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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To start a topic for asthmatics?

85 replies

Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 18:22

I feel being asthmatic is something very few people actually talk about, I've been strucked down over the weekend with a chest infection which has led to a pretty bad asthma attack where I've been nebulised 4 times since yesterday and no farther forward.

Does anyone else go through similar when they've had a flare up or been unwell? I feel so sorry for myself and looking for anyone who's struggling to chat away too for support

:-)

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Wheresthebeach · 09/01/2023 18:33

Yep asthma is often ignored. Since getting Covid my chest is def worse. Past 12 months three chest infections all needing prednisone. It sucks. sorry you're having a hard time of it!

FelicityBeedle · 09/01/2023 18:36

I had a bad cold at work one night and we had a proper emergency in which I had to sprint for the first time in a decade. Have myself a nasty attack (no inhaler obviously because I’m an idiot). Someone got me an inhaler out but that cold went straight to my chest

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 18:40

Thank you! I'm glad its not just me that thinks this since covid became a thing. I'm a smoker too so practically laughed out the surgery (side note I haven't smoked since yesterday)

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SoMachoHesGottaBe · 09/01/2023 18:40

Literally had two asthma attacks last Wednesday and ended up in hospital for the night on 4 hourly nebs and been on pred since, x8 per day. I picked up a nasty bug off the kids over Christmas and it hit my chest like a sledgehammer. Haven’t been that bad since I was a kid I’m sure! Today is the first day I feel vaguely normal and only just got around to taking my tree etc down, it usually all comes down and goes away NYD but we were all too ill.

I hope you feel better soon, it’s a horrible feeling. I was upstairs alone for the first one and hubby and kids were all downstairs making noise and I couldn’t raise the alarm at all, I was pretty scared for a while there I won’t lie.

PlinkPlonkFizz · 09/01/2023 18:42

Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 18:40

Thank you! I'm glad its not just me that thinks this since covid became a thing. I'm a smoker too so practically laughed out the surgery (side note I haven't smoked since yesterday)

A smoker 😩 you lost my sympathy there, sorry.

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 18:42

@FelicityBeedle I forget mine all the time, i swear they should be on a keychain 😄 fingers crossed you're feeling a little better soon x

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Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 18:43

@PlinkPlonkFizz i get it! Trust me i do, each to their own but as I said this seems to be the kick up the butt I'm needing 🤞

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Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 18:45

@SoMachoHesGottaBe no one speaks openly about how scary it actually is, I'm sorry to hear you had a tough time of it but thanks for joining my thread. I've been waking up during the night feeling like someone is throttling me and i cannot breathe out. Its terrifying 😳 x

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DonkeyCup · 09/01/2023 19:00

Sorry to hear you're so poorly and I hope you feel some improvement soon x

An asthma attack is a really hard feeling to describe, and has a huge impact on what you can do.

I haven't needed a preventer since I was a teen (42 now). GP prescribed a reliever spring 22, alongside an antihistamine, as I started experiencing allergy related attacks.

Then the bug I had since end of Nov resulted in 2x courses of steroids, antibiotics and back on preventer over Christmas. Frightening stuff.

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 19:03

@DonkeyCup aw thank you.

I haven't had any issues for years but yeah similar to you I've been unwell and gradually getting worse since November too

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Coffeecreme · 09/01/2023 19:04

also feeling asthmatic lately.
horrible.

unsync · 09/01/2023 19:09

Well done stopping smoking. Hope it sticks, you will feel so much better for it. Keep going. Hope you can get your asthma under control and get well soon.

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 19:10

@Coffeecreme I've had it my whole life and its always been well controlled however the past few months have been awful, fingers crossed you're feeling better soon x

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Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 19:12

Thanks so much @unsync my health is far too important and I don't want my son growing up like I did , my parents smoked my whole life and all my siblings did too so by the time I was of age I thought this was the "norm"

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AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 09/01/2023 19:20

I've had my second chest infection in 4 months, felt rotten.

My bloody inhaler has been switched as well (not by choice they just sent a different one) and I can't take it. Makes me cough

Lancrelady80 · 09/01/2023 19:22

Yes, the cold! Awful on the chest. Hospitalised a couple of times as a teen, inc blue-lighted there, but don't need anything regularly at 42. Have a blue inhaler for emergencies but asthma nurse not interested in seeing me for reviews anymore and no longer considered eligible for flu jab.

