Asthma advice

[poppym12]

I have COPD (mild) and asthma. During this lovely weather I'm finding that my breathing is much worse than usual and I'm reaching for salamol inhaler a lot. It helps a bit but not as much as I'd like. I'm not going outside much, especially as there's a lot of tree pollen and I have other chronic health problems.

I see a practice nurse annually for spirometry tests (usually in winter so hayfever isn't around then) and the advice is always the same, 2 puffs of salamol followed by 2 puffs of clenil twice per day and use salamol as needed sparingly.

I'm struggling with this at the moment and I'm not sure what to do. Any advice please?

[FaithInfinity]

I would contact your GP for advice. My practice are doing telephone appointments so people don’t have to go in. You might find that taking an antihistamine would help, you might need to increase your inhalers but you need someone medical to review your meds to make that kind of decision.

[poppym12]

Thank you. I have filled in the contact form for my surgery which says I should get a call back within 2 days. I already take fexofenadine and piriton for allergies.

[FaithInfinity]

That’s good. My practice have been really good at getting in touch with me because my asthma has become unstable, I think they want to make sure you’re well enough to be at home with breathing difficulties (yard stick for hospital seems to be not talking in full sentences). I hope you get help soon.

[poppym12]

I've got a phone consultation at 3.30. I'm not too bad I don't think but my usual go-to ways of dealing with it aren't helping and if I keep puffing more and more salamol I feel like my heart and head will explode!!

[FaithInfinity]

I’ve been bad for 4 weeks now with my asthma, it’s been classified as ‘unstable’. One night I had to get a paramedic out because the salbutamol just wasn’t helping, my heart rate was 133! . That was partly from lots of salbutamol, pain and adrenaline I think!

Definitely sounds like your preventer isn’t doing enough, hope the call is constructive.

[poppym12]

I've been prescribed steroids for 5 days. I've had them before when I've had a chest infection. Best psyche myself up to get to the pharmacy asap.
All I've done for the last few days is lie down a lot, moving about makes me more breathless and I'm so bloody tired I could scream. I never cough though. Weird.
I hope yours calms soon @FaithInfinity (plastic flowers without pollen obviously).

[FaithInfinity]

Isn’t there anyone who can go for you? I hope they do their magic for you.

I’m feeling much better today but I realised it’s because I’ve increased my preventer. Got a few things done around the house so it’s progress!

[poppym12]

No, I collected them myself. I had to sit outside in the car for about 40 minutes waiting for the electronic prescription to arrive.

As I've started them late I the day I'm really hoping I won't get the insomnia side effect as I feel really wiped out already.

I hope you continue to improve.