Asthma people - can you please give me some advice?

[CarlaBruni]

In September last year, I had an episode which, to me, felt like an "asthma attack". I was late 50s and had never been diagnosed as asthmatic before but have always had house dust mites/cat type allergies. Saw out of hours doctor who gave me a blue inhaler. Days later, my own GP checked and said I had a chest infection (I had no idea I was ill other than the struggling to breathe episode), and gave me antibiotics and steroids. I've now had a follow up spirometry test which I "passed". I've still not been officially diagnosed as asthmatic.

I've needed to use the blue inhaler occasionally since being given it - once or twice a fortnight. However, over the last few weeks, I've felt the need to use my blue inhaler a little more often - especially at bedtime. And some light activity (going up the stairs etc) can leave me feeling breathless. I will make an appointment with my GP as feel in limbo here as I don't know if I have asthma and, if I do, I would like more than a blue inhaler.

Anyway, my questions are, how often is safe to use a blue inhaler? I'm trying not to but, for the last week or so, I may have used it once a day but for four consecutive days. And, does the sensation of having a chesty cough I can't clear sound like asthma? I'm not ill in any other way.

It feels like a cough expectorant would help but I've read that they're not recommended for asthmatics.

Sorry, this is longer than planned. Thanks

Have any of you been recommended the Buteyko Breathing Technique as a complementary way to help asthma?

It is a breathing technique recommended on asthma guidelines, so I'm intrigued if this is something commonly suggested by asthma clinics, asthma nurses, respiratory physiotherapists etc. Has anyone been taught it on the NHS?

OP, when you get your peak flow monitor, start a graph of your reading first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Also mark in each time you use a blue inhaler and note down what you were doing at the time (exercise, on waking etc).
It will give your GP a head start if they can see the pattern, since diagnosis of asthma often takes a long time and the pattern of your symptoms is important.

Great advice - it's also worth measuring your peak flow when you need your inhaler (measure it before you take the inhaler).

What a GP/nurse will be interested in is the difference between a normal peak flow for you, and when you need an inhaler - you can get charts of normal peak flow readings, but some of us have lungs that can't get close - on a good day, I measure 70% of what someone my height and age 'should' read. That's my normal, and I don't think anything short of a lung transplant would improve it.

I was diagnosed as an adult (well, teenager), and I was asked to keep a peak flow diary before diagnosis.

nothing fancy really, just started using proper anti-allergy bedding instead of regular covers, kept humidity down and got rid of a lot of fabrics that gather dust.

Joining this thread as I'm in my 40s and wondering about asthma after a few years of some odd periods of light shortness of breath. Told it was anxiety but that didn't sit right with me.

I have allergies (dust, etc) that seem to get triggered fairly randomly, but stupidly I never knew allergies could induce asthma and tbh I still don't really understand it.

Was given a blue inhaler ages ago to use next time to see if it made a difference but I've forgotten or been too busy to try it but I will before it expires! I'm worried I'll take it incorrectly.

There is no steroid in the blue salbutamol inhaler.