Asthma cough driving me bananas

[drspouse]

I have a steroid inhaler, green inhaler and the usual salbutamol. GP suggested that at the first sign of a cold I up my steroid inhaler (usually I do 2 puffs morning and night but I'm doing 3, you can go up to 4 but no higher. As it takes a week to kick in I'm often left catching up anyway).

I have to take my reliever a couple of times at night and I think I'm only supposed to take it four times in 24h and I also needed it at least 3 times today.

EVERY FLIPPING TIME I get a cold (so about every month or two in winter and this year apparently in August) I then have weeks of a cough. Sometimes a chest infection too but not always. I am struggling to walk up the hill to school at the moment. No chance of any extra exercise. And I really need to exercise.

Aaargh. What on earth can I do?

I don'thaveasthma but DS does. I'd take him to the GP if he was needing his reliever ao much (viral infections are his maintrigger). You night need some more steroids. Are you allergic to anything? That might be worsening your symptoms.

Yes, you need to go and see your doctor.

What’s your peak flow like? Do you have an asthma plan?

I think you should see your GP if you’re needing your salbutamol so much.

Feel your pain though - me, ds snd dd are all the same every winter

I have had montelukast in addition to seretide and ventolin for the past 2 years.It has made a positive improvement to my asthma.

It might be the change in seasons. My son is the sam

I rarely measure my peak flow TBH as my main symptom is cough rather than breathlessness, and I'm so rubbish at taking the peak flow that it always seems random (or is just fine when I go to the GP).
Nothing much has changed since the GP said to add in puffs of the steroid if I'm ill, I'm not sure they'd recommend much else but I can always try. Feeling like this in September is new though.

I'm allergic to feathers and a couple of pollens that come in about May but haven't had exposure to any of those recently!

I think you’re not on a strong enough preventer. A stronger preventer - even during the winter - would help you lift you out of the inflammation period. I use Seretide 125 twice a day (2 puffs each time) and without that I am coughing constantly - I have cough variant asthma. I used to have constant chest infections but with the Seretide they don’t go on as long.

You need to see an asthma nurse.

No useful advice but following in case anyone has any suggestions. DD gets this. No problems with asthma until she gets a cold and then the wheeze starts, frequently involving hospital stays.

I thought they had stopped prescribing montelukast ruby, my GP has.

I would go back too, I switched from the green inhaler (can't remember the name) to Seretide. I didn't realise that inhalers come in different strengths until I had to increase it.

I also end up with a short course of steroids two/three times a year these days.

Mine has definitely worsened in recent years. Definitely go back OP.

Oh I have the green one and I thought it was the same as Seretide but that may be a strength issue?
I'll see if I can get in to see the asthma nurse. I usually leave it till I'm on my knees with a chest infection (e.g. Christmas Day) and have to see the out of hours.

My gp still prescribes Montelukast.

Definitely steroids as well actually. I take daily life long steroids for Addison’s disease so I forgot to mention them as they’re part of my daily life but you might need a rescue course of pred.

Seretide comes in 3 different strengths.

If that doesn’t work well there are lots of others.

I still have my montekukast, @theboxofdelights.
Did your doctor give a reason as to qhy they no longer prescribe?

Why

The green one is serevent which only comes in one strength, seretide is a combination of serevent and a brown preventer and comes in several strengths. I was on all three like you (blue, green and brown) but now have the highest strength seretide (purple) and montelukast. My asthma is completely under control, and I've not had a chest infection for nearly two years which is unheard of for me!

Side effects ruby, apparently it can cause depression amongst other things, the asthma nurse said they had stopped prescribing it, I presume she meant the NHS but obviously not.

Really?
I felt a bit out of sorts for first two weeks of taking it a few years back bit persevered and have been ok thankfully.

I didn't cough enough to wake me up last night so that's progress- and I've booked in to see the asthma nurse.
I think I'll try and keep a peak flow diary (though now I'm feeling better maybe it won't show much... But I can just walk up a hill I suppose!)

Just thought I'd report back and say I've got a new inhaler and I'm doing much better.

Out if interest what did you get? I'm desperately waiting for my review for similar reasons.

It's Fostair. A steroid and reliever in one, and I can take an extra puff in the daytime though it's normally 2 morning and 2 night.

That's the one asthma uk suggested might work for me. Glad it helps.

as my main symptom is cough rather than breathlessness, and I'm so rubbish at taking the peak flow that it always seems random (or is just fine when I go to the GP).

Actually this is very much me though peak flow went lowest it's ever done with the latest virus.