Grr, first asthma attack in 25 years - any tips please?

[whenwillisleepagain]

Hi, I posted earlier this week about being breathless and thanks for the helpful replies. I had childhood, usually allergic asthma, and improved a lot from my mid-teens. I long ago gave up preventer inhalers, just using them occasionally. I haven't used my reliever much in recent years.

I have been short of breath for two weeks so, in a hit and miss way, put myself on 400mg of clenil per day, two weeks ago exactly, so I would have hoped for some effect from that by today. My reliever hasn't been seeming to do much. Last week I bought a peak flow meter and my PF was a bit above the predicted and it's been reasonably steady, relievers or not, (around 470, predicted is 440). I saw GP Friday and explained what was going on, and also told her that day before all this started, I had felt a bit weird and viral, so wondered if that was trigger. Unprecedented for it to affect me so badly. Been gradually worsening all weekend and this AM, peak flow 350 (best of 3, worst was 300). I am not wheezing or coughing. 4 puffs of reliever got me back up to 450 but I am feeling SOB all the time and worrying about what might happen later. I did panic this AM, as it is sooo long since had to deal with this.

Am thinking I will go to GP this afternoon if I can be seen. Lots of emotional stuff is going on for me, principally approaching 1st anniversary of my dad's death and I can feel I am wobbly, so guess trigger could be a mixture of things. On Friday I upped myself to 600mg clenil, have no idea what size of dose this is, IYSWIM. But I can see I need to knock this on the head in case A&E beckons. I'ts my DS' 5th birthday, thankfully had the party on Sat, and my DD is bf, so I cannot be out of action. Perhaps that's part of the problem.

No personal experience, but dh has adult onset asthma - started in his 40s, always triggered by viral infection (regardless of severity of virus!). Now seems to be moving off virus triggers on to allergens and stress...

...you DO have a lot going on. I can't help with the asthma (except by bumping your thread) but I can validate the busy-ness for you! 5th birthday alone is stressful, but 1st anniversary of such a major bereavement....AND BFing little one....you poor love. A lot. My guess is the bereavement stuff is going to impact the most, I find grief relates a lot to breath/breathlessness iykwim.

I'm very sorry for your loss, and wish you less stress asap. hope someone comes along with more info.

Thank you so much eilibean - can't get to see GP today, but did speak to asthma nurse at AsthmaUK advice line and found her very helpful. Tomorrow it's the interview I have to do as executor for my dad's estate with the probate office - so it's not the most restful week. My hunch is that something viral that normally a few puffs of inhaler would sort out has just proved too much for my perhaps run-down immune and emotional system. As long as I can figure it out and prevent a recurrence, that's the main thing. I'm not too good at coping with unknowns.

thank you again for your kind thoughts.

Goodness, no, not restful doing the probate bit. Maybe once you are past that, you will feel you have more space - hope so!

I think its always wise with asthma to be as prepared and pre-emptive as possible - at least from what I've seen dh do. Do you have steroids to take in case?

it sounds like you ought to have underlying causes examining. Your clenil dose is also too high. I think that if there is no infection you should be started on a long acting beta agonist which is a long acting (12 hour duration) version of your blue inhaler. I personally prefer qvar to clenil also as it comes out better in tests. Also get your inhaler technique checked. You would not believe what bad habits people fall into!
Good luck,glad to see asthma Uk were helpful too, I am always reccomending them.

thank you both. tulip interesting you should mention technique - my DS who's just turned 5 is pretty good I think with a spacer. When I bought one today on the Asthma UK nurse's suggestion, I turned out to be unable to inhale without making it whistle. As soon as I can see a GP I will ask about other preventers - good to know that you find Qvar better. The Asthma UK nurse said it was a high dose. I am increasingly concerned that I am like this even after two weeks on clenil, even if I only upped the dose on Friday. My only concern is I don't want to stop bf yet and I had a very quick look at some guidance this morning about bf and asthma medication - would need to consult GP about moving onto a beta agonist in that respect. Although if it's inhaled, I think rule of thumb is that it's ok.

I think it's a bit weird that I feel so rubbish when my PF has been just about ok with the exception of this morning. Of course, never having measured it when I'm fine, I have no idea what it normally is. I just resumed running after a two year break the week before this breathlessness started, and after 2 puffs of blue inhaler, ran straight out of the front door and did 3.5 miles without too much trouble. DH is averse to exercise and thinks this was the start of my problems!

I too want to get to the bottom of the underlying causes. I did have a few chest infections when I was a student and IIRC I never had a cough then either, just SOB. Perhaps it's worth asking the GP to eliminate infection as cause then - I thought I would have a temp and productive cough.

Sorry to be thinking aloud - rather tedious for everyone. eilibean I hope I might automatically feel a bit better once probate interview is done tomorrow. Thanks again both of you.