Asthma. Not well controlled.

I have asthma and the blue inhaler never helped enough. I was on Clenil twice daily (a steroid) for a long time but became quite breathless a few years ago. I was changed to Fostair, which is stronger and it helps a lot.

Fostair is similar to Luforbec. There are two strengths 100/6 and 200/6. I would guess you are on the lower one as a new user. I am now on the higher dose, but even on the lower one it helped a lot to control my asthma. You should notice a difference fairly soon. If it does not help, please ask to try something different as there are other inhalers.

Sorry to hear that. I suffer from Asthma and Bronchiectasis. I used to have the brown one, twice daily and the blue one if my chest felt really tight.
At my last Asthma review, my medication - I now have only device, for daily use and emergencies - it’s called Fostair.

And I also have a tablet , Montelukast, one every night. I feel so much better now

I have been using a Fostair steroid inhaler for some years. It’s definitely helped a lot. I also have the blue (ventolin) inhaler which on bad days I know I use too much. The practice nurse told me that I should use the Fostair inhaler when necessary during the day as well as morning and night instead of using the blue one so much.

Btw my peak flow reading is always dreadful - a good many years ago my doctor said I was like a broken down old horse. In fun. He was a good man.

I'm 77 and have been asthmatic since my middle 20s. At first I did not want to take medication and tried homeopathy but that didn't work for me.

I have been hospitalised twice. Once in London when I lived in a house that was being done up around us. The other was when we lived in Suffolk. That one was very scary, not just for me but also for my DH.

I have what my doctor in England called brittle asthma. Sometimes it seems as though anything can trigger it.

You should be aware of what triggers your wheezing. For me now, it is chemicals which are everywhere. I can be walking through a supermarket and start to get a tight chest and use the Ventolin. This will have been caused because I've walked down the aisle with the soap powders and other cleaning materials. We do not use many cleaning materials in our house and DH cleans the bathrooms.

Air fresheners can be harmful. Air con in buildings can contain chemicals. I often tel my DH that I have to leave because of the atmosphere in a building. He doesn't notice smells but I seem to be very sensitive to them.

Some people think that asthma is psychosomatic and that you can bring on attack. I don't think one brings on an attack but one can certainly control it, if you are careful.

I found that the way to deal with an attack is to take your mind off it by concentrating on something else. So I sit quietly, propped up supported by cushions and put watch the tv. If I concentrate on that I forget about my breathing.
It so happens that I had an attack on the evening of Princess Di's death. I was on the settee, with the tv on. I fell asleep and woke to a news programme describing the accident. By the next morning I had recovered and we went to a car boot sale. It was strange because very few had herd the news.

So my suggestions are;

Use the Luforbec as prescribed. this is a steroid but you must use it

Use the ventolin if necessary it is not a steroid but a bronchodilator.

Do breathing exercises to keep your lungs working. Breath in for 4, hold for 4 and exhale through the mouth for 6. It is a calming exercise.

If it gets worse go back to the nurse and check that you have the correct dose.

Try to avoid situations where you can get an attack. The last time we were in London, pre covid, there was a lot of building work going on above ground but also in the underground around Trafalgar Square. We had to get taxis all the time because I had difficulty in walking. I was someone who had walked a lot when living in London.

Back in the 90s I bought a nebuliser and the GP prescribed ventolin in liquid form to use in the machine. That certainly prevented an attack getting worse. You are not at that stage.

My sister developed asthma when she was a child. She still has it and now has regular injections. She is 70. I have an array of meds, including fortnightly injections which I self administer.

Be careful about getting infections. I used to have bronchitis regularly and would be in bed for a week and then have a further week off work whilst I recovered. A few years ago ti was suggested that I take Vitamin D3 which I did and had no colds or bronchitis. For some reason I stopped taking it and I am still recovering from bronchitis that I had 3 or 4 weeks ago.

Try not to panic. Explain to people around you that if you have a bad attack ( I hope you don't) they stay calm and to keep you calm by not asking questions.

I have told you all the above so that you don't make the same mistakes as me.

Good luck

My asthma was awful, a hospital admission, very scary I was put on Fostair, and never looked back, my asthma is so well controlled I forget about it. Unless very cold, or very hot, sometimes get wheezy when the Fostair can be also used as a reliever. I swear by it. I do hope you get it resolved, having asthma not controlled is debilitating and very frightening at times.

Dinahmo is right. You have to learn about your asthma and what triggers attacks and remember everyone’s asthma is different. I use the high dose Relvar Elliptor steroid inhaler. It is taken once a day in the morning. I take Ventolin most days too. I’m triggered by cleaning products, air fresheners (never use them) pollution coming from cars and vehicles, especially diesel, smoking (other people’s obviously) dust, building dust, some paints, hair spray - especially L’Oreal, and occasionally by drinking a glass of red wine, but this is rare, and I still have the very occasional glass without a problem. Chest infections, colds and viruses cause my asthma to worsen and often I need a course of steroids if I have any infection. Covid made me seriously ill and I was hospitalised. I forgot to say I also take a tablet each day. It’s called Montelukast and someone else upthread mentioned it too.
I think you need to try the treatments you’re offered but go back to the asthma nurse if you don’t think there’s any improvement. There are lots of treatments and it may take time to find the best one for you.

