happy to answer any questions if needed both chest stuff and physio stuff. i I don't know I know someone who will
Steve
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happy to answer any questions if needed both chest stuff and physio stuff. i I don't know I know someone who will
Steve
Managed to buy a Peak flow meter.
Im just back from another crap 15 minute run.
I took my average peak flow before I ran it was 440.
I started to struggle about ten minutes into my run. I then tested it at this point it was 360.
I used the inhaler a few times that did not help.
Ive just managed to get home and I cant get over 230 on my peak flow rate.
Its grim
Jamie, have you got some steroid based inhalers from your doctor? My maximum peak flow was 650 before getting prescribed them, within 2 weeks it was up to 750! Taking it regularly has really helped reduce my symptoms.
Hiya Tom
Im on the brown and a green one.
The green is a 12hours long lasting thing. The brown is steroid based.
Although I have only been on the green one for 2 weeks.
I have a appointment next friday, Ill take my readings and show the nurse.
Ill try a run every 3 days and check my readings.
I was told for my age and height I should be blowing 620 eek
Cheers
Jamie
yeh, just read back through the posts.
hope you get it sorted soon.
allergies affect my asthma, generally food intolerances...maybe you could get tested for allergies?! dairy products and gluten are the most common ones.
Yeah, I have just moved house and since then the symptoms have been loads worse. Wheeze (forum member)reckons it could be the plaster. Its an old house and it could contain horsehair plaster, and I also painted the bedroom, but thats 3 months ago.
Its the first time its ever been this bad for this long. I went for chest x ray, my next call is an allergy test.
Its quite scary when it kicks off, is'nt it
Those peak flow readings don't look good. A 200 drop is quite severe really. The serevent should control your aways better than it that really. Make sure you keep a good diary of it as it gives you a good indication of whether things are working or not. I'd probably question about the brown inhaler and whether thats working well enough or not. Good Luck
I thought a 200 drop was not good, that was done based on a best of 3. Im a tad bit worried now to say the least. Esp after Tom Cees' 650 improving to 750.
My next asthma nurse appointment is next friday, Ill keep analysing and charting. Based on a day running and a day not running.
I haven't got the faintest idea what you're talking about to be honest NOUH, but whatever's bothering you I hope you get over it soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by NotOnUrHelly
All the best.
Woof!
Noton, blows of 250 or less are not good news. When are you going back to the clinic?
Wheeze,
Im back on Friday,
Im averaging 450 normally (still not good I know)
The 230 one was immediattly after exercise, and thats what it is always like.
Im gonna try one more run before friday just to get another reading.
Then...
I'm guessing I should perhaps not try to run for a while. Rather than run through it.
Im a tad bit worried/scared about this now.
Jamie
You are going about things the right way. I wouldn't be too worried about stopping running I was running for about 6 years before I was diagnosed with it. Provided you recover in a reasonable time following a run there should be few issues. The biggest problem is that your performance will be affected by it both in training and racing
At the moment is getting to the point where it is pretty unpleasant to try to struggle through it. The reliever inhaler just does'nt pull me through it. Then the oxygen does not get to the legs and I get a headache.
Bit of a bumer really. Im probably gonna have to return my number for the three peaks. I just have not got the long runs in, I was bang on form before christmas as well.
Ill probably just get myself right and then train up again for a summer race like borrowdale.
noton - having peak flows like that must be awful. I'm usually 650ish (640 is my target) when I'm under control (becotide & serevent) but when I've got a chest infection it gets down to 500ish (doubling the becotide dose usually doesn't do much).
Steroid tablets (5 days of prednisolone) usually sorts it out if it doesn't go back up after the infection's cleared. Running's tough at 500 for me so being down as low as you are must be hard.
I've never had a 250 - according to my asthma plan less than 330 is an A&E job! Be careful when you're down that low m8.
Maybe it's worth changing your steroid inhaler? I've heard postive things about symbicort (someone else mentioned it previously). Worth discussing the next time you're in.
Hope you get it sorted m8.
Cheers,
Derek.
