Talk to me about asthma!

[Mamabear04]

I was admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago with a bad case of RSV along with an infection and the doctor says that my body has had an asthmatic response and they'll do some tests in 4 months time to see if it is just an episode or if I have developed full blown asthma. I had a cough for about 4 weeks prior to being admitted to hospital which the GP initially thought was a chest infection but after 2 rounds of antibiotics and a clear chest xray was sent away with the diagnosis that it was viral and I would feel better soon enough only I didn't get better obviously and ended up being admitted to hospital as my oxygen levels were down at 80%.

Since getting out of hospital I feel absolutely knocked for six. I just get so tired and still have a cough. They've given me 2 types of inhalers (preventor and reliever to use with an aero chamber). I went back to the GP last week and they gave me a stronger preventor as I was becoming short of breath carrying my baby upstairs. I thought they were working but last night and today I am coughing badly again. I always thought asthma was a case of you suddenly can't breathe but what's happening to me seem just constant and its very frustrating. I have a baby and a toddler and even with help I am exhausted. The doctor said it might all have something to do with my immune system being down with being pregnant. I'm also BF which I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

My question is really can I do anything to help myself? I've been on the uk asthma website to make sure I'm taking the inhalers properly. I'm also wondering if the GP should be doing something else as I do feel like I was fobbed off for a long time. When I went last week she did hint at another chest xray but then I'm not sure how accurate they are as MIL has lung cancer and a chest xray didn't show anything up so I don't quite trust them. I just want to feel better and I don't feel i can go on like this!

Has the GP given you a peak flow monitor? If they haven't, you can buy them pretty cheaply at the chemist's. It would be useful to record your peak flow regularly and keep a diary so you've got an accurate picture of what's going on.

They gave me one at the hospital. This might be a stupid question but what do I do in addition to recording my peak flow? Like what do I do if its low? When I was in hospital I only got to 200 and last week when I checked I was at 300.

I would go back to the GP or ask for an appointment with the asthma nurse. It doesn't sound like your symptoms are properly under control - you might need a different preventer or a short course of steroids, and you should have some sort of plan of what to do if you get worse - if your peak flow drops or you have trouble breathing - along the lines of how much extra salbutamol to take, when to call the gp/999.
Even though you don't have an asthma diagnosis, it sounds like you have uncontrolled symptoms that need sorting out and if it isn't asthma, then whatever is causing it also needs investigating and treating.

preventer inhalers don’t work straight away, it takes a few weeks for them to build in the system to be fully effective.

it may be that you need a short course of steroids to help clear your chest now.

Only other thing you can do is try and discern if you have any typical triggers for asthma in addition to a chest infection/RSV/cold. Many asthmatics are also triggered by

• poor air quality days when air pollution is high (ozone, NO2, wildfire smoke, etc) - asthmatics are usually advised to stay indoors
• being around anyone smoking cigarettes/cigars or vaping
• allergies- hay fever, house dust, mould, pets, perfume - can take an antihistamine or avoid exposure and that reduces asthma attacks.
• weather extremes like very hot/cold, very humid/dry (stay indoors)
• exercise (some asthma is exercise induced- start exercise program slow and build stamina way slower than the average person)

If you can note down any patterns that helps the doctors with not only whether you have asthma but ways to manage it beyond puffing on inhalers.

@NannyR @Sirzy I had a course of steroids after I left hospital but they didn't seem to do anything for me. The GP did suggest some but then when I said I didn't think they help she just crossed it off the list. Does there tend to be asthma clinics that I could arrange to see an asthma nurse or do I have to go through my GP?

@AP5Diva I've been trying to figure out if anything triggers it but I just can't find anything because tbh it just feels constant. More often than not the fresh air sets me off but when I told the GP she just said it would be the change in temperature and I might have little scars on my lungs...

The asthma nurse is part of the GP practice, you would probably have to get a referral from the GP. I have asthma and in my experience, steroids make me feel a lot better within 2-3 doses, if they are not having an effect on you maybe the GP needs to start thinking that your breathing problems might have a different cause?

@NannyR does the asthma nurse visit the GP practice? My GP is always understaffed and will always offer an appointment with the practice nurse before an actual GP! Good to know about the steroids maybe I should have been more keen to have them but they made me feel so jittery and horrible that I wasn't in a rush to take them again!