What can you tell me about asthma...please

[Toocold]

I have just been diagnosed with asthma (amongst other things!) but this has come as a complete surprise to me, I have a brown inhaler for first and last thing at night and a blue inhaler for normal use, It is thought I have had it for a long time but have been investigated for the wrong things, I want to know how to help myself?, I get random attacks in random places so can't tie it down to a specific thing!

Thanks

My sons asthma is seasonal, so going from warm indoors to cold out doors sets him off, just as going from hot outside to air con indoors. He also gets flair ups whilst being active, running around etc.

Hello, I was diagnosed 3 years ago. What are your symptoms and how long have you had them?

If you keep on top of using the brown inhaler it should be controlled and not a bother too often. I've had it most of my life. I admit I don't take my own advice and mainly use the blue one which is reactiing to the symptoms rather than preventing them: this is however very naughty and all wrong. I don't find having asthma prohibitive to getting on with everything as normal though. You just need to be aware, keep your inhalers with you at all times and look after yourself properly.

First thing you need to do is to try and get it 'under control' if it isn't already. Generally, I think it's considered under control if you need to take your blue reliever inhaler fewer than 3 times a week.

Taking the brown preventer as prescribed will be a start. Although it will take at least a few weeks for that to work properly. If it doesn't then they can 'step up' by introducing other meds. You might find you end up 'stepping up' and 'stepping down' asthma treatments as needed at different times.

Also a good asthma nurse is worth their weight in gold.

Thank you all, sorry DH came home and I got distracted. I hadn't thought of the weather affecting me, good point cathpip. Giraffe, it is phlem at night and a really tight feeling on my chest, this can sometimes esculate to a crushing feeling, I then get really tingling hands and feel exhausted. I have been able to run for 20-30 mins so it isn't exercise.

I think I have had it on and off for years, but it seems to be worse lately. I have had to take the blue inhaler four times today, but can continue with everyday tasks but feel shattered.

Its all a bit new to me!, though I have felt like this for a long time, change of doctors finally sorted it.

Have you had any spirometery testing?

Is spirometry testing the thing where you blow into the tube thing (technical me!) that is connected to the computer?

I've had it all my life. It was bad as a kid but having proper medication as an adult means I lead a totally normal life. I take the brown inhaler when I brush my teeth and that's it pretty much. Without the inhaler though I get sick very quickly, so always have a spare in the cupboard.

I am on salbutamol, seretide, uniphyllin and montelakust for my asthma and still end up with regular steroids and sometimes antibiotics.

Asthma is such a scary thing to have, my last attack was in June when I wa pregnant and I could hardly breathe to alert my partner but lucky got it under control quickly and ended up having my baby the same day! My asthma nurse is so rude I won't go to her but i'm under a specialist anyway so would rather speak to him.

Hope your inhaler sorts it out for you.

Thanks everyone, oddly I feel fine today and have managed a swim, just seems to flare up randomly, I can't pinpoint a specific thing to avoid.

Have a look at the asthma UK website. It's got sections for the newly diagnosed and a massive list of possible triggers that sometimes you might not think of until you see them.

The list of things that can trigger asthma is huge. It can vary from pollen to weather to where you are in your menstrual cycle.