldn't run outside where I live. Smoke and dust outside if you are running and breathing in large quantities of air will irritate your airways. I can't breathe properly with my nose congested. You should see someone if your sinus issues continue it's much harder to breathe with a blocked nose so this could be an issue you need to resolve. Sinus rinses and I use Nasonex for my Post Nasal Drip are good.