Taking prednisone for asthma - apprehensive

[NeurotrashWarrior]

Fairly new to asthma so I don't always get it!

I've just been to the Gp a week after my last visit for what I think is a bit of a chest infection. First visit she couldn't hear anything (neither could I for the first time in days; it all came back an hour later) this time the Gp could hear noises but summised it's asthma not under control despite brown doubled and regular blue for about 12 -14 days now.

I haven't really had a cold or sore throat etc so she's likely to right (plus she's a Gp - the noises to me sounded like a small infection from my previous experience) but I'm really apprehensive about the oral steroids. Only 30mg a day for 5 days i think but the first time I had them a few years ago (that eventually led to asthma diagnosis) I would feel bursts of energy and then extreme weakness where I had to lie down a lot - but its likely that I was very weak at that time plus the asthma had been undiagnosed for a long time.

Small teething baby so a bit worried about coping. Any tips? And should I taper off if such a short course? I'm on thyroxine too. I've also been sleeping very well despite multiple wake ups; could they wreck my sleep cycles?

Bit worried about them affecting mood too as I've been feeling really content and positive.

I had a course of them for asthma and had no problems - I was massively grateful for the relief from the illness too

No need to taper after 5 days.

Sometimes steroids can interfere with sleep/mood/appetite, sometimes they don't (in fact if you can breathe properly you might sleep better). Sometimes badly controlled asthma kills people.

No I know, my peak flow isn't particularly low so I think I was surprised she suggested it. I expected her to either say all fine or antibiotics. As I say still new to asthma. Need to see nurse too for review.

No need to taper after 5 days. They didn't mess up my sleep too much but they did give me very odd, vivid dreams. They can also increase your appetite, maybe won't make much difference for only 5 days but just keep an eye on it if you need to.

I’ve just finished a course today. They were brilliant and I didn’t eat more than goodness. I did not feel tired on them so be sure to have them at breakfast. The effect was as though I’d had too many diet cokes and wore off after 12 hours max so good for bed time. Don’t worry.

Thanks, sounds like there could be a bonus to it!

I was just so very unwell last time but there were many things going on. Lungs and breathing got better though which was fantastic (till it wore off).

I also get edgy as I was investigated for addisons around that time as well as I was so weak; I don't have it but the test messed me about too as it correctly stimulated my own cortisol.

Don't worry about it. 30mg for 5 days is a seriously low dose.

I have very severe asthma and need around 10 separate week-long courses a year and have taken it for a years at a time in the past.

Some tips: take it without food to minimise gastric symptoms, take around 6am and your sleep won't be disrupted.

But hang on a minute...could your treatment not be stepped up to a dual inhaler like seretide etc?

Thanks for the perspective Christmas. Yes I think the Gp suggested I go for my review and possibly try something else.

This started as a crackle in my lung so I did think it was a bug. No sore throat etc though

I’ve had them and they were literally a life saver.

If you are in the uk ring Asthma uk. They are brilliant really patient listen to any concerns and explain things without being patronising. They have asthma nurses that really know their stuff.

Thanks. Peak flow is in the 'red zone' (really not very dramatic though) so started them.

I think it's because I'm not really really ill or suffering with it just coughing lots with some wet stuff and noises so I guess I down play it.

Yes I thought about ringing them but I do know they'd say to do exactly this. It was the side effects i was apprehensive about (maybe more afterwards) because I can experience cfs type things sometimes. I feel much more positive.

I'll make review appt too today. I very much doubt I'll be given anything different though.

Hope your asthma improves.

You really should be offered other long term options, as with these your likelihood of needing steroids would go right down.

The brown inhaler is for very mild asthmatics. Ask for a steroid inhaler with a long acting bronchodilator (seretide - purple, or symbicort for example)

If this doesn't adequately control, the next step is for a leukotriene receptor antagonist e.g. montelukast.

Make sure you have no triggers at home: dust, pets, cold house etc.

Hope you get it sorted.

Also with regards to the CFS, I felt extremely tired for years and years (unable to work etc) and when my asthma is adequately controlled I'm full of energy.

Thank you. Felt fine today, don't know what I was so worried about! Still a very rattly fruity cough though; I'm not sure it's actually asthma I do think there's a bit of an infection. The symptoms aren't how I'm used to my asthma manifesting. See how I'm am on Monday, hopefully I can clear it.

Sorry to hear you suffered. Yes before diagnosis I was exhausted and especially unwell after a particularly bad virus that manifested as severe croup. I'm so used to coughs though I just tried to manage it. Looking back I was mad. I was so very ill and struggling to get through every night. And day. But I'd learnt that Gps couldnt help me as no bacterial infection, so I never bothered going. The nurse at asthma uk said I'd normalised all the symptoms which if I'm honest I still do.

Ended up being off work for nearly 9 months due to extreme weakness, muscle pain etc. There was also some thyroid medication issues in the mix (too low then too high) plus I was diagnosed with hypermobility syndrome (and I had a 20 mo old) but if I'm honest it was a collection of things that that led to a downward spiral and the asthma was the final thing that helped me to recover. Marriage was on the rocks for a while too. Still have some joint issues though but I'm a million times better as I'm simply stronger and have energy to sort of exercise (I have a baby) and just do stuff.

I don't ever want to go back there.

You could be feeling better because you've started the steroids. It could indeed be an infection but is just as likely to be viral in which case the antibiotics wouldn't help. Hopefully you'll recover much more quickly this time.

My asthma more often than not presents as an infection and there is rarely wheezing. I go on peak flow and how I am feeling though it is difficult sometimes to get doctors who don't know me to understand how ill I am. Two or three years ago I was admitted to hospital for a week with it and there was no infection present in the samples but I was coughing up a lot of stuff. I would be guided by your GP but you could also ask to be referred to a chest consultant as not all asthma presents in the classic way. As to steroids, a short course is nothing to worry about. I have been on long term steroids for another condition but still need to do the short course, sometimes two, when I'm hit with it. Hope this helps a bit.

Thanks both. It's helpful to hear how it can present as in my head I still don't have asthma and never fully sure of symptoms.

No change to noise and fluid in lungs but my peak flow was better this morning; I'd slept without any asthmatic issues the two nights before I started the steroids though.

They're just noisy and fluidy until I cough it out. The time I was on steroids pre diagnosis I'd definitely seen a big change by now. Hopefully it's just a virus or bug and will clear its self soon but I'm definitely going to go back for a review next week.