Asthma. Not well controlled.

I am lucky in that I was referred to the Respiratory department in a hospital in Limoges. I go every 6 months. Last time they switched Symbicort and another one for Trimbow. I have Montelukast at night and Citirizine plus xolair injections every two weeks.

The last one I was in as a day patient and they did lots of tests. There were two other people doing the same and whilst waiting for test we stayed in a room together. I had to walk backwards and forwards over 30 metres with some sort of measure. The woman before was marching quickly, she was younger and thinner than me and had an oxygen cylinder. The other occupant of the room was connected up to oxygen all the time and he was quite surprised that I didn't have own supply.

I'm feeling quite pleased with myself because on Friday I went to the supermarket and only realised on the way home that I didn't have my Ventolin with me and I didn't wheeze at all.

PilgrimQuill

Dinahmo, you mentioned trying homeopathy. As a retired classical homeopath, may I say that homeopathy should never be used to replace, or as an alternative to, life preserving medication such as inhalers. It is not an alternative therapy but a complementary one. As an example, take Arnica in potency for shock, and that may be the end of it. But if you become cold and shivery, call for medical assistance., as shock can be life threatening.

This was between 30 and 40 years ago. I wasn't very impressed with the therapist. I did get very weazy and husband rang him and was told that I shouldn't have stopped taking my medication. That was not mentioned during my consultation. After that I stuck with my drugs.

I never had anything like asthma until post the latest bout of COVID (the one that just keeps on giving). Now after numerous airless dashes to A&E, I'm on Fostair 200 twice daily. When my cannister ran out unbeknownst to me, I felt terrible again. Also have a blue sambutamol. It's rubbish, no more mountain climbing, not even steep hill climbing. 😢 Hoping over time it will improve, but it hasn't much since last November.

Another vote for Fostair, works for me, with occasional Ventolin.
The asthma nurse tried to change me over to Luforbec, but strangly didn't work as well for me. Apparently it doesn't for everyone.
So much for doing my bit for the enviroment !

I’ve suffered on and off lifelong too. But after Covid it really flared up big time and instead of an occasional puff of ventolin I’m now on daily symbicort.
My peak flow will now barely go over 300, I’m due to have spyrometery soon which might show more.
Marydoll I’m pleased re spacers as I’m always more comfortable using one.

I’m on Fostair and Montelukast like some others. All I would say is if you think you are having an asthma attack and have trouble breathing go to A&E if your inhalers don’t help. Even if it’s a waste of time and you’re better by the time you get there it’s worth it.

I was put onto Forstair when it first came out but I found it made things worse for me and was taken back off of it.
Like others say it is a learning curve and we are all different. Trial and error and if need be speak to your pharmacist, don't know what I would do without mine.

I have been told very recently that the latest advice is that EVERYONE, adult or child should be using a spacer.

If you use inhalers, you should also have an up to date asthma plan.

I have had asthma all my life and the treatment has been revolutionised over the last nearly sixty years. Do you have a spacer? I was told that this gets far more of the inhaler into your lungs. An inhaler only gets around 6% in on its own. Yes to a small drink of water after using your inhaler, too. The brown inhaler is a preventative only and it can be a case of trial and error to find which preventative suits you best. My preventative is Flutiform, which contains a long acting reliever in addition to the preventative. It has changed my life completely as l rarely have to use the blue inhaler these days.

I have a Symbicort inhaler to use twice a day and then a blue Ventolin for if I get breathless inbetween times. I do have an annual review with a nurse at the GP surgery but these reviews are just a waste of time, asthma is hardly mentioned it's just a box ticking exercise. This year the nurse was obviously inexperienced and kept telling me that I probably knew more about it than she did. Amazes me that it's so difficult to get to see a nurse or doctor when you need one but things like this that they get paid extra for are always done regularly.

I developed asthma in my 30's when returned with newborn second child to a damp house. I was 10 years on double inhalers (ventolin = blue and becotide = brown and steroid). I do not take any now. I pursued a breathing therapy called Buteyko and it worked for me. It focuses on nasal breathing, slowly and from deep in diaphragm. So it is opposite of hyperventilation. I will always have ventolin in date and when I travel. I find a tiny nip of whiskey helps ease chest tightness!

Dinahmo, you mentioned trying homeopathy. As a retired classical homeopath, may I say that homeopathy should never be used to replace, or as an alternative to, life preserving medication such as inhalers. It is not an alternative therapy but a complementary one. As an example, take Arnica in potency for shock, and that may be the end of it. But if you become cold and shivery, call for medical assistance., as shock can be life threatening.

Hi there
My Mum had COPD and it transpired that She wasn’t using her inhaler properly and once shown again things improved .
Mum only had Goats Milk but unsure if that helped 🙂

I'm finally getting my asthma under control
I use trimbow 2puffs at night and same in the morning. Bricanyl which is blue inhaler when I need it
I also take montelucast at night 1 tablet and omeprazole 1 at night which reduces the coughing, when I put that in at night it made a big difference.
All prescribed by the Dr
Good luck xx

I often forget to rinse my mouth 😂

Hello, I was diagnosed with Asthma about 6 years ago. I always thought it was something you were born with but stood to be corrected by my GP. After a couple of years of trial and error I'm on the lower dose Fostair to take 2 pumps twice a day and the blue one when needed (usually once or twice a day). Last year we couldn’t get it right until I realised the pollen was very high and was affecting my asthma really badly when the nurse told me to take Piriton regularly every day and start it a month before pollen season and carry on a month or so after. This works for me and keeps it under control. Maybe you need an antihistamine as well?

Cateq

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.

Yes, I've been on a steroid inhaler for years (asthma since birth) but it was only a couple of years ago when I got a mouthful of a thrush-like infection that the dentist told me always to rinse my mouth out after using a steroid inhaler. Since then, no problems!

I don’t think people understand just how serious asthma can be. We had a relative who lived in the north of Scotland who’s daughter was severely affected by Asthma and they were advised to move to a less damp climate so they moved to Australia but couldn’t overcome their homesickness so moved to Gibraltar where she thrived, and had a baby without any issues, but one day took an attack and died, she was 25. So please don’t think it’s just an inconvenience health issue.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

MissAdventure totally agree 👍