DH has had 10 lots of anitbiotics and 3 lots of steriods in the last 12 months.....what is going on?

[Katymac]

He has chronic asthma

In 1993 he had his first & worst asthma attack and was very ill for 15-18 months then gradually got better until he had about half of his lung function

He has been medically retired since and has had better bits (very few) and worse bits (very few) - it's just been nice & the same with an occasional chest infection.

But this last year it has been bizarre

What do I ask the GP to do now?

We have had chest x-rays, cat scans, heart monitors & traces

What else could they do?

Do we need different medication?

[Hennipenniinapeartree]

What medication is he on Katy? Does he see an asthma nurse at the drs or is he under a consultant at the hospital?

[Katymac]

He sees the asthma nurse 2 weekly

He is on singulair, serotide, ventolin (of course), cetirizine (for hayfever)

Seen Consultant twice this summer

[Hennipenniinapeartree]

Has he been allergy tested at all? not sure what else to suggest really, maybe he needs his mes "tweaking"?

[Katymac]

I'm really worried - the A/B's will (or already have) stop working

Also why is it all out of control? Allergies were all OK ish when they were tested grass & tree pollen, dust mites & cats really

[Hennipenniinapeartree]

How long since he was allergy tested? When he had chest infections did they send of samples ofwhat he was coughing up? It could be that the a/Bs weren't suitable for the infection he had, therefor not treating the underlying infection, Sorry about the amount of questions!

[Katymac]

Yes 8 samples (first 2 weren't)

Allergy testing was in 94 I think

[Hennipenniinapeartree]

You need to push for allergy testing again I think, and ask to see consultant again. Other than that I'm sorry I can't really suggest anything else, if I think of anything I'll be back!

[Katymac]

Maybe, is there a connection between chest infections & allergies?

I thought they were bacterial

What else could be causing/exacerbating the chest infections?

[Hennipenniinapeartree]

There could be, if he's producing lots of mucuos (sp)due to an allergy as well as having asthma then the mucous could just be "festering" in his lungs making a lovely breeding ground for bacteria.

[Katymac]

Oh I see

Yuk

I'll mention it to the nurse

Thanks for answering Hennipenni

I am really worried about him

[SpacePuppy]

Have you moved house in the last year? I found mine flare up if I move into a new environment and it takes me up to 3 years before I adapt to the pollens etc. Also I live on a farm and even a simple thing like ploughing brings on my asthma. (not me ploughing, bit what ever is in the soil brings it on)

[Hennipenniinapeartree]

Glad to be of help, DD3 allergies cause her to produce lots of mucous, also at the moment the asthma nurse is saying that her asthma is not as well controlled as she appears to be, so we are also going down the asthma nurse every two week visit route too, usually with mindees attached!

[Katymac]

Ploughing is probably fungi spores - lots of people are allergic to them

We haven't moved since 2001 - so I guess it isn't that

Grr I hate this - his peak flow keeps dropping to about 200 which is crap when you are 6 ft 2

[Katymac]

Any other ideas or suggestions as to what is wrong or how we can fix it or who (apart from an allergy specialist) we could go to see

[Hennipenniinapeartree]

Bumping for Katy

[Katymac]

Thanks Hennipenni

[Katymac]

No other ideas?

[lizziemun]

Has he had any chest X-rays to see if they can see any infections.

[piximon]

My mum suffers from asthma. At the first sign of a cold she gets a chest infection which if not stopped immediately by huge amounts of steroids usually leaves her hospitalised on a nebulizer(sp?).

This year so far she's been much better. Her GP ran a free Saturday class for 6mths earlier this year teaching special breathing techniques and yoga type exercises which the patients had to practise everyday and she found it had a huge improvement. Is there any chance your asthma clinic could try something like this? I think really you need to be taught them so you know you are doing them properly.

She's also fanatical about carrying germ cream with her and applying it on her hands through out the day to try to minimise the risks of getting a cold/infection.

[Katymac]

Lizziemum has has had about 3 this year & is off for another one

Piximon - that's a good idea about the exercises, but he is already a bit OCD....I don't want to give him more ammunition with the hand cleaner (well I might let him....maybe?)

[Katymac]

Dh has just been prescribed another week of A/b's I am very upset

[lizziemun]

Can he be seen by a consultant, the only reason i'm suggesting this is my dad had nurmeous (sp) a/b's for chest infections before they found he had fluid on his lungs.

They have since found that he has asbestoes (he was an apprentice electrician in the late 60's early 70's). But he has had asthma for years.

[HoHoHotcrossbunny]

I moved house 2 years ago and have allergies and asthma since. Last attack before this was when I was about 12.

We have removed all carpets, are in the process of taking down wallpaper etc, but dh has to do it all, as I am so much worse when I help.

I have abs regularly and steroids which stop me sleeping so I dread them. I am on singulair, tiotropium, becotide, ventolin if necessary but I am very sensitive to it, loratadine and beconase with piriton if I have an allergic attack. I am fed up with it and feel no-one really listens.

Off my own bat I have joined a choir to try to increase lung capacity and learn better breathing and plan to start yoga after Christmas. I find inhaling steam helps a bit - betterware or kleeneze do an over the nose and mouth inhaler.

Your dh sounds just like me....

I am better at my mums house in Lincolnshire...

[Katymac]

OK I phoned the nurse, & we are getting a consultant appointment (probably private)

So who knows what will happen next