Asthma - Steroids not working?

[GingerleyBred]

Any asthma pros or respiratory bods out there?

I have always had asthma but generally very easily kept under wraps with inhalers and I really only struggle when I get a cold. Usually I have a quick blast of antibiotics and steroids and everything calms back down again.

Since the dc have gone back to school this autumn I have caught everything they’ve had and I am now constantly wheezy. I've finished antibiotics (and GP is happy it is all viral anyway) but peak flow isn't coming back up, so I am carrying on with steroids.

I am really limited as get so short of breath, not sleeping well, feel really fatigued. Inhalers do help briefly but the relief doesnt last.

I'm not ill enough to need to go to a&e as my sats and pulse are fine, I can talk and eat etc but also feel pretty rubbish and like this is my life now (drama).

I will contact the GP in the morning but it will be the 5th time in a month and I am not sure what else can be done or if I am just impatient?

Has anyone has similar? What has helped?

This made me laugh.

The 111 form advised contacting my gp today (made me doubt it was the weekend). I have selected the call back option.

Thanks for earlier nudges.

Am in the queue for a call back from the OOH GP. They seemed very nice (warned of a possibly long wait but that they would keep in touch).

Good luck. I’m also on Forstair but Montelukast was the game changer for me. I don’t feel asthmatic any more, ever.

I had similar to you in May, and think I'm heading that way again (despite puffing on a steroid inhaler). Last time I needed 2 rounds of antibiotics and 3 rounds of oral steroids, and it still then took a couple more weeks to go. It lasted a couple of months overall. Have you had a chest x ray? Mine was clear, but is worth checking. And are you taking oral steroids stil?

See if you can swap to another inhaler, I was moved from Fostair to Luforbec.

is steaming up a room ever helpful op?

What dose of steroids are you on?
My GP usually gives a low dose starting around 10mg declining over a week.

I recently had to go to hospital for a chest infection / asthma flare and they gave me 30mg a day for five days. This was far higher dose than I've had before. It did the trick (although side effects were dreadful palpitations).

Do you have a lot of mucus? It can stop inhalers absorbing so well. Maybe have a look at breathing techniques to clear mucus. Look up ACBT and autogenic drainage. Ideally you'd have input from a physio on this, but just trying it gently might give you an indication.

Not all asthma is curable with steroids unfortunately, as I'm discovering myself! I used to be fine on a low dose of Clenil, but that's stopped working and I have a bad reaction to combined inhalers and Respimat. There are conditions like bronchiectasis and lung over-inflation, that can stem from chest infections. You'd need a chest x-ray for that. Or I have a friend whose bronchiectasis didn't show up on an x-ray - he needed a CT scan. So, for all that you'd need a referral to Respiratory.

Thanks all for all the advice and tips.

I can't fault the NHS today - I did the 111 form which suggested GP today, I clicked the request for them to call me, they called me and warned me there could be a wait, then they called back with some clinical queries and referred me to the hospital. I was expected on arrival, have had blood tests and xray and lots of lovely nebulisers and can now breathe much more easily.

I may have to stay overnight as I don't have a
nebuliser at home but I feel so so much better than I did earlier.

so pleased you sought help
best of luck op

Great stuff OP. Hope you get home soon.
I was referred to the SDEC (same day emergency care) by my GP recently. I have asthma and bronchiectasis and was very SOB. They were expecting me, I had bloods, chest x-ray, saw a doctor and was sent home with steroids all in 90 minutes. Sometimes the NHS is great.

Well done, and glad you’re doing loads better.

Sounds like your boiking frog analogy was spot on - glad we could help you see the situation.

Your nudge really worked (and made me laugh) so thank you.

It is only now I can breathe more easily (and am still absolutely nowhere near normal) that I can see how bad I was earlier!

V grateful to you and @DemonsandMosquitoes for some straightforward talking. And to everyone on the thread for their suggestions - when I am home and dry I will put more effort into the longer term medication changes etc.

When it works line that it is brilliant!

I am very grateful for the care I have received today.

Hope you’re still feeling better today.

Please make sure before you leave you’ve got a basic update to your asthma action plan (if it’s usually really well controlled you might not really have one maintained so this is even more important).

That way it solves you gradually drifting downwards as it means there are clear thresholds for when you need to seek medical intervention and on what time scale.

It’s relatively unusual to go from well controlled on inhalers to needing nebuliser so when come to discharge they may assume that you’re a frequent flier for admission and are an old hat at working it out.

Thank you, am home now and the hospital asthma nurses are going to contact me to go through everything.

GP has booked me an appoint em t later in the week too.

Have been very well looked after.