Worsening asthma due to hayfever

[WednesdayIsPurple]

the last week or so, my asthma (which is usually v mild and only exercise induced, barely go through 4 blue inhalers a year) has got significantly worse on the trigger of pollen (I have a severe grass pollen allergy but it doesn't usually trigger my asthma).

it's not covid but is directly related to being outside

the last 3 days, I've needed 10 puffs of the blue inhaler and last night, you could hear very loudly the air going in and out of my chest and I was struggling to catch my breath. I called 111 who firstly told me off for not calling the GP (fat chance of an appointment!), then got a nurse to call me who then got the out of hours doctor to call me. By the time the doctor called me, I'd had enough ventolin and calmed my chest down. He said it's all fine, I just need to rest and he's prescribed another blue inhaler.

I'm just wondering what you would do in this situation. Normally I would get prescribed the brown inhaler next but the brown inhaler usually takes a week to kick in and that's too long. What I'm finding weird is that my chest now is ok - so if I went to the doctor now, I don't think they would hear anything. But it literally ramps up from 0 to a hideous wheeze in about 30 mins if the pollen count is bad. The ventolin is working though, it's just that I'm taking it too much every day.

given the grass pollen season is likely to end in a week or so, is it better just to carry on? I'm now taking an antihistamine, avoiding going out in high pollen times (what is triggering it in the evening is the dog coming in from the walker where he's been in a grass field so I now wash him when he comes in)

DS is the same, hay fever kicks off his asthma.Brown inhaler and blue when needed but also Piriton liquid especially at night to keep on top of the Hay Fever. If he treats the hay fever aggressively then the asthma calms down. He also finds steaming helps.

thanks - that's a good idea, I will take piriton in the evening as it's definitely worse in the evening/overnight. Hope your son is not too badly affected and it's over soon!

I had this in May (and also in May a couple of years ago which I put down to having had a cold but now I wonder if it was pollen related). I never take my inhalers daily but was on the blue one 4 times a day, brown one twice a day, antihistamines, nasal spray and still felt like I was struggling! After a week I had to call the Dr’s and she advised taking a third dose of the brown inhaler at lunchtime for 5 days and I had a follow up call to check if it had improved or she was going to give me steroid tablets. I think next year I’ll pre-empt it and start taking the brown one in April!

Hope it helps you, get the Piriton liquid not the tablets , it can make you sleepy which helps at night and really relaxes everything which seems to help.

@emmathedilemma yes that's a good idea. I think next year I will just go and get the brown before this all starts so that I'm prepared! I'm also on a nasal spray (nasonex), opticrom eye drops. I feel like a walking pharmacy at the moment!

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor thanks - i've just nipped to the chemist and got the liquid stuff so will take it tonight

I'm at my worse during birch pollen season, grass less so, and this year was horrendous, developing asthma and getting hives. Luckily I saw an immunologist for another allergy while it was in full swing and he's recommended a brown inhaler and advised starting it 2 months before official birch season starts next year.

At its worst I was taking double dose AHs, steroid nose spray, eye drops and the inhaler, and it just about all worked together!

If I've been in a pollinated area during the day I try to wash my hair before bed to get rid of allergens, and change pillowcase more frequently. Might that help?

If you're using 4 blue inhalers a year your asthma is not well controlled. I'd advise an urgent asthma review- you should definitely be in a preventer if you aren't already, and if you are, you may need to step up.
Definitely daily antihistamine, too, and try to avoid triggers.

Actually that's very true, D's was always told that blue was for emergency use and brown was for prevention. I think when it was really bad he used 2 puffs x a day but was told if it was well under control he shouldn't need so much of the blue. debka is correct in saying you need a review asap.

Hi OP,

Worth speak to your GP or nurse practitioner, I have mild asthma and bad hayfever since childhood, and my asthma has always been triggered by hayfever season - waking up at 5 am wheezing away.
Random visit to the NP where they prescribed me Montelukast and it has been a game changer - I only take it for parts of the year where my asthma gets bad/triggered, but really helps especially at night.

My understanding is it prescribed to people with asthma /hayfever combo.

Also as per pp - you need to make sure you take your preventative inhaler in advance before it starts getting bad. Really your asthma is only 'well controlled' if you are using your ventolin sporadically and not everyday use.

When i'm really wheezing a hot shower helps to relieve it, and wash away some of the pollen/irritants.

good luck.

thanks, yes I called 111 as I realised my asthma wasn't well controlled and was worsening. But by the time the out of hours doctor called, the ventolin had kicked in and all was fine and he wasn't concerned.

the GP is meant to be calling me today but I doubt they will and all they will have been told is that the OOH doctor thought I needed another blue inhaler. If it gets bad tonight again, i will go to the walk in. The OOH GP wasn't concerned because the blue was sorting it out, I'm just concerned that it's worsening and I want to get some sort of preventer in before blue stops working.

but ultimately, if you listened to my chest now, it would sound clear. I just know it will deteriorate again later this evening!

yes that's a good point re shower before bed. It's actually a bit better today anyway because it's raining so hopefully the pollen has buggered off!

@georgieporge I had also heard about Montelukast so will ask when I see someone.

Thanks all!

I kept having issues around hayfever and allergies and in the end was prescribed montelukast to keep my asthma at bay.

It may be worth going back to your GP.

phoned the GP today - really just want to get hold of a brown inhaler, wouldn't think it was that hard

no appointments today, have to call at 830am again tomorrow but they only have 1-2 slots being released every day and she doesn't think it's likely I will get one. I said what am I meant to do then, she didn't have an answer!

think I will have to book with a private GP because I really don't want to leave it much longer!

I think you should ring back and say very firmly you need to speak to a GP TODAY as you have worsening asthma and you are not prepared to wait. I am pretty sure with breathing issues people are meant to be seen on the day.

They have no slots. And she said she doubts I will get an appointment this week. If it's an emergency, I need to go to A and E. (fgs)

Have found a private GP and booked them. It is ridiculous and I'm lucky I'm able to pay for an appointment. No wonder so many people are ending up with serious illnesses!

I was prescribed a stronger anti - histamine (I had been taking Cetirizine for years) this week, and it has made a massive difference to my asthma. Could you suggest this to gp?
It really hadn't occurred to me, but I am really impressed with the difference its made.

@WednesdayIsPurple

They have no slots. And she said she doubts I will get an appointment this week. If it's an emergency, I need to go to A and E. (fgs)

Have found a private GP and booked them. It is ridiculous and I'm lucky I'm able to pay for an appointment. No wonder so many people are ending up with serious illnesses!

This is not on. I'm a NP in a surgery. Asthma is not something that waits for appts. You do need to commence ICS ( preventer) I hope you manage to get sorted