Asthma - how is yours?

[MrsSnow]

Since coming out of the Morning sickness/all day sickness phase, I had one really good week and then my asthma has kicked in. It had been undercontrol has gradually got worse.

I had an appointment with obstetrics medicine (when I was using my reliever 5-10 times a day) and they changed the number of times I used my preventative. Apparently there is an asthma clinic for pregnant women post 24 weeks (I'm 17 weeks).

Since then I had one all night episode after which I saw my GP 2 days later who essentially said there was nothing else he could do and didn't think it was that bad as I could walk around. Ignoring the fact that I was unable to walk around the previous 2 days.

Last night I've had another all night episode of 3 major attacks. I've spent all day doing the minimum. I made the bed that induced another attack. I've booked another appointment with another GP in the practice for next week, does anyone have any experience in getting the GP to take things seriously?

FYI apparently if pregnant and with bad asthma the GP has to see you asap.

I have steroids prescribed. May be worth asking to see a respiratory consultant if obs/gp not helpful?

I suggest you ask to see a specialist asap. Your symptoms sound terrible.

Mine is under control (I think if I was pg during the winter, I'd be experiencing similar levels as you) but I know how absolutely debilitating asthma is.

Good luck with it and I hope it improves soon

Mine is shit wasn't doing too bad up until last week. Can't lie down as chest gets tight although I suspects I've a chest infection as I'm coughing up a lot of mucus and breathlessness is constant

Gosh I just posted in the antenatal club thread about this. I'm 14w and mine has suddenly kicked up a notch. I'm breathless going up the stairs and on my run tonight felt wretched. Is it pregnancy related or just the weather or what? It doesn't normally affect me like this!

My asthma was 100% controlled pre pregnancy as had been using a thing to strengthen lungs and breathing exercises so to avoid using inhaler. In early pregnancy I was fine but when Braxton hicks started it gets more difficult. Id speak to MW, mine is constantly checking.

Last night wasn't as bad as the previous night, but I'm still suffering the post asthma come down (exhaustion, shakes etc) which is really annoying as was hoping to get to the pregnancy yoga class tonight.

I had a sore throat/cough so I don't think that has helped my lung capacity. It sounds like I need to push to see a hospital clinic rather than a nurse run asthma clinic. Wish me luck!

Mine has got a lot worse. My dr already upped the strength of my inhaler but I am abroad and normally when I come here I don't need to use my inhaler at all. Now I am on three times a day instead of twice and that is on a stronger inhaler. Not sure what will happen when I get back to the UK.

One thing that has really helped me is ranitidine - I realised that the acid from the reflux was burning my trachea as well as my oesophagus :(

Once I'd been taking the ranitidine for a week, the throat catching/wheezy/cough feeling was SO much better. If you're suffering with sickness this is well worth looking into. It's not going to eradicate serious athsma of course but it's cut down my inhaler use for sure.

Definitely see your doc/athsma clinic as a priority for a medication review - your GP is being very ignorant. Being able to walk means you're ok? Absolute balls!

Mine got 10x worse and I was prescribed a short course of oral steroids which helped. Maybe a and e would be best if you have a really major attack in the night again.

Can you contact the post 24 week clinic or the ob who told you about it? They must be the best people to ask - even if they can't help you directly they can signpost you to someone with a better attitude than your GP. Uncontrolled athsma is not to be messed with and I'm shocked at how blasé your GP is being.

Mine is much worse. In my last pregnancy it was just the same - worsened symptoms, getting progressively worse as the pregnancy progressed.

Last time I was given oral steroids to take as well as my purple inhaler, but they didn't improve things.

This time round, I'm not bothering with oral steroids as well as my steroid inhaler and am just coping with not being able to breathe. The asthma nurse and the GP are pretty much at a loss - it's shit!

skipton The obstetrics consultant emailed an article about another illness, and so I was able to email and ask her advice. Unfortunately she seemed happy to take the GPs analysis that it was not that bad as he would have done something if it was (bangs head on brick wall).

running that sounds awful. Unfortunately the information I have read on Asthma Uk re pregnancy asthma has frightened me sufficiently that I realise I can't ignore this.

Holden unfortunately I think a and e will be a real possibility unless someone doesn't take this seeiously.

Does anyone know if community midwives can refer to respiratory consultants?

You need a gp to get a referral to a consultants. Going to out of hours or A and E if asthma not controlled by inhalers sounds sensible - as they can treat you in an attack and prescribe anything needed such as nebulisers or steroids etc.