I a SO Effed Off with my Asthma.....

[pofacedandproud]

I haven't had symptoms for 8 years and suddenly since October I've been struggling with bronchitis and the worst asthma I have ever had. Struggling for breath walking back from ds's school this morning. Back on inhaled steroids for the first time since childhood. Wtf is going on? Anyone else struggling this year? Anyone got any tips for getting better apart from steroids and ventolin? [short of moving to a mountain in Switzerland]I am so depressed about it. Would have to be the year of the swine flu too. Any asthmatics out there?

Not asthmatic myself but 2 of my daughters are and my eldest has gone back on her clenil for the first time in 2 years this year.

I'm also a practice nurse and my colleague and I are seeing lots of people with worsened asthma this winter - we're not sure why but wonder if the mild weather is allowing the viruses to breed! We also wondered if the cloud cover with all this rain is keeping the pollution nearer the ground and so worsening asthma (no scientific evidence here, just postulating).

What treatment are you on?

Me.

I really empathise, I do.

99.9% of the time my asthma is well controlled with meds and I've been doing really well the last few years. I've got a nasty cough/chesty/throat thing atm, have lost my voice and am feeling really breathless. Not at the point where I need to go back for a medication review yet, but if it doesn't clear soon then I'll have to. Is really frustrating.

IME, inhaled steroids and ventolin are the most effective treatments with very few and well understood side effects. Stick with them. And remember, if you're having to use your ventolin regularly more than twice a week, or if you feel like you're clock watching for the next dose, then it's not being well controlled and you need to go back to asthma clinic. (Though if you've just been prescribed the inhaled steroids again, be aware that it can take a couple of weeks to kick in properly).

Asthma UK is a fab website with lots of info and help available. Also, if it's been a few years, make sure you remember what to do in the event of an attack: www.asthma.org.uk/all_about_asthma/what_to_do_in_an_asthma_attack/index.html

Thanks Sidge and RD. I am really wondering if I had a no fever type of Swine Flu that triggered this awful bronchitis - the cough came on so suddenly and immediately made me wheeze like never before, but then I did have a bad chest infection back in April when my asthma came back for the first time, and every bug knocks me back.

I hope your daughters are ok Sidge. I really am fantasising about living on a mountain or by the sea, just to get some respite. can't understand why it has come back so viciously. Feel so fed up.

I know that I had a bad relapse with asthma about 5 years ago due to catching the then seasonal flu - is one of the reason I get every flu jab going now It took me about 6 months after to not get seriously knocked back after every cold.

I'm really really irrationally annoyed with this today though. I should be grading this evening (martial arts) and I'm going to have to miss it. And I don't even feel well enough to do general exercise like a bike ride. I'm just itching to do something and I know I'm going to be grumpy as hell while I'm not being active .

Which is pathetic really, because at least I'm not gasping for breath after a short walk to school and I should be grateful it hasn't got that bad yet.

sometimes you only need a couple of cold days and it can really make your tubes slam shut. It might be the sudden colder 2 days after such a mild year.

caffeine is a great reliever it opens up the airways.

i make my self 2 cups of coffee when i wake up, i can't tell you how much it helps

Sorry you're feeling bad RD. I feel exactly like you, absolutely furious that this has returned after years of feeling completely normal, and suddenly furious about my childhood again, which was plagued with asthma. It is awful when viruses just go straight to your chest, that is what I've been struggling with since October [ds brings everything going back from school] I hope it will pass for you soon.

alypaly I've been like this since October unfortunately.

Coffee? Interesting custardo. I've been trying turmeric and garlic [non whiffy capsules] and raw onion [very whiffy real thing] and gargling with tcp avoid more viruses [I'm avoiding my friends] Any other ideas? I hate coffee but i could try - I wonder if coke works?

PF: sympathies, I have v mild asthma but am also prone to chest infections and general wheeziness after colds and flu. This is one of the worst times of year for bugs, esp if you have a kid at school. I don;t think anyone who hasn't experienced it realises how debilitating breathing problems can be.

If you;re wheezing after even small amounts of exercise, I'd go back to your GP/asthma clinic and have your meds levels checked out. You may need a bigger steroid dose. And are you dealing with the obvious things like dust mites and mould in the house? Things that might not affect you normally may be a trigger when your system is more sensitive.

It's bad at the moment because of all the rain and wind. That always stirs it up. My two have asthma that's usually well controlled, but not this week.

I can't wait for colder, stiller weather.

