upping steroid inhaler

[Helloeveryone_]

Hi everyone

My asthma has been playing up and my gp has told me to up my steroid inhaler instead of in the past I probably would have had a course of steroids. Anyone else had this and how long did it take to feel an improvement?

thanks

[Patk1]

It's been found to b very effective I'm many people with less side effects than oral steroids x

[Helloeveryone_ in reply to Patk1]

Thanks I’m hoping it will kick in soon as still feeling v crappy x

[Poobah]

I was asked to do this in addition to taking Prednisolone during a bad flare up. Otherwise, a slight flare up I would increase my inhaler. Mine is a combo inhaler, so also includes a long acting bronchodilator and so some relief is quite quick. I can't see a steroid only inhaler making a difference for a few days. If you're struggling with work and other daily activities, explain to your doctor the severity of the flare is affecting your ability to work etc. There are doseage limits for steroid inhalers, so you may require oral steroids.

[Helloeveryone_ in reply to Poobah]

Thanks Poobah

I am feeling worse and coughing a lot so contacting gp think I need antibiotics as well,

[Homely2 Administrator]

Interesting question. I am one week into a persistent exacerbation, could not breathe last night, so little sleep.

My inhalers are working well except the effect is very short term, so obviously something is effecting me. Not sure what. Can it be pollen.

I have just asked the GP practice what to do, I think they will tell me to come in and will then prescribe pred and antibiotics if I see a GP, and just pred if I see the asthma nurse. However if I ask the same question to my hospital consultant team, they would up my inhalers, to beyond normal prescribing levels, to avoid pred, and only if that failed, resort to pred.

[Helloeveryone_ in reply to Homely2]

Hi homely 2

That’s interesting I have just spoken to my gp and they’ve prescribed antibiotics and some prednisone they didn’t even ask to see me.

I normally hate getting pred but I feel so crap I’m hoping it just eases that tightness.

Is the reason the respiratory team tell you to up the inhaler because of the side effects of the tablets? But I thought the inhaler takes longer to work so I suppose difficult to say when to use which?

[Helloeveryone_ in reply to Helloeveryone_]

Maybe my initial upping of my inhaler should have been higher?

[Homely2 Administrator in reply to Helloeveryone_]

For me pred normally works on third or fourth day, the consultant is nervous of long term side effects, as I have lots of attacks, so wants to minimise my use of it.

The alternative to pred of maxing out my alvesco inhaler under doctors instruction works quicker, gives short term side effects, but the effect is often temporary, so I am then back where I started.

[Helloeveryone_ in reply to Homely2]

Hi Homely

That’s interesting to know so the upping of the inhaler works quite quick for you then, maybe my dose of inhaler should have been higher.

What does the consultant think about the effect of the increase of inhaler only being temporary? As in if you end up needed the tablets anyway or does it sometimes work and you don’t need the tablets?

Hope you get some rest and relief from your current flare up soon, the long nights are crap aren’t they.

I found my mums old electric keyboard so I ordered a teach myself book and some headphones to give me something to take my my mind off it. So I’ll be plinking plonking abba songs out all night. 😂

[Homely2 Administrator]

The consultant is rather hard to contact, but will be happy with a temporary increase.

My GP asthma nurse, is very tolerant of me, so will put me on pred if I do the consultants preferred route and it fails.

I am listening to the clash.

I am also learning the harmonica in April, on the asthma UK course, in a bid to improve my breathing

Best of luck with it all.

[Helloeveryone_]

Best of luck to you too the harmonica course sounds v interesting maybe I could start a one woman band. Xx

[Helloeveryone_]

Just to add a question if the airways are tight would the steroid inhaler be able to get in as effectively?

Just had a look at the harmonica shame as it’s Thursday daytime I hope they do some weekend or evening ones at some point.

[Homely2 Administrator]

I am never sure of the answer to this, I think the answer depends on how it all works for you.

I have fostair 100 and alvesco 160.

I take the fostair 100 first, and wait ten minutes for it open things up, then I take the alvesco 160, which is my main inhaler.

I fouled it up last night and so the alvesco did not properly get into my lungs, so I had a bad night.

[Helloeveryone_]

ah I wondered if I should use the Ventolin to help the steroid get in I shall have a chat with someone about this when I feel better.

Hope you get some relief soon xx

[Gareth57 in reply to Helloeveryone_]

This has been suggested to me, ventolin first then Fostair 10-20 mins later

[Patk1 in reply to Helloeveryone_]

The ventolin 1st will help the steroid get into the lungs x

[Helloeveryone_]

thanks I will definitely ask about doing this

[Piss3d]

I would do this as a matter of course when I feel like I've a chest infection coming on due to a cold, etc... If I don't feel any better or my symptoms worsen, then I contact my asthma care team, where I'm usually prescribed a course of steroid tablets and antibiotics if they are needed.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

[Helloeveryone_ in reply to Piss3d]

Thanks yes that sounds a good plan, I’m feeling a bit better today thanks.

[Redrose2024]

Hi, I was given Prednisolone for 5 days and when that didn’t work, my GP told me to double up on my DuoResp Spiromax but also prescribed Prednisolone for another 7 days. Unfortunately ended up in hospital with a second asthma attack, was given two lots antibiotics and only last night finally started with productive cough. Sometimes it takes longer for meds to kick in but if you are still struggling you should see your GP or asthma nurse. Hope you get the right treatment and feel better soon 🤞

[Helloeveryone_]

thanks red rose

I’m hoping this will be enough although not feeling too great today fingers crossed 🤞it clears up.

Hope you get a better job with understanding employers when you’re feeling better. I know how much the stress of being off work adds to the problem when you’re ill. Xx

[Redrose2024 in reply to Helloeveryone_]

Thank you so much. I hope you start feeling better soon 🤞Best wishes xx