Managing asthma - high reliever usage

[PookieDo]

I booked my own check with the nurse they didn’t call me in. I know myself I am using too much reliever - 4 times ish a day, every day. It’s driving me mad. And they don’t know how to really help me.

I have a good peak flow overall, good oxygen levels etc etc but lying down at night feels like my lungs stick together. It’s worse in summer but I have tried Monkelukast (singulair) and it gave me bad stomach issues so I stopped. I take generic hay fever tablets and sleep half sitting up because it feels better. Sometimes I don’t sleep well because it’s wheezy and tight. I do not ever cough unless I am having a proper ‘attack’ or have a viral infection. The warning signs I get is a feeling of tightness and physically recognisable bronchi-spasms in the right lung area, sometimes a little light flutter sometimes big repeated fluttering.

I close the bedroom windows now. My room isn’t dusty. I take my preventer every day.

I’ve been referred to pulmonary rehab now because no one knows what to do with me anymore, but they might not accept me as I don’t have COPD. I am feeling frustrated and worried. I don’t know what I can do to help the situation either. Any asthma sufferers got any advice?

Who says you should be blowing 465? Your PF is what is normal for you, not what it says on a chart.

If what is normal for you is 500, then blowing 450 is a big drop and you are poorly.

Despite being the unfittest person on the planet, I have the lungs of an athlete and a massive PF and feel dreadful with a small drop. My asthma nurse runs marathons but jokes she has the lungs of a child and never blows more than 250. You need to know what is normal for you, and then you know what is not normal for you too.

Saying, oh I predict you should do 465 and 450 is nearly that is meaningless. Are you sure your asthma nurse knows what she is doing?

Sulky I'm a chronic over breather. I don't know different anymore. I've overbreathed for ten years and it's only getting worse. I permanently yawn, gulp, sigh and feel trapped. Doesn't help that this has led to chronic over thinking about breathing . Chest physio didn't help though

Phone asthma uk

I would try a prescription for a stronger antihistamine - fexofenadine is really good.

I have similar asthma to you- silent type, usually no wheezing just chest discomfort and pain if it gets really bad (I’ve been to the cardiologist many times thinking I’m having a heart attack!) I take Seretide 250 daily (2 puffs twice a day) and that and the fexofenadine means I’m not reaching for my blue reliever more than once or twice a week.

Singulair also gave me horrible stomach problems!

Mirror the recommendation got fexofenadine. I also used to take montekulast some years ago which really helped me.

Swimming has helped my asthma a lot, I would really recommend giving it a try if you are able too.

I am worrying a bit now as I am not sure this is just asthma

So my PF is a constant 500 (even 550 the other day).

I have worked on my breathing and have only taken the reliever 3 times in a week now. I have stopped using it when I am just simply unsure and making really sure I need to and clearly wheezy. It is do of breaking a habit. I have no cough. No chest pain or anything

But I have this pretty much this regular fluttery feeling in the right lung/heart side. I am not even sure it’s heart it doesn’t feel like palpitations. When I lie down I can feel it more. It’s like when you have a twitchy muscle but not on the outside. It’s not in one place either it’s middle, around boob area and moves. Usually I would take the inhaler when I get it as I assume it’s asthma but I have tried to not take it as a reaction. The fluttering does go away but then returns. I have always had a fluttering but not this consistently

I have no other symptoms I am aware of except this hay fever sensation of post nasal drip.

I’ve stopped myself having panic attacks before they escalate too so it’s not just adrenaline as I can feel it when I am not even thinking about it so it’s not all in my mind

Is it possible you have an irregular heart beat? Might be worth getting a 24hr holter monitor. You'll need a referral for this so will involve a trip to the GP. Might be worse in the heat as if you're anyway dehydrated your heart rate will be faster. Make sure you're drinking plenty. Your heart is on the left by the way, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't feel flutters on the right side.

Meant to say, it's great that you are reducing your reliever usage.

Sorry I meant the left!!
They have never told me it’s my heart I’ve had an ECG and 3 general anesthetics but I think they will have to look into it more because it’s really regular at the moment

GP tomorrow

Am having thyroid testing and 1 week no caffeine or alcohol because it’s not asthma, it’s my heart.
If after one week of the cutting out it’s still going on I will get a 24 hour ECG