Help! Athsma getting worsel

[OrmIrian]

I've had athsma since I was a child. Normally it's well controlled with the brown unhaler and I only need the blue one once or twice a week. Recently though inspite of using them both the same amt my athsma is getting worse. I had to use the blue one 5 times last night and had to cut short my run because I simply couldn't breathe well enough.

What is this all about? I'm 42 and otherwise fine.

Hi

Hope I may be able to offer you some help. I have had serve asthma since childhood. I have a nebuliser at home, so I have been through most problems at some times.

Are you coughing at night? This is often a sign of asthma detiorating.

Do you check your peak flow. some people do some people don't again you can pick up signs of a deterioration if your peak flow is dropping.

I assume that you are not suffering or getting over a cold or flu however mild, as there is a chance that that might have been causing some congestion making things worse.

You sound very fit, but remember that we are going through a change in season at the moment in england. I don't know where you are but when the weather suddenly changes from spring to summer, ect. It is the highest addmition rates of astham into A and E.

I expect that this is just a temporary blip but if it was to continue over the weekend I would get to see your GP on monday. Also remember that if you use your blue inhaler and your symptons get worse or don't improve get your self to A and E. Believe me they would much rather treat some one suffer a mild attack than some one who ends up in Intensive Care. Also if a any point you find it increasing hard to breath call an ambulance that way you can get treatment on the way to hospital. That is what the service is for. I have been told off numerous times because I have driven myself rather than calling an ambulance.

Don't mean to worry you just to make sure you had the facts. I am sure this is just a temp glich. But keep an eye over the weekend and if things have not improved got to your gp.

Hope you feel better soon

I think it's a bad time of year.

The asthmatic ones in my family have all started wheezing badly and the 2 children in ds's class who have it badly have had hospital admissions in the last couple of weeks.

Something to do with the damp and the mould (from the leaves/trees).

I would go to your GP.

Thanks both of you. I know that this time of year can be worse but TBH it's been like this on and off since the early summer, just worsening now. Yes I'm coughing at night stary but no cold stary atm. I don't have a peak flow meter anymore but that is what worries me most, even when I'm not actually wheezing, I don't seem to be able to breathe as deeply.

I have a new make of brown inhaler and was wondering if that might be a problem?

oh no, you haven't been given some non branded inhaler have you (what are they called...generics)? sometimes I think the quality is not so good (but it saves the NHS money which is why they dispense them)

which one are you on?

Can't remember fox. I'm in work but I'll look and let you know when I get home. I know it's a different one because the athsma nurse told me it was.

that could be it you know because it takes a while for the brown to take effect and if they've put you on a lower strength Becotide, the effect of that lower strength is now showing!

what were you on before (colour wise)?

It's always been brown but a different make.

ah I see

the brown (becotide) comes in different strengths too (50mcg, 100mcg and 200mcg) but actually, now that you mention it, I think the asthma nurse said something to us about it being discontinued and being replaced with something else but dd and dh haven't got to the end of their stock yet iyswim

If your coughing at night, and your chest is feeling tight go to your GP. It maybe a different make of inhaller or it could just be that you have developed resistance to it. I can happen.

Go to the GP. Make sure you get something fro short term reliefe, and that they sort you out a longer term solution. That does not necessarily mean more inhallers they are tablets you can take once a day at night. Which are great.

Take Care and phone the GP.

I didn't know that fox. Which is a bit pathetic really. I think mine is 100 but not sure if that's the same as before or not.

I think a visit to GP is on the cards...

two asthma treatments discontinued

there's a factsheet at the bottom

may just be that they need to alter your dose with this new inhaler

poor you - hope you feel better soon and you get an appointment with the GP quickly!

(I know what it's like - I only really pay attention to it all because it affects dd and dh. I'm sure, if it was affecting me, I'd not really have listened that well!).

Thanks fox. TBH I thought my inhaler was already CFC free but maybe not. Mine is made by a company called Ivax.

No point in ringing for an apppointment now as tney don't give appointments on saturday. Will have to try next week.

And having said that I wasn't ill, I'm starting to get flu-ey symptoms right now. Sod's law!

oh no

I read in the paper that they are thinking of getting GPs to open again on Saturdays!

hope you're not getting fluey, you poor thing

Almost certainly not flu fox. It rarely is - probably just a cold.

Thanks for the sympathy though