Tight chest/ coughing/inhaler

[Lanzaroteorgrotty]

I have had a virus for 2 weeks now and have been left with a tight chest/coughing. I have mild asthma (was taken off my steroid inhalers last year and only use the Ventolin when I need it which is barely ever.) I’ve needed to use the Ventolin three times this morning just with this coughing, night was particularly bad.

Do I need to see a doctor? I’m OKish, can walk around but just have this tight chest and mild breathlessness which is disconcerting.

I’m thinking I’ll call the surgery tomorrow. Don’t want to phone NHS24 and wait for two hours on hold. I’m a teacher, so work is quite hard when I feel like this, but I need to go in tomorrow.

Any advice would be good, thanks. The asthma is fairly new so I’m still a bit clueless!

I’m a long-standing asthmatic and have found that as I’ve gotten older (50 now), it’s taking me a long time to be cough and tightness free after a virus.

As this is new territory for you, I’d get in touch with the GP to be on the safe side. It sounds to me like taking you off the steroid inhaler was the wrong decision.

Do you only have a blue inhaler?
Go back to your GP and ask if you need a preventative one too - I have a brown inhaler I use daily and also never have to use the Ventolin, it manages it much better

Yes I did have a preventative but the asthma nurse wanted to try taking me down a dose. We did that then gradually off it completely. She said best not to be on it if I didn’t heed it. It’s just this virus. I have not used my blue inhaler for 2 years until just now.

Yes I’ll call them. I have been absolutely fine for 2 years and have been off the steroid/ preventive for a year now. This is the first time I’ve found it hard, with this virus.

Also as I was feeling better yesterday, I stupidly went for a run which I think has made it worse. I went very slowly. Downhill mostly. 4km.

Def speak to your GP surgery. Ventolin is not used by itself any more actually. You get a combination inhaler with a steroid plus long acting version of Ventolin instead. This is because asthma symptoms are caused by inflammation building up and the getting triggered by something like virus or pollen or dust etc. using the combination inhaler means you tackle the symptom and cause at the same time. Clever!!!

Oh, OK thanks!! I’ll call them tomorrow.

No one should now be on a blue inhaler only. New asthma guidelines out Nov 2024 advocate a preventer and reliever in one (MART regime) with regular maintenance doses or AIR regime which is a combined inhaler for mild and infrequent symptoms on an ad hoc basis only.
Have a Google and make a review with your nurse.
Being on a blue inhaler only is a big no now and not safe.
Practice nurse.