Short of breath - not asthmatic

[bananaramadramas]

Hello,

I'm after some (non-medical) advice.

In December I developed a cough which made me really short of breath. I was prescribed antibiotics, steroids and an inhaler. I finished antibiotics and steroids but wasn't any better. I had what I can only imagine is like an asthma attack and had to go on a nebuliser and further steroids.

The whole time my peak flow has been around 250.

Now, I have the end of the cough I guess, but breathing is still the same. The inhaler just makes me shaky so try not to use it.

I guess it's a possibility I've developed asthma.. I apparently have to wait six weeks from the end of my steroids to see the asthma nurse.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? What was the outcome? I know there is so much of it around, I just can't stand not being able to breathe properly

Anyone can develop asthma at any time. So yes, could be. Did the inhaler help at all?

If your breathing is still a struggle go back to the GP as a matter of urgency. No need to wait 6 weeks.

I went back on Friday. They said my chest is clear now (was wheezy and crackly before antibiotics) my peak flow is still 250 though. They're sending me for some blood tests as they didn't want to prescribe steroids again.

I just feel like it's takes so much effort to breathe. The inhaler makes me shaky. The nebuliser did really help.

My mum developed asthma in later life, so I knew it could be that. I just want to be 'normal' again. I'm just struggling keeping on top of everything at home, work, kids, etc. Having a bit of a pity party for one today

That the nebuliser worked is a good indicator that it is asthma.

Do you feel breathless all the time? That is not good. You need a preventer (brown inhaler). Did they not offer that?

Breathing matters, banana and the blue inhaler should be for rescue only.

Honestly, go back tomorrow. Ask for a preventer and tell them that you are breathless all the time. Don’t leave without being taken seriously.

It’s normal, btw, for the blue inhaler to make you feel a bit shaky - but that suggests that you may be using it too much, which isn’t your fault if it’s all you’ve got.

And not all asthma comes with a wheeze - your doctor should know that

It sounds like asthma, 250 is really low so that must be an effort for you. You probably need a strong steroid based inhaler to get your breathing back to normal. Hope you feel better soon.

Yes, I was going to say...when you have a peak flow of 250 the absence of an audible wheeze is irrelevant.

I developed asthma after a bad chest infection. 3 years later it seems to have mostly gone away but I’m cautious and carry the emergency inhaler everywhere. No longer using a preventer but accept that I may have to use it again in the future.

I will go back again. They dithered over what to do with me which obviously gave me no confidence.. went from the rescue pack of antibiotics/steroids to a steroid inhaler to blood tests.

It is generally a struggle to breathe, which worries me obviously, just doing my housework has me really out of breath and I find it so frustrating as I'm normally running around.

Thank you all

I developed asthma after a chest infection a couple of years ago, completely out of the blue (am in my early 40s). For the first few weeks I sucked the life out of the blue inhaler they gave me; it was only after an appointment with the asthma nurse that I got things under control.

Hopefully you will get the help you need at your asthma appointment; in the meantime, if you are struggling to breathe, definitely go to the doctor.