Have just gone through some slow deep breathing/martial arts type exercises and feel a bit better. Coughed like hell while trying to deep breathe the first few, but feel a lot better now at the end and slightly less itchy to do something. Mind you, just could be that I've had more time inside a warm house instead of outside in the cold rather than the actual exercises.

Going to go for the coffee next

Effie we moved house in March and I am wondering if it is something in the house, the shower room has a leak so I am wondering if there is mould in there. We don't have carpets and no pets and I try to hoover every other day [asthmatics should get someone else to hoover apparently, ha ha] and all those things used to keep my asthma in check without the need for meds. No longer. Short of moving house I don't know what to do.

We live in the Thames Valley and our GP told us it's notorious for asthma. Apparently the air filled with whatever causes the reaction just doesn't move around enough. We live in a rural area and there can be lots of dust and mould on the crops, which causes huge problems to my daughter at certain times of year.

pofaced - if you think it could be allergy related, ask to be referred to an allergy clinic at your local hospital. They don't like to refer (as it's costly for them) but as an asthmatic you get a toe in, as it were.

I did last year because I was getting 'hayfever' solidly from February through to November. Turns out that it was actually a dust mite allergy not hayfever and I'm on an antihistamine, anti-allergy tablet and nasal spray. The knock on effect is that (well, up until this bug anyway ) my asthma has been a lot better too (and also, far less 'colds' and sinus infections).

Tricky, isn;t it? Do you hoover the mattress as well?

The main difference between summer and winter for me is that Ii can leave all the windows open most of the day so I;m sure the house is aired properly. Bloody weather. I'm not sure if you can get any monitoring things for dust mites/mould (I;m sure I've seen some on How Clean Is Your House but that is not RL ) in case there is an issue. Did you move area as well?

Of course it's most lilely that it's the 'orrible germs rather than anything else, but maybe a dehumidifier in the shower room?

and do consider going back to the GP, you shouldn't be struggling for breath during your usual daytime activities

Well I've only just started on the becotide, so I'll give that a shot first, but I know they'll just give me a higher dose of steroid if I go back. We have a dust mite cover on the mattress, but it needs a wash, so hard to get off a super king size mattress [co sleeping chid necessitated it] I bought a dehumdifier a few weeks ago in the hope it might help, hasn't really. Interesting about the allergy RD, so far my asthma this time has been triggered by viruses, but something in the house may be aggravating it.

We are in the Thames Valley too abra1d. Quite hard to get out of it though if you work in London, where could we go I wonder? Is Sussex out of it? [clueless emoticon]

Do you have asthma too Effie?

I am holding out for a lottery win so I can buy a Mediterranean island.

The nurse at the clinic told me Pembrokeshire works well for her, though. Slightly more affordable but just as inconvenient for London.

pofaced - I was on Becotide for a while. When it wasn't working, rather than get on a higher dose of that I was offered Seretide (which is a preventer/long acting reliever in one). I'm on pretty much the minimum dose of that and for me it works far better than Becotide did (although I appreciate it's not the same for everyone). So there are other treatment options out there.

My anti-allergy tablet is Singulair which is also used for treating asthmatic - not sure if that can be prescribed direct from the GP, but my consultant reckons that was the key difference with my allergy medication. One of the common side effects though with that is apparently nightmares (I don't get them, fortunately ... or unfortunately as I'm a writer and I was hoping they would be inspiration )

cafeine here

herbie: oh no, poor ds Go back, go back, go back. If they can't help him get a referral. It really really sucks being constantly breathless/having to struggle to breathe. They've got to be able to offer him something better than that

Actually, Custy - that's really interesting. I had major coca cola cravings the other night when all this kicked in (which dh was very sceptical of, as it normally keeps me awake and he thought it would make my sore throat much worse). I did feel better after (though I thought psychological... little bit of what you fancy and all that) - seems I was justified after all

sorry about your ds herbietea That does sound awful. It is so unfair children have to cope with that. Is he wheezing still? Maybe he had Swine Flu and that has knocked his lungs for six? So hard to know.

I should ask about Seretide RD thanks. Is it a combination of ventolin and becotide or different drugs?

Wondering about getting out of Thames Valley now. Have been there most of my life...

Seretide is fluticasone propionate and salmeterol - so no, two entirely different drugs. You still have a ventolin for emergencies (or if you need it before exercise, eg).

Becotide is beclometasone dipropionate, and Ventolin is salbutamol.