Thanks for that reply Derek,
Perhaps I should not be running at the mo, when I took that reading of 230. That was how I always feel after runs lately.
I have been running for 4 years in total. Mainly trouble free, if it has usaully kicked off its only been for a week or two and the inhaler usually gets me through.
Im hoping the key lies in a chest infection that I may not have shook off and thats triggering my asthma or making me sensitive. I've had a chest x ray waiting for results.
Im guessing 230 is very low, i did not realise it was an A & E job for some people.
Thanks
Jamie
jamie
just been back reading this thread - i don't know much about asthma? But hopefully you will find the key to it and it starts improving soon!!
Hope you are on the mend soon!!
Take it easy!!
I know its no consolation but ive been down with a virus since the lakes, have missed three races headaches bad chest etc etc. I,ve had to stop running the few times that ive tried http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/images/icons/icon9.gif!!
Martin
Hi Jamie,
Glad to hear you're normally well controlled. From what you're saying it sounds like you may well have had a chest infection and your lungs are still swollen from it. As I mentioned previously, this happens to me now and again (last time was two weeks ago!) and the only way to get my lungs working OK again (and my PF up) is prednisolone. I don't like taking steroids like that but it's preferable to coughing and wheezing all the time.
My PF does drop a wee bit after a run but yours is a big one. It may be that you have a number of factors going (allergy, exercise induced, infection etc). I would suggest that if you get that low again then stop running for a few days! If you're as low as 250 you have to remember than you've not got much breathing space (pun intended! :)) and if it goes a just a wee bit further downhill then you're may be in big trouble.
BTW - ask for an asthma plan the next time you're in - it's a leaflet from asthma.org.uk that the nurse fills in. At least if you go below a certain figure you have an idea of what to do.
Hope it's a bit better today at leat! :)
Cheers,
Derek.
Hi Deeko,
Im hoiping it is a chest infection I really am. I did mention that to the Asthma nurse 2 weeks ago and to the doctor about 2months ago. They refused to give me anti-biotics. If that is the case and they give me something to get myself right this week. Then they could quite easily have had me fixed up 2 months ago. They always seem quite keen just to tell you to stop running for a bit, and just pop you on some inhalers.
I'll ask for an action plan on Friday and keep noting my figures.
A guy at my club has had a similar thing this winter. He is a much stronger runner than I am, with no history of Asthma. They have eventually put him on some steroid tablets and it has cleared up. His seemed to be a lot worse than mine. He was struggling to get up the stairs and it was affecting his day to day life, his PF's where down in the 200s
Cheers
Jamie
Jamie,
Simple rule of thumb - green/yellow phlegm = chest infection. White gunk is normal asthma stuff and there's usually no infection.
You should get antibiotics if you have coloured phelgm. My doc gives me them almost immediately if that's the case (I had a patch of pneumonia once! Not keen to repeat that experience...).
If you've no infection then I would demand a course of steroid tabs to try and get your PF back up. It's not good for your long term lung health to have a low PF. I'm no expert but you may end up with scarring and that could lead to COPD which is not good.
I have to admit my doctor is superb regarding my asthma and running. If yours doesn't understand then change your doc until you get one that does.
If you need independent advice go to http://www.asthma.org.uk/ - also phone them on 08457 01 02 03 - you'll get to speak to a asthma nurse and they give great advice.
Cheers,
Derek.
Derek,
Ill see how my visit to the nurse goes on Friday. In all fairness to my doctor he sent me for a chest x ray as soon as I asked for one, but that was after 2 months of feeling crappy.
Just found out a guy at work has come down with Pneumonia, he has been coughing really badly for while.
Theres loads of stuff like this about at the minute.
Cheers
Jamie
Yeah - it's a bad time of year - I've got two small kids that regularly give me their lurgies as well! Not good!
Hope you get on OK with the xray.
Cheers,
Derek.
