Asthma question

[NeurotrashWarrior]

I'm due a review this week but have a terrible virus.

Peak flow is now 300-320 when usually 400-420. Been like this for several days. Saw gp on Thursday at time 350 and decided viral and wait till review and change meds.

I've been on double clenil for 6 weeks due to previous cough but peak flow never went this low.

It's not in my plan as this has never happened before, only had asthma a few years. I usually double clenil and that works really well. Blue isn't raising peak flow much but is helping cough a bit. I'm just about coping though baby now has it and woke every half hour so I could do with more sleep.

I guess at what point should you generally be given steroids? I had them recently when I actually needed antibiotics, which I later got.

I guess I'm asking do I keep going and battle the virus. Not making much sense sorry. Also Pholcodine did help the actual cough but I'm not sure if it's recommended for asthma?

For me, it would be about now with that story.

I am finding that I generally need steroids as well as antibiotics, or just steroids when I think I need antibiotics. Watching DH, not asthmatic, have the same chest infections as me has been a revelation in terms of seeing how much I thought was 'normal' was actually asthma.

I'd suggest you go back for an urgent review and then after steroids see how you are going, your clenil may not be enough to get you stable by itself and you may need to go up a step.

I would be ringing 111 or out of hours and getting an appointment today as you’re clearly getting worse, not better.

Thank you so much for your replies.

I'm starting to feel a little better. I'm not actually coughing a great deal which is weird and peak flow went up to 350, though has come back down again. I'm going to see what I'm like through the night and tomorrow.

It's such a hard call. I definitely don't have brittle asthma but for only the second time I was a little scared yesterday eve.

I really need it spelt out in my plan for how long to keep going and at what level / symptoms before seeking extra help. Especially as every Gp has a different approach. Hopefully 'stepping up' my inhaler will help; both Gp this time and with last cough suggested this.

To clarify, annual review on Thursday.

I don't have a frame of reference with how bad is bad. I normalised symptoms for years and still frequently do.

Neurotrash I know what you mean. It took me a few years to figure out what normal actually was, as I was just so used to having symptoms all the time.

If you have even a second of getting scared, it's time for an urgent appointment NOT Thursday.

Thank you anna yes a good symptom to take into account!

Yes I watch how dh has coughs (not really ) and realise how bad I was.

I'm a bit concerned about ds1 actually, a few similar symptoms. I'm keeping an eye on him and might mention it. Neither of us have allergic asthma or allergies so it's a bit sneaky and easily missed.

In terms of allergies, I used to have a cold every spring time, without fail.

Eventually it dawned on me I was allergic to tree blossom

The year I took an anti-histamine, I didn't get the cold!

And then when I tried stopping it, my asthma got worse. So I stayed on it. Finally tried again some time in autumn thinking 'well can't be any plants around now'. Still wrong, I was better on the anti-histamine. So now I take it year round.

I've found depressingly I've picked up more allergies as I've got older. There's some sort of spring flower which madly disagrees with me and I'll be clinging to my inhaler the week it's out. Fragrance in general is a nightmare.

But a few years ago, I'd have confidently told you I had no allergies at all.

Ah ok! Will keep an eye on that too!

You have had at lease a 25% reduction IN PFR. No response to doubling Clenil and minimal response to salbutamol.
Oral steroids is the next step in my book, Don't delay and longer

Sounds to me like you need urgent meds review and steroids. There's a good app called my asthma which helps keep record of peak flows and attacks. Also nurses at asthma UK are brilliant

Thanks, I've phoned the surgery and will talk to oncall Gp. She's quite good. I have a review on Thursday. I know asthma uk will tell me to go to Gp and possibly take steroids as they were extremely helpful when I was first diagnosed. I'm going to call them before my review to make sure I don't garble cos I do find it all confusing. Baby has it now poor thing.

Have steroids. Peak flow hovering 300-320 so definitely a good thing.