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

So what happens when you call your surgery and request an asthma review? You need to be really pushing for this, please don’t be passive about it, it could quite literally be life or death.

Keep pushing, it's dangerous for you not to have a reliever inhaler handy. What on earth are they thinking

On a separate note, I'm asthmatic and have always had the cough variant asthma, although I have a fair bit of wheezing too. My coughing got progressively worse over the last few years and I started getting chest infection after chest infection. Couldn't get a doctor's appointment, so I went to a walk in centre. They said they thought I had silent reflux and prescribed pills to deal with it, which helped a bit, but I then got prescribed different pills and the current lot I'm on have helped a lot with my coughing. Reflux is much more common for asthmatics than non-asthmatics, so could be something to look into if you haven't already. Don't assume you'd know: I didn't have any of the usual reflux symptoms except the coughing.

That is very poor practice. Who on earth is doing your asthma review? Have you actually been diagnosed and given a treatment plan by a respiratory physician?

Good luck. Be strong and don't take no for an answer. Is there someone who can go with you (for support?)

If they refuse (and I don't see why they would,) I would consider going to A & E, honestly. All the best!.😘

Thank you I'll do that. I was just fobbed off with the blue one and been waiting forever for a review

So you don’t have asthma? Asthma medication and steroids won’t be much use to a generalised cough which is maybe why you are using it such a lot and not seeing any relief.

I've had multiple chest infections supposedly and been given antibiotics which did naff all

Must she?

Oh well then, problem solved. We can all get on with our lives. 🙄

You do realise an NHS prescription will cost £9.60?

It's not a generalised cough lol. You don't get prescribed an inhaler for a cough

That's actually a good theory, especially when the op says she was premature, as there is an increased risk of Gerd.

I have a steroid, it sounds like you might need that. 🫂 Or maybe you have GERD? Your GP must help you!

I don’t think it’s very safe or legal to either post out prescription medications to people you don’t know or to receive them and use them.

I'm well aware thanks. Still cheaper than having to buy privately

I get it, I have allergy asthma, it’s shit! We have to use blue more than most! I can’t imagine getting though one a month though! That’s a lot! Time for a review??

From what the asthma nurse an doc told me

you should have usually 2 inhalers. The
preventive ( weve had brown purple lilic green) over the months /years and blue the reliever

the colours one /preventive - usually use 1-2 puffs am and pm then if struggling the blue reliever

but

frequent use (more than twice a week) of the blue the reliever indicates poorly controlled asthma, meaning a preventer inhaler (usually brown) and a review with a doctor or pharmacist are needed.

if you are using a blue one every month then your preventive isn’t correct and need to see asthma nurse

have they asked you to make an asthma app? Sometimes they limit to nudge you to seeing someone

but yes as a few have said on here, if using a blue one every month you aren’t on the right medication for your asthma

I’m not sure we should be sending the op random selections of inhalers given she’s never been prescribed a preventer inhaler.

You really do need to go back tomorrow and force through that asthma review if you can. And don’t forget that not being able to breathe properly is a perfectly good reason to use A&E if you need to in the meantime.

I would be very clear about the fact that needing to use it this much means that your asthma is uncontrolled and you are at greater risk of a life threatening asthma attack. If be that you don’t currently have a reliever to help deal with. I would also point out that you are not on any preventer treatment which would help lessen the use of the blue inhaler.

It's virtually impossible to get seen when you need to be seen. I've not long submitted an e consult so fingers 🤞

Glad you're going back, you realllllly need a proper asthma review, and regular follow ups. Clearly whatever they prescribed isn't working for you. Make sure they complete an asthma action plan for you. This should contain how much of each inhaler is your normal dose, your lung peak flow rate, and at what frequency/values you should seek medical advice. They should have prescribed you a peak flow meter so you can keep an eye on it yourself (you can buy them for less than the prescription price).

If you only have a brown preventer (beclometasone), as I understand it taking more a day doesn't actually help instantly. It takes a few weeks to build up. Ask them to explain properly how the medication works.

For the hay fever/allergen activated asthma, you could add an antihistamine. Loratadine and cetirizine are relatively cheap (£1 for 30 pills), fexofenadine a bit more (£6 for 30). Do check compatibility with your existing medication.

Finally, an annual Prescription Prepayment Certificate costs £114.50 for 12 months, so that would only be £9.54 a month and be valid for any prescriptions. That's presuming you've checked your eligible for free prescriptions.

Hope you feel better soon, asthma is shit in the cold, and I too hate that it doesn't count as a condition with free prescriptions. I don't need all of them to be free, just the asthma meds.

I agree- asthmatic myself. Lifestyle choices do impact too though- sometimes. Otoh, it seems it's not free bc 50 years ago treatments were not so good and they never updated the list!

Thank you so much. It's horrible to live with and even more horrible having people commenting who have no idea how it impacts people differently. You've been really helpful ❤️

Sounds like you could do with a nebuliser also uncontrolled asthma is very dangerous

Ask for an asthma review because this doesn't sound right at all. I have just had my review and was told that at this time of year, I can double up my dosage if I'm struggling with the cold.

You shouldn't really be coughing unless you have an infection. Which inhaler are you on? I have Fostair through a spacer. It works really well in controlling my asthma. Do you know your PF values? It's worth tracking them twice daily when you're struggling.

Thank you. I'm going to be more assertive on the phone tomorrow so I don't get fobbed off again

I also get asthma related reflux. It's quite common.

Do your surgery run an asthma clinic? Some do.

I hope you get some joy out of them tomorrow hon. It's important you have an inhaler. There's absolutely no way they should leave you without one. It's negligent.

And if your asthma is not being controlled you're within your rights to ask to be referred to a specialist. Uncontrolled asthma is no joke.

I hope you manage to get some sleep tonight. 😴