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lungs having hissy fit

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Anybody else finding themselves really, really tight and short of breath in last week or two???? I'm assuming pollen & mould spores are to blame( my usual triggers), but breathing is a constant daily battle. My Relvar 184/22 doesn't seem to be doing much, am taking Fexofenadine 180 daytime and montelukast bedtime but now having to resort to Ventolin. Surgery are only offering phone consults ( when you can get through to them that is) and I'd rather not have to get the oral Pred tablets out of the meds cupboard!!! Having bronch on top of asthma is a bit of a double whammy🙃. I'm in north west Wales, we've had recent rain and it's now quite humid here. I use the University of Worcester Pollen Forecast & it says high mould spores this week. I've been moved onto Fexofenadine from Cetirizine by GP about two months ago.

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44 Replies
Damon1864 profile image
Damon1864Volunteer

I know exactly how you feel, I'm short of breath I've put it down to pollen and mould spores. So you aren't on your own. Have a good afternoon and take care 😊 Bernadette and Jack 🐕 xxxxxx 🌻🌻

in reply to Damon1864

Thanks Bernadette, I looked back at my 2021 diary and recorded exactly same symptoms round this time of year!! GP put me on low dose Pred early September for two weeks. Reassuring but still dam annoying😳.... xxxx

SORRELHIPPO profile image
SORRELHIPPO

I always use more Salamol when the weather is humid and/or over hot, my asthma always plays up more, also my ankles swell. I just expect it at this time of year.

madonbrew profile image
madonbrew

Yea my asthma has definitely been worse this past week or so! My PF isn’t easily getting over 300 and keeps sitting between 250-300 (my usual 350-380) Definitely tight chested! Adding extra puffs of my meds! Ring 111 if need be! Look after yourself!

Dee 🙂

in reply to madonbrew

Its infuriating as my surgery keep saying NOT to use Ventolin(" your Relvar dose should last you 24hrs", which it doesn't!!!!) But my chest consultant said it was fine to use Vent. as needed. I have to keep showing the surgery the letter from the consultant before they let my repeat script for Ventolin go through🙄. So many locum and temporary GPs there now, just no continuity of care.....nobody seems to read your notes these days either. Ho Hum, will use what I need to use to get through each day!!🙃

teddyd profile image
teddyd in reply to

I am on relvar and nobody has ever mentioned not to use reliever inhaler. I also use it with my nebuliser as well.

🤔

in reply to teddyd

Thanks teddyd, I just keep coming across GPs that are adamant I shouldn't need to use it, you can easily get drawn into prolonged arguments with some of them😬!

madonbrew profile image
madonbrew in reply to

I don’t have the same issue with ventolin but so have to keep getting my gp to look at consultants letter! Unfortunately my lovely GP left last year and now there’s no dr that knows my asthma at the surgery. It’s definitely a pain when a GP doesn’t do what a consultant says!

in reply to madonbrew

Our very best GP is retiring next month, he's looked after me for 20 yrs and made the referral to chest clinic that found the bronch, when none of the others would listen! He will be much missed.....you can tell the good ones as they are always fully booked and always run late as spend longer with patients.

Patk1 profile image
Patk1 in reply to

That's bad.

Cloudancer profile image
Cloudancer in reply to madonbrew

I hope you feel better soon Dee -my peak flows are similar to yours at the moment-hope you improve soon x

madonbrew profile image
madonbrew in reply to Cloudancer

Thank you! You too!!! I might ring my AN on Monday just to ask how long it’s ok to go with my extra doses of Fostair. I can add in Alvesco too but it makes my eyes go really blurry so try not to if I can! Hope you improve soon too!! 😘

Cloudancer profile image
Cloudancer

Yes this summer has been somewhat challenging from a lung point of view.Hope that your badly behaved lungs settle down soon x

