To go to A&E about hayfever problems

Using the flowmeter everyday should quantify your feeling of your asthma getting worse. That, along with your use of the blue inhaler, is a very good measure of whether you need a review (at least annually, but sooner if your symptoms are worsening). You can get an app that lets you record that along with shortness of breath, eg. I use one called Asthma Tracker.

I have in my plan for example to increase my steroid inhaler to 3 puffs 2x day if I need the blue inhaler more than 3x a week. These are the things that your plan should include - what to do in case of slow increase in need for the reliever, and what to do if it’s not working ( another eg, I had a pack of rescue oral steroids at one point when things were very tricky, until we found the right dose of the maintenance meds).

once your maintenance meds are on the right dose it should become much easier to manage and you’ll feel much better. Best of luck

@greenacrylicpaint I love the way you put it!

don't fuck about with lungs.

uncontrolled/badly controlled asthma is life threatening and a&e is absolutely the right place if you can't breathe properly.

ideally you should not need the reliever inhaler at all. it's for those emergency situations where the normal treatment is not enough or when allergies suddenly get worse.

make an app with the asthma nurse for a review.

Don’t hesitate to go to a&e if you’re ever struggling to breath. I would definitely suggest (if you haven’t already) ordering one of those oxymeters off Amazon just to be sure of your oxygen levels. Hope you’re feeling better soon and manage to get it sorted.

Please take your concerns seriously, I have lost two friends to asthma, one linked to hay fever/pollen. Weather (esp thunderstorms) and air pollution can also make it worse. These are both additional risk factors at the moment.
Make sure you have a clear plan with a doctor or specialist nurse of what to do, including when it starts to get worse and what your trigger point for seeking help is. Take no notice of anyone saying ED is emergencies only - Uncontrolled worsening asthma is an emergency. You can also call Asthma and Lung UK for advice:
Pollen, hay fever and lung conditions | Asthma + Lung UK (asthmaandlung.org.uk)
Hopefully you can talk to someone soon, but please don't struggle on trying not to be a timewaster.

Just as a FYI - my colleagues in A & E reported that 80 % of the patients they have seen in the past week have been severe hayfever with/out exacerbation of asthma.

@ApplesInTheSunshine that is incorrect and very dangerous advice.
Salbutamol..the drug in the blue inhaler can be and should be used to relieve symptoms. A rescue dose is 10 puffs via a spacer..this is now recommended over nebulizers.
Most asthma plans suggest 4-6 puffs four hurly for acute situations but obviously not long term.

OP...are you maximizing your hayfever treatment?
Firstly anti histamines every day, max doses. Did you know it's now ok to take more than once a Day?
Eye drops containing antihistamine..
Nasal spray

Wash face and hands after being outside,wear sunglasses outside,keep curtains closed all day, especially in bedrooms.

And ring gp surgery and ask to speak to the asthma nurse...you might need an combined inhaler for the hayfever season

Also it may be worth giving asthma UK helpline a call as they can give you advice

If you’re struggling to breathe, then yes. At this hospital, we’ve been told A&E numbers / admissions are right up at the moment in both children and adults due to hay fever/asthma. Must be particularly bad at the moment.

I was about halfway through reading the thread when I was thinking, you need an asthma plan; that would have meant you'd have known that you should go to A&E rather than wondering if it was wrong to do so. I hope you can get a review very soon and get a proper plan in place. It may well be that you will need more treatment through your hayfever season that could step down later - but then have a plan for when to start it again next year before it gets bad.

I think a lot of people are having a tough time with asthma at the moment, who are usually fine. To anyone else reading this thread - if you need your blue inhaler acutely, use it. But if you need a lot and then more quite soon, arrange to get to A&E (or maybe urgent care) as soon as possible.

Gosh this worries me a bit, I have quite bad asthma that's worse with hay fever. I don't think it sounds like you have a proper care plan? You should know how many puffs you can have etc so I really think you should ring the GP straight away and tell the receptionist what happened and that you're going to need an appointment at least by tomorrow. Its quite scary when you're struggling to breathe and new to it so I hope you're feeling ok now.

Sorry, should say squeeze you in- not squeeze you 🫤

Your allergies are exacerbating your asthma, of course you need attention. My son ended up in respiratory distress due to bad hayfever/virus combo.

@ApplesInTheSunshine That isn't true. When my daughter's asthma is bad the consultant has approved up to six puffs as long as it lasts four hours before seeking a&e (but we always see GP next day if it gets to this, as sometimes she needs oral steroids)

OP you should still try to see your GP even if you're feeling better

@peachesandpears3 are you able to call your GP surgery, explain it is urgent as asthma related? They might be able to squeeze you.

When my DS was diagnosed (after years of, it's probably a chest infection) we felt just as you do- a little bit lost and no one really had a chance to explain things in detail. I would try and book an appointment for asthma review too (once you've been seen for current issue).

As previous poster mentioned, you can take 10 puffs, but if you're at that stage you should also call nhs/999.
We had this twice, called nhs direct and they always sent an ambulance as they started breathing difficulty is an emergency.

Hope you feel better soon.

hmm.

was it an asthma nurse or the gp who saw you?

Salbutamol is pretty safe, actually

also if you feel your blue inhaler isn’t working, take 10 puffs in a row, with a minute between them, and go to a&e/call 999, whichever will get you seen soonest

You need to look at your specific instructions on managing youth asthma.

This poster hits the nail on the head:

That will depend on the individual care plan she has. Ds can have up to 10 puffs every 4 hours before we need to consider getting medical attention. Every asthmatic should have a personal care plan in place.

What matters is whether the OP is effectively using her care plan to relieve symptoms, whether she's following it and it isn't working, or whether she doesn't have one for some reason.

They should give you a hard copy of your asthma plan and have gone through it with you. Recommend you make an appt to see your asthma nurse asap and say your asthma isn't being managed and it's urgent you see her for a review. And in the meantime go to A&E if you have breathing difficulties that aren't easily resolved by your blue inhaler.

Asthma review with GP practise nurse will develop a plan for you.

They should have given you your asthma plan, ask your gp for it.

Im usually seen by the clinical pharmacist for my asthmA but don’t know how other surgeries work.

Get an asthma review with your practise nurse, and ask about guidelines for when to seek help.

My asthma is well managed. My plan says 2 puffs blue inhaler 10 mins apart > if no improvement A&E or ambulance if deteriorating. Your earlier description sounds like you would have hit my limit?

As a rule of thumb, if asthma is waking you at night it is not controlled and you need a GP or asthma nurse appointment.

People die from asthma.