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Original poster

In being surprised adult can get asthma?

143 replies

shesalady · 16/03/2018 21:26

Just been told I have adult onset asthma after X-rays and blood work.

Everyone I've mentioned it to said it's not possible to just suddenly develop it as an adult and it's something you have from a child.

I've been referred to an asthma centre next week to test for allergies and discuss treatment. Treatment?! I'm a little in shock and don't really know a thing about asthma. Googling it briefly scared the living piss out of me!

I've got a horrible suspicion after having cats all of my life I've just become allergic to them. Sad

Anyone else have adult onset asthma? Or suddenly develop an allergy to their beloved pet?

Dh is being really 'oh well it's not anything serious at least' which is pissing me off a little as I feel it might be and I'm going taking steroids for a few months in the best scenario. Angry

OP posts:
storynanny · 16/03/2018 22:09

I had first asthma attack at 18.
My ex husband developed asthma at 48, after suffering a small bleed on the brain.
My dad first used an inhaler aged 70. But that was probably due to being undiagnosed earlier ( only my mother was allowed to be ill or talk about being ill or want a particular illness)
I think it is more quickly diagnosed now.

Original poster
shesalady · 16/03/2018 22:09

So many people! I'm grateful for all of your advice. Smile

OP posts:
Fairylea · 16/03/2018 22:12

You might find the drinking just sets off the asthma if it’s not controlled because your more prone to coughing if your throat is slightly dry / irritated at the moment. When it’s controlled it might be okay. My mum has copd and still enjoys a drink!

I find cold weather and pollution sets mine off terribly. Worst of all traffic jams! I have to make sure I carry a bottle of water in the car next to my seat and my blue inhaler close to hand as if I suddenly breathe in a load of smoke / car fumes I cough so much I can’t get my breath back.

TamaraDrankMyMilk · 16/03/2018 22:16

I was diagnosed aged 35 following a severe chest infection that wouldn't clear up. I didn't believe the GP as my sister had had asthma all her life and was regularly hospitalised but I never had it as a child.

The GP made me hold the stethoscope on my chest and unplugged it from her ears, wiped the ends with a sterilising wipe and put it into my ears so I could hear my breathing. I sounded like bagpipes warming up.

I have had to attend an asthma clinic every year and saw how bad my peak flow level was at the beginning when first diagnosed. Now I am pretty much asthma free but do get wheezy in cold weather so I usually pull my scarf up over my nose and mouth so the air isn't so cold when I breathe.

Serenity05 · 16/03/2018 22:18

I'm 34 and I developed asthma last year. I had a horrible few months of having a constant cough, getting short of breath just walking up stairs, wheezing, recurrent chest infections... I was on Prednisone a few times which I hated because it gave me insomnia. I had to miss so much work because of it. However, since being properly diagnosed and given a preventive inhaler (Clenil) things have improved massively. I've gone from using the salbutamol inhaler three times a day to maybe once or twice a week (and then only when I've been outside so I'm hoping it will get better when the weather gets warmer). It sucks but it is manageable.

Fairylea · 16/03/2018 22:23

Can I just say, for the sake of the thread, that the short bursts of predisnole prescribed for asthma are fine to take and people shouldn’t worry about taking steroids in these circumstances. They work really well.

I have Addison’s disease (as well asthma, lucky me Grin) and I have to take daily life long steriods. I take hydrocortisone tablets but many people take predisnole (albeit at lower doses than in asthma use). I always pull a bit of a Shock face when people are worried about taking them for asthma because they do work so well and at such a short term dose they will do no harm at all.

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 16/03/2018 22:23

I had it for a while. Our team moved to a new office building and we all started showing symptoms, not sure why as it looked perfectly clean and newly refurbished.

It was bad for a while and disappeared as soon as I changed jobs. It is very rare that I need to use my inhaler nowadays.

ivykaty44 · 16/03/2018 22:24

The worst place for pollution is actually inside the car,
Sulphur in wine and some other alcohol can trigger attacks
Plenty of exercise to enhance lung capacity once your asthma is under control and you’re well.

Snowmageddon · 16/03/2018 22:24

I was diagnosed with adult onset asthma and given a nebuliser to use when I felt short of breath. I have never used it in 6 years, in fact I don't know have a clue where it is any more. I have not got asthma and I have no idea why the doctor decided I did, but it certainly is a thing you can be diagnosed with as an adult!

