asthma

[turnwest]

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone with asthma can help me? I caught a bad cold last week, a few days in I woke up and felt wheezy and could nt take deep breaths. I went to the doctor, they said it could be asthma and gave me a peak flow thing and an blue inhaler. The breathless episodes gradually got worse throughout the week, the blue inhaler does help but only for a few hours, I m using it 5 or 6 times everyday. Its got so bad that I cant walk my daughter 5 mins down the road to school and I cant carry my toddler up the stairs. Yesterday evening I came up the stairs for bathime/bedtimes for the toddler and it felt as if someone had sewn my lungs up, my breathing was very rapid and shallow because I could nt take any deep breaths. I had to use blue inhaler 4 times until it eased up. I saw the doctor again yesterday morning but my breathing was ok (typical) then and he did nt seem to see what the problem was just said use blue inhaler and prescribed another inhaler an atrovent one to use 3 to 4 times a day. I m pregnant though, 8 weeks and it says in the leaflet not to use in pregancy although doctor said it was ok.

What should i do? Is it normal to go through periods of using the blue inhaler a lot? will it ease off when this cold finishes? I ve been housebound all week, even mild exertion sets off the chest tightness and fast breathing. I dont know what to do. I was prescribed antibiotics too, which Ive nearly finished but they dont seem to have helped. Does it sound like asthma? Will i be able to lead a normal life? I m trying to be positive but I feel like an old woman at the end of her life not a 36 yr old reasonably healthy person. I dont smoke and bmi is normal. Can anyone tell me what to do or give any reassurance?

Using the blue inhaler a lot means your asthma is not controlled. In my experience (but I am not medically trained so you need to see your doctor) you need a preventer inhaler to take regularly. Months pass without the blue inhaler being needed here because the preventer inhaler (and other medication) controls the asthma properly.

Oh, and with regard to a normal life, it's possible to have asthma and do lots of sport and certainly lead a normal life - lots of olympic athletics are asthmatic. You should be able to do just about everything that somebody without asthma can do if it is properly controlled.

thanks octopus I ve just another cant breath moment, i ve used blue inhaler another two times and its eased off now. I m going to see if emergency doctor will see me, I cant live like this, I m absolutely terrified. Its a horrible sensation and the panic probably is nt helping either. its happening a few times a day now and each time, I m worrying more and more that the inhaler wont work and I ll die. Cant believe that just over a week and a half ago I was walking around like everyone else.

I've had to deal with it for longer than I care to remember, the blue inhaler has never not worked. Take it everywhere you go and yes, go and see the emergency doctor. Ask them to check if you have a chest infection, tell them your peak flow (what is it by the way?) and ask about a course of steroid tablets as well and see what they say.
Remember I am not a medical professional, just a patient with experience!

Thanks octopus I went to the emergency doctor and they put me on a nebulizer which really helped. The doctor thinks it might be a viral chest infection made worse by mild asthma, my peak flow everyday at the moment is 250, I dont know what it is when I m well as I ve only just bee n told to start measuring it. Fingers crossed though, I think its starting to clear up, have nt used blue inhaler since 10pm last night and I dont feel too breathless at the moment. I m using steam as well, which seems to be helping as well.

250 is what my youngest is told to aim for, I have no idea about what it should be for an adult but our GP got 800 when he showed my youngest how to use the peak flow meter.
I'm glad you got seen and are improving. Good luck.

I'm an average sized woman with asthma. My peak flow is usually 400-450, and my asthma is usually very well controlled by preventer inhalers and I lead a completely normal life including going to gym etc. I barely use the reliever when I'm well and no one would guess I've had asthma my whole life.

However if I get a bad cold or chest infection I am completely floored and feel exactly as you describe above. This usually passes in a week or so, as long as I rest and take my inhalers. I find using a spacer helps to get the aerosol in better if I'm coughing a lot, and obviously I may get antibiotics from doctor if necessary. I probably feel back to normal and gym etc within about 3 weeks, so it does pass!

I'm similar to caterina - I have asthma which is controlled and I rarely need my blue inhaler. Last winter, I had a viral chest infection and simply could not breathe.

Have you got a spacer? It does really help - think it was about five days to clear last time.