V1burnuM profile image
V1burnuM

I’m the same, last couple of weeks have been awful. Have rhinitis as well as bronch and asthma and everything’s been blocked. Cumulated in a big asthma/panic attack on Monday at surgery, GP sent for ambulance but after waiting five hours I had calmed right down and after assessing me gave me a choice of going in to ED, no beds on respiratory, or facing ten hour wait outside in the ambulance because of bed blocking I decided not to go. I’m now on antibiotics and steroids for chest infection but recovery is very slow. I’m very weak and wobbly. The situation at The Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske in Cornwall is dire! Ambulances are queuing outside for hours, the lovely paramedics who attended me told me last week they had a patient waiting twenty four hours to get into the ED department. They have so many patients waiting to be discharged but with no onward care in place, most of the small cottage hospitals where they would have gone are closed. The home visiting teams are woefully understaffed. For people like myself with ongoing health problems it makes you feel very unsafe and anxious about needing help. Can’t see the situation improving any time soon!

Alberta56 profile image
Alberta56 in reply to V1burnuM

Oh my- that sounds really awful. Good luck - I hope you can stay well enough to avoid hospital while the situation is so bad.

in reply to V1burnuM

Our local health board has been in & out of 'special measures' and gets slated in assessments on a regular basis!! So I can sympathise on the ambulance handover times. We have a small local hospital that we fight to keep open, it has an excellent minor injury unit, xray department, operating theatre, bone scanner/osteoporosis treatment unit, outpatients, etc. Otherwise two, very big ( rabbit warren) general hospitals that I avoid like the plague!!! I've had nebuliser in ambulances outside my house rather than go to A&E. Hope you start to feel better soon xxx

V1burnuM profile image
V1burnuM in reply to

while talking to the paramedics, who I must say were wonderful and very thorough, stayed with me at least an hour, I asked what happened to the patients stuck i the ambulances, they said they were treated in the ambulance the Dr comes out into the car park. The paramedics then wheel them in for scans, xrays etc. Also if they need the loo. So in effect we have highly trained paramedics who could be saving lives, wheeling patients to and from the loo! This situation is crazy!!!

Patk1 profile image
Patk1 in reply to V1burnuM

That is alarming.

Alberta56 profile image
Alberta56

I can only send sympathy to you and all the other asthmatics here. xxx

JetJet profile image
JetJet

I am sorry you are feeling so bad but glad you posted. My Mum has Bronch and Asthma and allergies to moulds and dust mites ( they say no seasonal allergies) and is suffering massively. I wondered if it was the heat and humidity aswell as the fact they are harvesting around us and dust everywhere. I know it doesn't make it any easier on you all but relieved she is not alone. Can I be really daft and ask what mould spores will be coming from this time of year? Is it certain plants? She too is using her sabutamol more often and the fostair twice a day. Take Care and hoping you feel better soon.

in reply to JetJet

worcester.ac.uk/about/acade...

Here is the webpage I use, it lists which mould spores are most active and has links to the various types so you can see what they are!! It is a very handy site as lists tree, grass, weed and mould spore levels on a weekly basis. Hope you find it helpful😊

JetJet profile image
JetJet in reply to

Thank you so much, that will be really useful. Also is aspergillus allergy the posh name for moulds!

in reply to JetJet

Aspergillus is a very particular type of mould spore, so yes it is a type of mould allergy. You sometimes hear old fashioned terms for some mould allergies such as "Farmer's Lung" and "Pigeon Fancier's Lung" - some people who keep racing pigeons develop problems as they are allergic to the pigeon droppings! Similarly mouldy hay can cause issues for some farmers who handle it. I am sensitive to moulds that can grow on decaying leaves in woodland in autumn and early winter, so I avoid walking in woods at that time of year.

JetJet profile image
JetJet in reply to

Thank you again for help. Mum is a bird lover, wondering if I need to keep her away from the bird feeders and give them a good scrub outdoors every week.

in reply to JetJet

Might be a good idea. I always take care when I'm cleaning round my bird feeding station.

Izb1 profile image
Izb1

Strange but did wonder a couple of days ago why I was feeling so tight and short of breath and didnt think about it being the pollen and mould. I have been using more Ventolin and this is probably the reason why. Hope you feel better soon x

in reply to Izb1

Let's hope the levels start dropping off soon!!