But got a chest infection in December and breathing in the bitter cold air really triggered it and had to use blue inhaler several times. Even after the infection itself had cleared up.

Properly vicious to breathe it.

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 19:25

Oh no @AccidentallyRunToWindsor I'd definitely be back on to them, They upped mine today to a fostair which is supposed to be a slow release yet I've had to take my blue one and the nebuliser again tonight.. these steroids better work in the next few days.

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Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 19:26

Come to think of it I couldn't tell you the last review I had @Lancrelady80 this has defo stopped since covid, so much for people with respiratory problems being a priority eh

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Coffeecreme · 09/01/2023 19:27

i have Bedusonide to use daily as well as when needed

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 09/01/2023 19:28

@Twistedunicorn

I've been on Fostair for years but when I did my order this time around I got sent some other inhaler. The ingredients are the same but the propellant seems harsher? I can't keep it in my mouth before I cough it back out again.

cptartapp · 09/01/2023 19:32

Lancrelady80 · 09/01/2023 19:22

Yes, the cold! Awful on the chest. Hospitalised a couple of times as a teen, inc blue-lighted there, but don't need anything regularly at 42. Have a blue inhaler for emergencies but asthma nurse not interested in seeing me for reviews anymore and no longer considered eligible for flu jab.

But got a chest infection in December and breathing in the bitter cold air really triggered it and had to use blue inhaler several times. Even after the infection itself had cleared up.

Properly vicious to breathe it.

In which case you should be back on a preventer for at least the next two years, and as such as re entitled to a flu vaccine.
Absolutely should have an annual review too. We've never stopped although doing peak flows are currently contraindicated in clinic due to Covid.
Practice nurse.

RedFaerieBoots · 09/01/2023 19:33

Yes!

Every December according to my Facebook memories, the last two being over festive period which sucked as they were bad and really aggravated my asthma.

This past December was awful. The viral flu thing came on so quickly without any warning and I just coughed so hard I was doubled up. Couldn't sleep as was walking up every few hours having a coughing fit. GP had me start my emergency prednisolone pack then when that wasn't enough to double my laba preventer dose (already deemed a high dose normally) and to take my salbutamol 4puffs 4x a day to help keep airways open. 2nd GP gave me Nacys effervescent tabs to try bring up the mucus as I was making strange growl sounds when breathing. Sadly it did break up mucus but I couldn't cough it up and I got a side effect that it doubled coughing - which was already bad. It made me cough up blood (all ok was just too much coughing) so told to stop it. Got emergency antibiotics just in case and on boxing Day it was evident it had gone bacterial so started them. In total I was sick for 3weeks. I'm still exhausted but thankfully coughing whilst there is definitely at the end stages.

I do wonder if Covid has made things worse. GP had me start pred as soon as I tested positive in July as PEF was getting lower and had been before result. So never had respiratory issues but post Covid had issues with climbing stairs and randomly for a while my lungs didn't feel like they fully inflated. Id breathe in and they would just stop. Was easy to reset but scary as hell. That's tapered off but worried it might come back whenever I'm sick. Time will tell..

LeFeu · 09/01/2023 19:38

Hello, fellow asthmatics. I’ve had the awful flu bug this December high led to chest infection and rescue steroids. Been 3 weeks now and my chest is still rattling. It’s horrid and I’m so tired. I don’t think people realise that it’s not just attacks that are the problem with asthma, it’s the chronic stuff!

Is there anyone else here who has chronic problems with oral thrush from using a preventer? I rinse my mouth, brush my teeth after taking it, use a spacer, had my technique checked by the nurse, just seems to keep coming back!

Original poster
Twistedunicorn · 09/01/2023 19:55

@LeFeu thank you for mentioning this, its defo something I've had which is why I've requested a spacer, my mouth is so sore and no matter what i do my breath stinks (poor OH) 🤣

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SouthCountryGirl · 09/01/2023 19:55

Has anyone had a FeNo test? Been sent for this as well as physio to see how I breathe as consultant isn't sure whether it's actually asthma.