Asthma out of control

[BG2015]

I've had asthma for 30 years and it's always been really well controlled.

I'm now gasping for breath for the majority of my waking hours. I've had my inhalers changed and am now on Fostair which I can take up to 12 puffs a day. But it's not working.

I've been for a chest x ray (waiting for results) and am speaking to a long Covid nurse next week as they're suspecting it could be that. I had a very mild case of Covid at the beginning of April. My asthma has got steadily worse since then.

I've got a rubbishy cough, thickly throat and any exertion is hard particularly walking up stairs or if I have to carry anything and walk at the same time.

I was given a 5 day course of Prednisolone which gave me relief for about 2-3 weeks but now I'm back to struggling to breathe.

I had a really bad attack last week which lasted 2 hours before I could get my breathing under control, I was so close to ringing for an ambulance.

Anybody have any advice as to how I can help myself or should I go back to my GP.
Thanks

Definitely go back to your gp. Asthma is too serious to be hesitating about. I'm sorry you are suffering. Xxx

Do you live alone? If you are close to ringing an Ambo then please do so, or at least get a friend or relative to come over. If you worsen, then you won't be able to call for help.
I am not out to scare you, but this is important. I had a family member found collapsed outside their home, they managed to stagger out to get help thankfully.

Has your heart been checked?

Have you tired montelukast? My asthma suddenly got worse and that reversed it completely

You need to take a proper preventative medication, something fluticasone based (Seretide, Flixatide, Rolenium) or similar. Most Asthma puffers are useless as a long term control, and you can't take course after course of Prednisolone. Ask your doctor (if you can get a damn appointment) for some proper preventatives.

Go back to your GP, OP. Make it a priority - please. It could be that you need another course of pred, another change of inhaler or even some investigations into your heart - asthmatic of 30+ years here with many, many asthmatic family members. My mum was having similar symptoms to you and she had some investigation related to her heart and they found it was slightly enlarged. Be well xx

I second this. My story is very very similar to yours. Multiple chest infections, oral steroids and antibiotics from previously having mild asthma. Currently on Fostair 200 and montelukast. The combination seems to finally have it under control, although I still get very poorly when I pick up any sort of cold, the cough isn't nearly as bad or as long.

Anyone who is "close to ringing an ambulance for asthma" should be ringing an ambulance!

Have you looked at Asthma UK's asthma attack risk checker?

Thanks for all your advice.

I had an heart echo in April because I take some medication that can affect my heart and all was normal then.

I live with my partner but I'm definitely ringing my GP tomorrow - this is scary now.

We go on holiday to Greece in 4 weeks and it's worrying me that my asthma is just so bad.

Thanks

My DP suffers with really bad asthma. He's been hospitalised a couple of times and with all the medication he was on he had it under control until 2 weeks ago. He felt short of breath and tight chested. 111 suggested he visited A&E who sent him for a chest X-ray and because he was sat in A&E got the results that night and all clear.
Tight chest still continued so phoned doctors on the Monday and he got prescribed steroids which has helped. Just feels like on step back as he was under the asthma clinic at the hospital and it took them 1/2 years to wean him off his steroids. He came off them in 2019.

Saw an asthma nurse today at the GP who is absolutely useless 🙄. Been referred for more blood tests.

Don't hesitate calling for help with asthma x

Got into the doctors this morning. He says he can hear a slight wheeze in my lungs but nothing major. My oxygen levels are fine.

He's given me a sputum cup and I have to cough up any rubbish into there so they can check for infection. He's also prescribed some Montelukast after I mentioned it.

I've just taken my first one, it says to take at night but I'm just so desperate to get them into my body and hopefully working Ive taken it early.

SO, want my asthma to improve.

Fostair is a preventer/long-acting reliever combination that contains a steroid (the drug that makes it a preventer) used to dampen down asthma. Currently best practise on the NHS (at least in England) is to prescribe a combo steroid/reliever inhaler if people’s asthma is poorly controlled, as it has a dual function when taken. If you can be controlled on just a steroid inhaler that’s perfectly fine but some people need the extra kick of the long acting reliever found in combo inhalers and they can be taken multiple times a day if needed boosting the steroid dose. Only caveat is you may still need a blue inhaler on top if your asthma’s really bad.

OP you may find montelukast helps a lot and another thing to try would be a strong antihistamine. Where I live there’s a rapid access clinic at the hospital that your GP can refer you to. They do a chest X-ray and all the tests they do in a and e before you see a respiratory consultant who can prescribe different (and sometimes stronger) medication. Their aim is to avoid admissions and they’re great, though if you feel like you need to call an ambulance again absolutely do, asthmas nothing to mess with. I’ve been feeling bad asthma wise but not too bad in myself gone to my GP per my asthma plan and ended up having them call an ambulance for me and being admitted. Every doctor I’ve ever seen for asthma has always said they’d rather see someone who didn’t need to be seen than risk not seeing someone in need. Take care of yourself.