I am on the same meds as you maddyone

I do have a peak flow metre at home, if I feel wheezy/chesty and it doesn’t go after 24 hours I ring my surgery with the levels and they send a script for steroids and antibiotics.

Please go back to your GP/Asthma nurse if you are worried and/or continue to be out of breath/wheezy.

I always have a rescue pack of antibiotics and steroids for emergencies.

Another vote for Fostair here 👍

One thing I became aware of recently is that because it's a steroid, you should rinse your mouth thoroughly after using it.

Yes, that’s right. Good reminder.

Something unexpected which triggers a reaction in me nowadays - orange juice. Yet I can eat a satsuma with no problems.

I forgot to say, some people find emotional times or stress/anxiety triggers their asthma. This had never happened to me before, but on the day of my mother’s funeral, nearly two years ago now, I had a horrible asthma attack just as people were arriving at my house (we were going from my house because mum was in a care home for the last year of her life) and I suddenly felt my tubes seize up and I couldn’t breathe. It was horrible. Someone got my Ventolin and I couldn’t breathe it in properly, but over a few minutes I managed to gradually get more in and my tubes relaxed. Once I breathing properly again I went downstairs and I was fine. It’s the only time I’ve ever had an emotional asthma attack.

My first hospital admission was caused by Thatcher. I had bronchitis and was in bed watching tv. She made a speech in which she said "We are a grandmother" I shouted at the tv (because only the Queen used "We" when talking about herself). I started a coughing fit that was so bad I swigged from my bottle of Benylin. Suddenly it felt as if my lungs had collapsed and so my DH called the doctor. It was a deputising servce. After 1/2 hour they hadn't come and said to call an ambulance, which he did.

Our house was in a state of disrepair - bare floorboards and just old plaster. We had two new kittens and so I had scratches on my arms. The ambulance men took one look at the and me and started asking questions. I realised where they were going - they obviously thought I/we were junkies and explained. They took me off in the ambulance and gave me oxygen. By the time I reached the hospital I was feeling better and a bit of a fraud. Anyway I was taken to the resucitation ward which had 4 cubicles. I could hear someone having a heart attack and someone having their stomach pumped. Plus the phone calls. The staff were talking about a fire in an old peoples' home and a multiple pile up and many of those affected were being taken to that hospital. It made me realise how hard worked the NHS was and still is)

Dinahmo having been in resuscitation room twice due to asthma and little memory of it I am so careful now.

Remember Asthma kills.

I really feel for you, it’s hard not being clear on your treatment. I’ve had asthma all my life and take Relvar Ellipta and a Montelukast tablet at night, Ventolin if necessary.
Sometimes it takes a while to get your medication at the right level, I’m still here to tell the tale after a lifetime of steroid medication, and whilst not desirable I couldn’t manage without. Perhaps ring the nurse if you feel worried. All the best.

A cautionary tale, the bereaved parents group I belong to has a mother whose child died because of uncontrolled asthma.

That phrase is exactly the one used in the case, so do all please advocate for yourself if you feel you aren't getting the meds/care you need.

There was no blame to the parent in this case, as she believed the professionals were taking care of her child.

MissAdventure totally agree 👍

Good posts Dinahmo and Reubenblue.

I was eventually diagnosed with Brittle Asthma at twenty two years old (I am now sixty nine.)after being in HDU for six weeks and nearly dying. It is the most unstable type of asthma.
Initially I was fobbed of, saying that my asthma was caused by the anxiety of sitting my degree exams.
About ten years ago, I was also diagnosed with bronchiectasis.

I have tried most of the asthma drugs, but cannot tolerate the majority of them, resulting in long term steroids. Now I am on prophyllactic antibiotics for life, take Ventolin, Bricanyl and Relvar Ellipta.
Relvar was the one which helped the most.
I keep a rescue pack of stronger antibiotics and steroids for emergencies.
I also have a nebuliser, but they are not really recommended these days.

However, tomorrow I am going for a chest xray, as I have now had a persistant hacking cough for over eighteen months.

Cathy, you have to give the steroid inhaler time to work, but if you feel it is not helping after a reasonable time, you need to go back and seek advice.
There are many different types of inhaler, it can take time to find the right one.

GrannyGravy13

Dinahmo having been in resuscitation room twice due to asthma and little memory of it I am so careful now.

Remember Asthma kills.

😔 yes it does.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. Also for sharing your experiences.

Looking back I realise that I must have had Asthma for some years but I managed to work round it. In 2021 I was diagnosed by a practice nurse after my GP said it was either COPD or Asthma. She gave me the inhalers , put them on repeat prescription and sent me on my way. It was only after a medication review by the pharmacy earlier in the year it was suggested I made an appointment with the Asthma nurse. She said that my Asthma had not been managed properly.

Although I have a treatment plan and the support of the nurse I feel more confident going forward thanks to you lovely GNetters.

You should have a review with the asthma nurse at your surgery every year.

My GP practice sent me a text message recently telling me to book my annual asthma review 👍

V3ra I’ve had asthma for 50years and was told in 1980’s when I first prescribed a steroid inhaler that it was very important to rinse my mouth and gargle at the back of my throat as bacteria can grow on the residual drug left behind. It surprises me how few people are told this.