Fairylea · 16/03/2018 22:24

Sorry I realise I spelt predisnone wrong. I’m not ever sure if I’ve spelt it right now: but I’m sure you’ll get what I mean!!

Snowmageddon · 16/03/2018 22:25

Sorry - I've said nebuliser there but I think I mean inhaler. Couldn't think of the word.

mumtomaxwell · 16/03/2018 22:30

I’ve had asthma all my life, husband was diagnosed in his late 30s - his is far more severe than mine!! Usually I barely notice mine, but if I’m late getting a new prescription for my preventer inhaler I go downhill very quickly.

I’ve learnt something in this thread about sulphur in wine!! I have always wondered why I sometimes get wheezy when I drink!

LivLemler · 16/03/2018 22:32

The pred should help in the short term and then you can work on a long term inhaler solution.

Wine makes my asthma worse when I'm bad (as someone said, it's the sulphides/sulphites, can't remember which) but when I'm healthy it's grand. Thankfully!

Gwenhwyfar · 16/03/2018 22:33

I have allergies (hay, animals). I've been told 'be careful or you'll develop asthma'. Apart from not going outside in hay fever season or wearing a space suit or something, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do to avoid making my allergies turn into asthma...

AnnaMagnani · 16/03/2018 22:34

I was diagnosed with it in my 30s. Took a long time to come to terms with it.

With the benefit of hindsight, I should have been diagnosed with it as a child - if you were a sickly kid with lots of bronchial infections and coughing all night, same might apply to you. Although my allergies have got worse as I got older.

However it has been a revelation to discover that my annual springtime cold was never a cold, it was an allergy to tree blossom. And my mother's approach of shouting at me to 'stop coughing now' was never going to be effective because actually I needed a puff of reliever inhaler Blush

There is some justice as my mum has asthma now too Grin

VaguelyAware · 16/03/2018 22:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
shesalady · 16/03/2018 22:35

I'm nervous about it causing insomnia as I suffer from that awfully as it is.

My peak flow was 220 the other day which the doctor said was pretty crap. To be honest I don't see how they could get an accurate reading as I couldn't stopping coughing or hardly stand up.

When everyone thought it was a coughy thing they kept telling me to go out in to the cold air which would make it much better. Cue an hours coughing fit.

So it appears the cold aggravates it. Awesome. I live where it's well under zero for 4-6 months of the year.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 16/03/2018 22:37

I was told to take it early in the day to prevent being hyper at night

Didn’t have any sleepless nights

Original poster
shesalady · 16/03/2018 22:37

@AnnaMagnani i got yelled the same thing!

I think I'm more coughing than wheezy which is maybe why it was never picked up.

OP posts:
Shinycat · 16/03/2018 22:38

I know at LEAST 7 people who were diagnosed at 28 to 35. In fact, I know more adults who were diagnosed (over the age of 25,) than I know children under 18 who were diagnosed!

Original poster
shesalady · 16/03/2018 22:38

@VaguelyAware Grin

OP posts:
sleepylittlebunnies · 16/03/2018 22:39

My dad was diagnosed with asthma in his 60’s. I’m not convinced and I think he and I know his breathing problems are down to racing pigeons which he wouldn’t tell the doctor about because the doctor didn’t ask about birds. He now wears a protective mask when he’s in the pigeon loft and has reduced his inhalers.

Original poster
shesalady · 16/03/2018 22:40

@ivykaty44 my doctor told me to take it last night as it was so bad but I read up on it a bit and ignored him and took it this morning Blush. I had a six hour round trip to go to the hospital with ds in tow and just couldn't do it on no sleep. It's also massively snowy and I hate driving on that at the best of times.

Good job as I've been off my nut all day. And not hungry. Which is amazing.

OP posts:
VaguelyAware · 16/03/2018 22:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

burblife · 16/03/2018 22:44

I use steroid inhaler twice a day and blue inhaler as I need it. Winter time I'm susceptible to chest infections but I know how to stay as well as possible. It doesn't stop me doing anything, I run, work, go on holidays. The one thing I can't do is blow up a balloon!!

Exactly this! I am useless at blowing up balloons and also blowing bubbles for dc. I was diagnosed at 27. My mum at 50 after several chest infections and pleurisy. I also suffer from hay fever and eczema/general skin sensitivity.

You should have a review with gp at leat yearly to check dosage etc.

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