Can't even afford a fucking inhaler

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

I'm in the UK. I have a monthly prescription for my inhaler. My inhaler has ran out as I've been poorly and needing it more than usual plus I'm asthmatic. I called my surgery today and got a telephone consultation to be told I can't have a new script for one for another week. I've looked on med express who could give me one but it costs about £12. I know it's not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things but it is for me at this point in time. I'm crying due to the fact I'm not yet eligible for one off the NHS and I have a chesty cough. Just gonna curl up in a ball and cough myself to sleep

Only recently given an inhaler? That's horrible.

Oh OP that's so awful! I'm asthmatic too and know that when I get a chesty bug (plenty of them around) it means I need to use my inhaler more. People who aren't asthmatic will not understand the utter fear.

Have you had a recent check up to make sure you have the right inhaler? I used to love Symbicort - changed my life - but it had nothing on Fostair and I know the idea is to move everyone off Ventolin. Luckily our GP practice has a fab asthma nurse.

Hoping you get the result you need in the morning. I have always slept sitting up in an armchair when my asthma has been really bad. Remember, you can breathe well without breathing too deeply and this can stop me panicking if I can't get to the "top" of my breathe. But always always get medical help if you feel extremely unwell before your inhaler arrives x

I’m not sure it’s victim blaming just people trying to understand what has gone wrong.

It’s right to flag up the overuse of the inhaler and right for a GP surgery not to just keep prescribing. They shouldn’t leave her without any inhaler at all without changing the OP’s usual treatment.

OP have you had a recent asthma review? Do you have an asthma plan they outlines what your treatment should be when you have a flare up?

I have a symbicort turbohaler 200/6 spare if thats the right one send me your address & I’ll post it first thing in the morning? Your doctors are playing a stupid game, i ran out last year and was on the floor unable to catch my breath with a cold. They know it could be life or death. The pricks.z

Same here. I get two at a time because I once had to get an emergency prescription one from 111 due to a new one in a box having a completely empty canister when I opened it. My DP had to drive miles at 11pm on a Saturday night to pick one up for me.

Definitely go back to the GP. Explain the current dosage isn't keeping your asthma under control. They might be able to add something else or increase your regular dosage. Explain your financial situation. There must be some way to get you what you need. If you are struggling to breathe call 999. DS has asthma and I know how quickly it can spin out of control x

It's just the blue one I get

When was your last asthma review and have you been taking your peak flow readings? It seems unusual that you just have a reliever if you have been diagnosed with asthma from childhood. The general rule is that you shouldn’t use your reliever more than twice a week, if you are your preventer medication isn’t working and the medication needs reviewing.

I've been waiting weeks for an asthma review

There's your problem. You need to have seretide or sereflo ... A preventer. Something with a steroid in it...

You need to see the asthma nurse ASAP. Go to your GP first thing tomorrow. You should only be using 3-4 blue inhalers a year at the most.

Your asthma is clearly not controlled.... You need an asthma review. If you are on the blue ones, you should be getting regular reviews - once a year minimum. Something is going wrong. See your GP surgery tomorrow (or phone them) and ask for an asthma review.

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It sounds as if you need a steroid one. It seems insane that you only have a reliever and not a preventer.

Very bizarre, even worse is someone like my husband who is a kidney transplant recipient and he has to pay for medication that if he didn't take would eventually lead to death.

Get yourself back to that gp in the morning op- honestly the whole system is a shambles

I haven't been diagnosed since childhood. I've had breathing difficulties since childhood and been on every antibiotic known to man because the GP blamed it on a chest infection repeatedly

Sounds like you do need a review, that is a veyr high level of use and of course like any drug there are side effects and contraindications

I was 'diagnosed' asthmatic for years and years, with inhalers not really doing the job, different ones, still increasing the need, using the spacer, using different preventers etc etc

A fantastic asthma nurse wondered what else was going on, she referred me to SALT for my chronic cough and I was taken off the inhalers, they were doing more harm than good, Im not considered to have asthma now. I now know the symptoms were GERD, GERD can replicate/be caused by/cause asthma coughing and breathing difficulties. Its quite complicated and many GPs and nurses dont really recognise it or understand it

Its worth looking at that.

That was all I was given after an asthma assessment

You are welcome to the Fostair if you want it, it’s a preventer and reliever combined. Send me a PM with your address if you do and I will post in the morning.

if you only have the blue one prescribed then you need a proper asthma review at your doctor’s, as this is just for relief when needed - there is no prevention aspect to it. Given your issues this does not appear sufficient for you.

I saw a video today about a 22year old man in America whos inhaler cost $585.

He chose to pay his rent instead of buy an inhaler, had an asthma attack and died :(

Surely you could sell something to make £12?

That honestly sounds like me!

Do you have a date now booked for it?

It sounds like me also.

Please ask them for a preventer, something with a steroid. They are not looking after you properly. Don't leave until you get something more than the blue inhaler ... That is just a 'reliever.' (You still need that by the way, but you need a steroid preventer inhaler too...)

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Nope

The blue one only relieves symptoms. You need one that prevents the symptoms in the first place.
Have you actually had a definite asthma diagnosis, rather than been given blue inhalers to relieve a cough? GP surgeries sometimes seem to do odd things!

I wouldnt ask for a routine asthma review, as this will be a long wait...I'd ask for a GP appointment to follow up from practice nurse appt.

Thank you I will first thing it's horrible feeling like this

OK, go to this website now to request an emergency prescription
https://111.nhs.uk/emergency-prescription
You can pick a pharmacy near you from their list. Go there first thing in the morning when they open and explain you are in need of an inhaler. You'll have to pay whatever you usually pay - I'm a bit confused about that as you've said you don't have a problem paying later in the thread but it seemed like you did. But this will get an inhaler into your hands fastest. Then you can moan at the practice, ask for a preventer inhaler and all the rest.