Severe asthma, getting even worse

[fragminhelp]

I've had asthma all my life. I've been in hospital very regularly (until those around me stopped smoking), but have oral steroids about 4x a year.

I'm on Ipratropium Bromide inhaler, Salbutamol inhaler, AirFluSal inhaler (Seretide and Fluticasone 250mg), as well as Montelukast tablets.

The asthma nurse has tried to take me off Ipratropium (Atrovent), but luckily I convinced them not to, which is lucky as it is far better than Salbutamol.

I always had an asthma flare before a period, it took far, far too long to figure that out, and taking Prednisolone always coincided. Other times of the month I wouldn't take any preventer for a couple of weeks.

Three weeks ago I got a cold the day after going to France on a day trip. No one else caught it. It took two weeks to shake it, my peak flow fell from 700 to 500, but I managed.

A few days ago my chest suddenly got worse, just going upstairs made me breathless, but after taking rescue inhalers, my PF went back to 700/750.

Today it was even worse, constant wheezing. I tried to get through to GP for emergency steroids, but after listening to options the phone was cut, every time. So I called 111, they decided to send an ambulance. The paramedics tried with a nebuliser (salbutamol), it failed, another on the way to hospital failed, at the hospital they gave me IV steroids and a lot of things in a nebuliser and it worked.

I'm home (but still breathless) and wondered if it could be related to the menopause. I've not had a period for two months (before that I stopped for 5 months then restarted). I can't find anything except for perimenopause, but assumed with low oestrogen I'd be safe now.

I'm 53 btw.

If it’s linked to periods would it be worth having a Mirena coil to hopefully stop them ?

@DustyLee123 thank you, no I think they've stopped and I fear Mirena will only make things worse, as I've had both Depo-Provera and the mini pill and they've affected me terribly, the mood swings were out of control.

Also the periods that 'restarted' were incredibly light and lasted two days. I've had a worsening chest for the last three weeks, but no PMS symptoms, so I'm thinking it's not due to a period arriving.

I did look up some stuff last night and it said that some women get asthma for the first time on HRT, but for women who already have asthma, HRT seems to protect against it, with oestrogen thought to be a protective factor. So I may have to begrudgingly take it after all (I have it ready, I've just been too scared to try it).

I didn’t want to take it either, but not wanting to go anywhere or do anything wasn’t how I wanted to be. I’m taking one pump and it’s helped.

Hi OP. I've had asthma for life and I'm on HRT.

The HRT hasn't made my asthma any better at all. Still take a shed load of ventolin, after I laugh, cry, or eat a meal.

Could you go and talk to a doctor? I vastly prefer a GP to the asthma nurse. They are able to look at things from a less formulaic perspective.

I just noted in your OP you said you sometimes don't use your preventer between the worst times. Please don't do this
Inhaled steroids take 2-3 weeks to reach full effect so by stopping and starting you are reducing the effectiveness. Try using it all the time regardless of symptoms and you may find it helps more (I have been told off for the same thing )
Menopause can make some things better and some things worse, HRT can make some things better and some things worse. It's all a bit "how long is a piece of string?"

@QueenOfHiraeth Oops, that was a mistake, I meant I don't need my Ventolin unless I'm wheezy (most days), I take my preventer daily without fail!