Just a quick update for anyone whos interested or anyone who may find this useful
I tried a short run last night with a very slow warm up. I took my PF before my run it was 460. I then had two blasts on my blue inhlaer and set off. Again I was fine for the first 15 minutes of the warm up, then I started to get coughy and blowy. I eased off slightly and was barely jogging. I carried on for another ten or so minutes. Then had to give in to the reliver inhaler. I then struggled through another ten minutes then bowed out. During the last ten minutes I had 4 blasts on the reliver inhlaer, it was just to difficult and the reliever was not getting me right, so I gave up the goat.
I was breathing very heavy and measured my peak flow it was down 250. It then took me about another hour to get my breathing right. With a few more blasts on the blue inhaler.
I managed 3.5miles. Before this run I had, had 5 days break from running and felt great and confident I would get through it unscathed.
Oh well, I'll give it another 5 days and try again.
Jamie
Those numbers are not good Noton. 460 at the start just wont do. I really hope you can get to the bottom of this. I have one suggestion....are you going anywhere for Easter? If I were you, I'd go somewhere for a week and see if your resting numbers improve. You know why I think that.
Yeah its a bit grim Wheeze. Thing is I just feel normal all the time when not running, no wheezing or anything. So I may have been ticking over on low figures for years now, who knows.
Im on my seconnd week of Serevent, so Ill see if that improves.
Im up in Wasdale from good friday onwards camping (not sure its the best idea with a bad chest). Doing some walking but I think Ill refrain from trying to run. Ill keep a check on my figures whilst away from home.
It could have been the fact that I painted the room in my new house that could have kicked all of this off, but would the fumes still be lingering now after 3 months and causing me grief.
Cheers
Jamie
Just a quick one Wheeze,
What do you reckon my resting PF should be? perhaps my asthma has not been controlled for years. Perhaps the serevent will bring this PF value up.
Jamie
It depends on your age and height. But if you are around 35, and about 5'10" you should be blowing at least 600. There is a chart here: http://www.peakflow.com/top_nav/home...tor/index.html
460 is about the rate for a 45 year 5'2" woman!!
Some women like that can blow more than you think.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
About three years ago, I was concerned that I might have asthma (my brother has) because I was getting breathless on runs, but after trying a salbutamol inhaler and steroids, no improvement. I can't remember what my peak flow was. It eventually seemed to clear up on its own. Then a year or so later (winter), the problem came back, and I found I could only run for a mile or so without getting breathless. I measured my PF when I got back from a breathless run and it was about 300l/min. Next time, I tried using the inhaler before I went out, and PF held up at about 550. I'm 50, 10 stone and 5ft 10ins, and it should be around 600. I now have a couple of puffs of salbutamol before each run, and I can only blame any breathlessness on overexertion. Using the inhaler when I'm already breathless doesn't seem as effective.
Hi Jamie,
Not good that you're still struggling. I checked my PF before and after a run this morning. Was 670 before - went down to 610 after. So, it's probably normal that PF drops a bit on exercising.
You really need to get your normal PF back up. Did you say your were also on Becotide? If so, what's your dose? I'm 200x2 twice daily - maybe you need to get that increased?
BTW - are you now charting your PF readings? You can get a chart from asthma.org.uk (they send you one out if you phone them or you can get one from the docs). The reason I'm asking this is that you can take it to your docs and it's really obvious what's happening.
Cheers,
Hi Deeko,
I am on the becotide, not sure on what dosage. Ill get a check on that. Its in the car so I make sure I take it every morning.
I have been charting since last week.
I have charted
Morning
Before Run
After Run
Night.
TBH my figures have improved slightly over the week. I always do a best of three and take averages. Last week I was always hovering around 450-460. I am now hovering around 470-490 sometimes 500, but the average of three always drops that to about 485.
So I have improved slightly that could be the serevent, I have heard that it takes about 2 months to get used to new meds.
So if I see gradual improvements on my resting PFs Ill be happy (ish)
whats still concerning me is the two big drops within half hour of running
440 - 240
(5 days off in between)
475 - 260
Thats whats doing my head in at the minute.
Anyhow I'll take my chart to the asthma nurse. Like I say Ill be happy if my resting PF's keep improving.