Shirleyj profile image
Shirleyj

I've been exactly the same for last 2 to 3 weeks, I put it down to the heat. I am on revlar but would not be able to manage without salomal or ventolin. I've been using my nebulizer 2 to 3 tines a day to try and keep my lungs clear. Hope you feel better soon x

in reply to Shirleyj

I keep asking for a home nebuliser to be set up for me, but told I can't have one. Sounds like a few of us are having flare--ups aggravated by weather & airborne particles. Xx

Shirleyj profile image
Shirleyj in reply to

My chest kept flaring up in lockdown and my consultant arranged for me to have one, it made a big difference with being able to keep my lungs clear. I only inhale saline, might be worth asking again x

in reply to Shirleyj

I'll put in another request!! Perhaps if I keep pestering they'll get fed up & give in🙃

Patk1 profile image
Patk1 in reply to

Ask yr consultant and also ask thm to advise gp again on salbutamol

Genghishunter profile image
Genghishunter in reply to

Nebulisers can be bought off Amazon from around £30. I realise that this is still a lot of money for a lot of people, and you’ll still have to get the gp to prescribe the salbutamol vials, but at least he won’t have to fill out the paperwork for the machine.

Heaven20 profile image
Heaven20

I'm in the West Midlands and I've just come back from a seaside break in Weymouth and definitely felt so much better on holiday, after a few days back I'm feeling it, getting breathless etc, I'm also taking Fexofenadine which doesn't help a great deal.I have an air purifier which helps with dust and pollen.

I think the answer is move to the coast (if only 😏)

in reply to Heaven20

We live right next to a very busy dual carriageway so the air pollution is grim and we can't afford to move. I used to run two air purifiers but now can't afford the cost of the electricity😥. I've looked into getting more help from DWP but I'm on the 'wrong' type of ESA🙁. Don't qualify for PIP. Husband retires at the end of this year so will be relying on pensions for our income. It seems you can be disabled from your illnesses, but fall outside the assessment criteria by fractions!!! On the bright side I have a lovely sheltered little garden to sit out in the sunshine, which cheers me up no end😊.

Patk1 profile image
Patk1

I'm just weaning off steroids after exacerbation.sometimes it's only way.ive added in loratidine in addition tofenofexadine and montelukast.if u need ventolin,do use it.ive needed more + nebulisers

Anniebeen profile image
Anniebeen

My problem is the humidity - not only affects my breathing, but contributes to weariness. I do have a dehumidifier and that is a great help.

Patk1 profile image
Patk1 in reply to Anniebeen

I like my dehumidifier too.air feels so much fresher with it x

nottowell profile image
nottowell

I have been using certizine plus Trimbow and tey he t but don't get totally get rid

in reply to nottowell

I've gone back to Cetirizine today. It's odd, the Cetirizine help my chest more, but the Fexofenadine seem to clear the sinuses & blocked ears better. Somebody needs to combine the two tablets!!!

Hobbledehoy profile image
Hobbledehoy

A bit, yes, though the Met office report pollen level reduced to moderate. I am controlled with Trelegy and Mometasone, which latter I find hugely helpful, and I am using my blue reliever 2-3 times a day at present. Hoping things don’t escalate! Good luck 🍀

Trustyourmind profile image
Trustyourmind

It is like that for me now as well. It is a lot of humidity added to pollen and a bit of added "cut grass" flying up into the air from people out and about doing their yards with the mowers. I have to use my nebuliser about every two hours now, when normally I use it once every four hours. My "rescue inhalers" do not do anything at all for me at the moment.

Inside I have removed all the carpets last year to cut down on dust, but we have three dogs that bring in dust and micro particles that affect the air quality. Have three air filters running full time.

in reply to Trustyourmind

We have a little JRT rescue dog, we had him before my diagnosis of bronch and don't want to part with him, so I guess the dander is contributing a bit to the aggravation going on in my tubes!! Bless him, he can't help it.

Trustyourmind profile image
Trustyourmind in reply to

Yes I know how that is. Our dogs are like children to us. We have taken care of them the same as children, too!

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