I have had reasonably bad asthma since I was a baby.
However in my 20s,30s, and early 40s it was well controlled with strong preventer inhalers.
I am mid 40s.
For the last 10 years I have had bad chest infections approximately twice a year (sometimes diagnosed as pneumonia or pleurisy). Antibiotics and steroids have cleared it up well although it always knocks me for a month or so.
For the last 12 months, I have been wheezy almost constantly, it feels like.
The asthma nurse says she has no stronger inhalers to give me. I currently take sirdupla 250 mg 2 puffs twice a day. Salbutamol 100mg 2 puffs twice a day. Plus a few extra puffs of salbutamol everyday when required. Also Montelukast tablets once a day.
I also take cetirizine for year round allergies.
I have just come off the phone to the nurse practictioner and feel like crying. I have told them repeatedly that I am wheezy all the time, and there seems to be nothing they can do.
The doctor referred me for Spirometry (which I believe would have been done at the doctors surgery pre covid, but as its aerosol has to be done in hospital). The referral was in February and still waiting.
The nurse practitioner said she will ask the receptionist to try and expedite my spirometry referral, but there is a long wait.
I said is there anything else you can do to help. No.
I just feel so sad that I am constantly wheezing.
It has stopped me running as often (although exercise doesn't make it worse, but its hard). I don't swim in cold water (sea etc) with kids as I know I will struggle to breathe.
Mornings are horrible I cough and cough for the first hour of the day.
I had an unrelated hospital appointment yesterday, and couldn't lie flat on the couch as I couldn't breathe.
Housework and gardening is a lot of effort.
Luckily my job is chair based.
I am not overweight, don't smoke etc.
Has anyone been in a similar position and can suggest anything?
I want to go back to a few years ago when things were a lot easier..