My god at the start of the year I was aiming for a sub 4hrs at the 3 peaks. Now my aims are to get a plus 550 on my peak flow thing and run for an hour without getting below 380.
Its a funny old world
Jamie
lol - having an asthma target is a bit different I guess! :)
Do you know what your expected PF is? Such a big drop in PF might mean you have exercise induced asthma.
BTW - I think you're supposed to take your best reading out of 3 - that's what I do anyway!
Cheers,
Derek.
Derek,
My Becotide (brown is 100micrograms)
My Serevent Green is (25micrograms)
Went to see asthma nurse yesterday. She has now put me on a purple inhaler Seretide. Is a mixture of the brown and green.
Spending a forutune on prescriptions. At what peak flow level can I register myself disabled, quit work and get free prescriptions. May even get into the daily mirror for running fell races whilst on benfits.:)
She has also put me on a months worth of tablets called Montelukest. They are specifically for EIA. She was shocked at my drops in Peak flows, she also told me to give it 2 weeks of not running. She says the airways are irritated and inflammed and more sensitive to triggers such as exercises. I'll reluctantly go with her on this one, although I will proably be tempted to run out of curiousity. She asked me how it felt being down as low as 250. I never really feel in any danger, just really grotty and blowy.
Had a night on the beer last night, I would usually be up the lakes every saturday at this time of year. So went out on the lash instead. That has done todays peak flows no good whatsover. I was hitting 500 hundreds yesterday with the help of fishermans friends.
Cheers
Jamie
Hi Jamie,
Hopefully the Seretide maybe has more becotide in it. My m8's had montelukest before and he says it worked really well for him (his asthma is quite bad). I'm sure your PF's will go up now! :)
Your nurse sounds like she knows her stuff. I have to admit when you mentioned a PF of 250 I was quite shocked (assuming you're average height etc) as well!
Lol re the beers! Sometimes they make my PF go down but that's diminished due to the smoking ban up here. You cannot even imagine how much better it is now! Still - not long for you guys too! I was out from midday to 10pm yesterday (two curries as well! bleugh) and my PF was pretty normal today!
Cheers,
Derek.
Is your friend a runner Derek? I'd be interested to know to what extent it affected his running if he is. I just think mine is very badly out of control, Im started to have faith in modern medicine now.
When normal I can hit a 230 with the lightest of blows, its quite scary really.
Nah - he's a lazy git! :) His asthma is really bad though - he's been in hospital before.
Your asthma will get better - I know how you're feeling - My PF was down for 5 weeks until the prednisolone and you start to think that it is not going to get better. It does though! :)
Yeah - 230 is really low. I never knew I had asthma until 3 or 4 years ago - before that (for quite a long time) I had some major attacks where I could bearly breathe and I put it down to a food allergy. I think when I was having those attacks I must have been down that low. Not good!
Cheers,
Derek.
Sounds like you might be getting somewhere as they are trying you on different meds.
Good luck with it all. A peak flow of early 500's ain't bad when you are resting mines on 540 and should be 600+. Its what happens when you exercise. Focus more on the pre and post PF rather than you day to day ones. Day to Day is a good indicator of how your asthma in general is.
Hi Detritus,
Yeah I seem to be around 500 every time now, which Im pleased about. Must be the meds working, Im not sure how far it will keep rising.
Ive been told to give it two weeks before I run. Uhm so tempted to test things.
Jamie.
Thats good news Jamie.
Hopefully get to have a run with you soon.
Hopey
To True Adrian,
How long have we been planning one now.
Cheers
Jamie
Good News
Manage to survive a 6 mile run tonight. I took the first 15minutes very slow, then upped the pace slightly. I did start to sound like a steam train as I got faster, but never felt unconfortably like I have been doing.
My starting peak flow was 550
My peak flow after finishing 400
I dont feel to uncomfy just a bit blowy. I put it down to the preventer meds and the slow warm up.
Ill have a few days off now and have a run on thursday.
Cheers
Jamie