Question for Asthmatics..

[Twiglett]

I developed pregnancy induced asthma but it went about 10 months ago

I have a minor cold and my chest feels tight and my breathing laboured .. though am not wheezing

Is that an asthmatic reaction? Should I start taking inhalers again (becotide / salbutomal) .. I have taken a few puffs and it seems to provide relief

Also on those breathing out gauge things (can't remember name sorry) what is a normal reading and when do you start being a little concerned?

thanks in advance wheezy ones

I have asthma though not pregnancy induced.

My blow thing is usually 350ish. If your salbutamol inhaler is providing relief you should carry on using it.

Sounds like you might have the begginings of a chest infection.

DS has asthma so although I have some knowledge it is really only relevent to DS

Hi Twiglett

The peak flow meter readings are different for everyone - it depends what is 'normal' for you. Can you remember what your readings were when you were asthmatic during your pg?

If you are responding to the Ventolin then there is probably some degree of asthma going on. Colds often trigger asthma off (in someone who is prone to asthma). I have mostly grown out of mine but I do still use my inhalers when I have a cold as my chest will usually get tight to some degree.

If there is an asthma nurse as your surgery you could ask to see her (maybe just be dropping in?) but you really ought to get it checked out in case it is an infection than needs antibiotics, asthma or not.

SJ x

As a lifetime asthmatic it sounds to me as though you shold start to take the inhalers again. The blue one will relief the tightness and the brown one is a preventer so it has a cumulative effect rather than an instant one. TBH though I would get it checked out at the Drs to prevent anything worse from happening. I always double my dose as soon as I go down with a cold otherwise it can easily turn into bronchitus and even pneumonia (only once fortunatley). No idea what the normal reading is sorry, I've never had one! Take care and I hope you feel better again soon.

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thanks sensible ones

have plans to see asthma nurse but not got round to it

bugger .. thought I'd got clean away with it then

When I had my first asthma attack combined with a chest infection my peak flow blow was only 60.

does it feel different that low? how does that feel

I feel I shouldn't complain because even at really pregnant stage I think the lowest I got was 300 or 350 .. I think my normal gauge was in the 600s .. at the mo its 450 to 500 so am surprised it feels tight ..

It felt like I was going to pass out. I first started wheezing a bit on friday night, saturday was abit worse but planned to go to docters on monday. Got up on sunday and had to go to hospital as I couldn't catch my breath atall. I had to go on a ventalin machine for about an hour. It was one of the worst feelings I could imagine (and I have been through 3 labours ).

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Another veteram asthmatic here! Distel, I was down to a pf of 60 too for my first asthma attack. When i am well it's nearly 600! Twiglet, when asthmatics are well they don't need to use their blue (salbutomol)inhalers, so it sounds like something you need to get checked out straightaway. Have a look at the asthma campaign's website , they're very helpful.

How are you now, Twiglett? There was an article about adult asthma in yesterdays Hellograph, which is quite informative. Hth.

One thing the asthma nurses and the doctors never told me (I had bad asthma and was reliant on asthma drugs from age 13 to 38) was that if I cut wheat and dairy out of my diet, all symptoms would disappear. But they did. I'm still pinching myself that I don't suffer any more.

My best peak flow is 220
I have now been waiting for an appointment at the asthma clinic since last xmas, and they keep refusing repeat perscriptions as I haven't been

As a guide to readings, you might find this helpful - click on New Personal Predicted PEF Calculator and also have a look at .
the Adult Normal Values Chart.

Please note though that the calibration of meters changed in past year so readings on newer ones are slightly different from the old ones (you can click on the link for an on-screen convertor).

Nikkie! Please get yourself some help straightaway. You might feel well at a low pf (am assuming your pf should be higher, but am not a doctor) but believe me you'll feel 100 times better when your pf is at its optimum! I'm talking from bitter experience here. If you can't get to asthma climic see your gp. Keep yourself out of A&E!

Any updates, Twiglett?