all you asthmatics come and help my dh please

[Cappuccino]

my dh was diagnosed with asthma a few years back and he's had some little blue reliever thingy

but recently he's had colds that turn into big chesty nightmares where he has to have time off work and is quite ill

previously he has been given antibiotics and sometimes a steroid inhaler to clear it but this has gone on and on and they even x-rayed him to see if it was pneumonia (it wasn't)

so he went off to the docs today to ask about better management but the doc wasn't really helpful - gave him a steroid inhaler to clear this lot, said 'take it easy' and said he could use the steroid inhaler if he had any more problems

now I know very little about asthma but I thought there were things you could have to manage it without going straight from a wimpy little blue reliever to full-on steroids; I don't think dh has been given anything really to help him manage this long-term and stop it happening again and again

what do you do?

[ilovecaboose]

Don't quite understand what you mean by steriod inhalor as all inhalors contain steroids in various strengths. They don't get into your bloodstream though, just into the lungs.

When my dp's asthma has been horrific he has been given steroid tablets on top of his normal inhalors until it has cleared up.

Sorry for your dp though - I have chest infection (also asthmatic) at moment and it is crappy.

[bubbles4]

my ds and dd both have asthma and both take inhaled steroids,becotide twice a day, its sometimes referred to as a preventer,if their breathing worsens i have to double the number of sprays as a precautionary measure

[flopflip]

Blue inhalers are steroid free, ventolin(salbutamol) only. Also most hospitals have asthma clinics, so you could find out from the A&E dept when the clinic is and just turn up. Most of these clinics are walk in type. Also your DH could go to his GP and demand a referral, as it is his right and he is entitiled to it !

[ilovecaboose]

Ah is it brown (becotide), orange (flixotide) or similar?

If so you have to take these ones for a certain amount of time before they have much affect (preventers and have to build up). Usually either once or twice a day. Don't think they have any nasty side affects though (can make your tongue manky).

I get chest infections every winter and always have done. Find I can't prevent them but can make them easier.

[iota]

I recently had a review with the asthma nurse and she told me to take the brown inhaler ( becotide) daily from sept to march as colds always go onto my chest as well.

( had previously only been using if I actually had a cold as per your dh)

asthma nuse seemed more up to speed on the subject than the dr

[Twiglett]

the brown inhaler should be used constantly to prevent asthma attacks.. they take about 5 days to kick in ..

your surgery should have an asthma nurse

contact asthma UK .. they have phonelines run by asthma nurses and are very useful

[hub2dee]

I don't really have asthma any more, but bad colds, or a lot of sneezing / coughing tend to end up in chest infections.

Aside from the correct drug regime, and the advice above, one thing I do is just try and be extra anal about not getting colds (in winter especially, but at other times of the year too). If someone (or their kid) has a cold, I'll reschedule appointments / play dates. I know it's only a small point, and of course not always possible, but if it means avoiding a public gathering or missing lunch with a friend etc. who's just on the tail end of a cold etc. etc. I'll give it a miss...

hope he feels much better soon and his treatment / management supports his health better.

[Cappuccino]

oh this is really useful thanks

I was hoping we didn't have to spend every winter with him in bed all the weekends

[hub2dee]

Hadn't really thought, but maybe this is one of the reasons I don't really like Winter... and why San Diego beckons....so the pollution can get me instead.

Does dh get the flu jab btw ? Might be worth it.

[bubbles4]

another thing i find useful is to inhale menthol in a bowl of hot water if cold has got to chest every two to four hours

[Cappuccino]

ooh bubbles dh is very excited by that

he likes such Lifestyle tips that don't involve drugs

extra points for you

[bubbles4]

lol heres another one then,if hes wheezing or feeling a bit chesty get him to suck on an ice cube two reasons , first it can relieve the wheeze and two he wont be able to speak if he has got a mouth full of ice cube!!!!

[ilovecaboose]

It'd be worth getting flu jab - asthmatics qualify. If he gets flu it will make him much worse.

[Caribbeanqueen]

I was on ventolin and becotide for years, then dr switched me to a purple inhaler (serovent/serotide?) instead of the becotide. It works loads better for me as a preventive inhaler.

[hub2dee]

Cappucino, I won't tell you bjs help relax the respiratory system, allowing the bronchioles to dilate and the patient to feel wonderful then....

[Cappuccino]

dh is quite keen on advice from you too hub

[Cappuccino]

also he would like clarification on whether he should be sucking an icecube during his, er, other therapy

[hub2dee]

Well, we've got to look out for each other, us asthmatics, LOL.

Dahlink, the ice cube is for you in this particular treatment scenario.