Asthma! Help!

[Orangeorlemonorlime]

Hi!

I have asthma and currently take fostair (4 puffs a day) and I have salbutamol for whenever I need to use it. I recently felt like my asthma was worsening (wheezing, needing my blue inhaler, coughing etc) and I thought I maybe had a chest infection- the GP listened to my chest and said it sounded ok although I had explained I only really get the problems at night which obviously she can’t hear but she said that’s pretty typical of asthma worsening and to come back if it doesn’t improve in a few weeks as they may need to change my fostair. So it hasn’t improved and I’m going back but I just wondered does anyone know what the next step up from fostair is? Or what the next treatment would be?

Normally steroid tablets :(

What triggers your asthma (exercise, allergies etc)?

First thing usually is to increase the dosage of whatever you're on. Have you got an asthma action plan? That's step number on on mine. Asthma nurse always says be quick to increase it and slow to decrease it.

Prednisolone and Monteleukast.

It depends on so many variables though as to what they do next, but that's my case.

They may increase the strength of the preventer inhaler or try a different one to see if that works better for you.

i would keep a diary of when you have problems, what the triggers are and what ventolin you need.

Acutely - steroids

For every day - have you had Montelukast tablets? Awesome stuff.

If its worse at night have you checked your bedroom for mold? Behind picture frames etc? Also if you haven't got one an air purifier in your bedroom.

I was told the next step is referral to respiratory. I'm under them already

Steroids don't work for me.

I was told to use fostair as maintenance and reliever therapy. I did that and ended up with heart palpitations.

I was then put on Seretide and Spiriva.

I am undergoing various tests because no one is sure it's asthma and because of the heart issues which I'm still getting. (night only now)

I have been told if you are using the blue inhaler 3 times a week or more to control you asthma symptoms then your asthma is considering to not be well controlled and your medications adjusted accordingly. Asthma should be controlled via the steroid inhaler, with the blue only being used for an odd occasion, not regularly needing it.

I’ve just had my review (previously same as you) and been given two fostair (same strength) plus a blue. Two puffs twice a day of the one pink, the other fostair to be used as the main reliever, the blue only if I’ve used up maximum dose of fostair

Montelukaust is great. I remember telling a nurse at a review I just had my ‘normal night time cough’ and she was confused and said matter of factly ‘that’s not normal’ and prescribed it.

I also take 4 puffs of Fostair and I also take Montelukast which has been brilliant for me. It stopped me needing to go on to a higher dose of Fostair or a different inhaler.