Asthma

[Henry Porter]

Yes, when I was younger there was no effective treatment so I hated 'PE' and always had 'a note' or hung around the edge of the pitch trying to avoid the ball.
Nowadays the medication is so good I'm sure your Asthma will be brought under control, try to use that to get fit then you can experiment with backing off the medication.
My routine to get fit was to use the steroid sprays to the letter of the prescription then two puffs of ventolin one minute apart ten minutes before my run.
Keep at it and good luck.

[Ben B]

Good thread, and some great info.

A couple of things to remember - as stated earlier the blue (salbutamol, ventolin) inhalers are purely "first aid" not definitive treatment. If you have asthma (and it can be very difficult to work out exactly what is or isn't asthma - and there is argument amongst doctors about this sometimes) then ultimately it is a problem that responds in most cases to steroids. Using inhaled steroids lowers the overall dose absorbed by the body and reduces the unpleasant steroid side effects that some with, for instance, prednisolone tablets. Otherwise we'd all be on them

Monteleukast (singulair) is a fairly 'clean' drug and whilst side effects can occur they are unusual and rarely serious; it may be worth another try - especially in exercise or aspirin/NSAID sensitive asthma, or if you also have nasal polyps. Having said that it isn't often that beneficial either - but some people do find it very good indeed. So overall I'd give it a try, and if it doesn't work after a reasonable trial period (say a month) then stop the prescription.

To whomever mentioned the cost of the inhalers - money saved doesn't usually go to the GP so overall cost is not often a factor in the UK on a case by case basis, but overall it's better for the NHS if we can keep well on cheap drugs not expensive ones - so might as well start at the cheap end and work up. All steroid inhalers work best with regular prolonged use, not just a "when I remember / when I need" basis although of course the latter is very common (and if so you might be better off with something like Symbicort although there is much argument about that as well )

You can have quite perky airway inflammation and not much in the way of symptoms and vice versa. I have exercise induced wheeze - as noted by a friend who is an asthma postgrad researcher - but when challenged in the lab on a bicycle breathing absolutely dry air or increasing levels of salty humid air I get symptoms but no drop in my peak flow. But I do feel better with salbutamol. Probably I suspect I have some mild vocal cord dysfunction

If anyone can come up with a good definition of asthma I'd be happy to hear it

HTH

Ben B

[NotOnUrHelly]

Ben B

Very Interesting what you say about the Allergy to NSAID's, Ashtma and Nasal Polyps. I have all three and this is what is known as the Asthma Triangle or something

I first had a severe case of Nasal Polyps removed about two years ago and the doctor said it was the worst case he had seen. They grew back very quickly and within another year I had (the worst case the doctor had ever seen) removed again. He could not believe how quickly they had grown back and with such vengence. I'm currently clear and have been for 3 months since my last op. But my sense of smell and taste has gone again, so I suspect they are probably coming back.

Anybody know what they are and why they appear, Im told they are not harmful.

When I use NSAID's my nose starts running and my breathing goes bad. So I try to avoid them.

My asthma is currently quite bad but thats just the time of year.

Montelakaust gave me very bad nightmares I mean horrensous and freaked me out, so I stopped taking them. My peak flows shot through the rough though.

Cheers
Jamie

[emmilou]

Ben B

Very Interesting what you say about the Allergy to NSAID's, Ashtma and Nasal Polyps. I have all three and this is what is known as the Asthma Triangle or something

I first had a severe case of Nasal Polyps removed about two years ago and the doctor said it was the worst case he had seen. They grew back very quickly and within another year I had (the worst case the doctor had ever seen) removed again. He could not believe how quickly they had grown back and with such vengence. I'm currently clear and have been for 3 months since my last op. But my sense of smell and taste has gone again, so I suspect they are probably coming back.

Anybody know what they are and why they appear, Im told they are not harmful.

When I use NSAID's my nose starts running and my breathing goes bad. So I try to avoid them.

My asthma is currently quite bad but thats just the time of year.

Montelakaust gave me very bad nightmares I mean horrensous and freaked me out, so I stopped taking them. My peak flows shot through the rough though.

Cheers
Jamie

Sorry J - didn't answer your question.

I wasn't sleeping well at all and yes had weird dreams so stopped taking them but still wasn't sleeping well and having weird dreams!!!
So - I don't know to be honest.
I've not taken the singulair since before Christmas now - keep forgetting to be honest but that's no suprise.
Felt a bit rubbish the last few days so am going to start back on them tonight so I'll make a note to be aware if my sleeping (or lack of) pattern changes any.

Roll on spring.....every year this is the same it's a miserable time for most asthma sufferers

[NirvanaBliss]

Well i am abit fed up with the appointment system, the date i see the Asthma nurse is 22nd January, i did ask her rather flippantly she means this year and not next!

So i have to wait 10 days before i can get any medicine for this horrible breathlessness!

Although it did go to 300 last night which i was very pleased about.

[Ben B]

Hi NirvanaBliss: Sorry to hear you are not perking up much. If you don't get much joy with your GP you could ask to be referred to Wythenshawe - the asthma unit there has an international reputation (for being good I should add ). Hopefully it can all be sorted locally though.

NotOnUrHelly: there is also something called zarfilukast, which is similar but not identical to monteleukast, and some people find easier to take - if the latter worked for you but had unacceptable side effects you could ask to try the other one. It may be no better but at least you will have tried and found out...

Cheers

B

[NirvanaBliss]

Thank you Ben, i shall wait for the 22nd, then if no joy ask to be referred, not sure if they will send me to Wythenshare being its south, as i am in the north, but will see how it goes on the 22nd.

Hope your having a better time with it, the weather today i noticed was a tad warmer.

And Emmi, i have bad hayfever too, and like you i prefer hayfever to this.

[Ben B]

You are entitled to request treatment from anyone - wherever you request you can be sent to, as a rule of thumb. There are a few exceptions but basically if you ask you can go pretty much anywhere.

I lived just outside Warrington but when I needed an arthroscopy I just asked my GP to refer me to the sports specialists down at Gobowen (Oswestry), and I had my surgery done by Simon Roberts - who is one of the best in the country. It's a bit crazy, but once in a blue moon the governmental obsession about "choice" in healthcare is useful, and if you pay your taxes and support the NHS...

HTH

Ben B

[NirvanaBliss]

Thank you Ben, yes i pay my taxes and also support the NHS... x

[Mark Smith]

I know i'm joining this debate rather late but recent events have propelled me into it.

I have a chest infection, which is straightforward enough, but that's four inside a year. It's the only thing that's ever wrong with me, never any breathing probs or anything else between these infections, which generally knock me for six for a couple of days and take about a week to get over completely.

The first of the four was a year ago when i was in barcelona. I didn;t get antib's until i got home by which time i was desperate. None of the three since have been as bad as that (prob cos i got some antib's earlier?), but they are still nasty for short periods and come with some feverishness and immense, if shortlived, fatigue.

I discussed this with my gp who has sent me for a chest x ray which is on tuesday. I;ve also been given an inhaler (blue one, ventolin). This is a whole new world to me and i'm a bit worried.

I'm kicking myself because i didn;t ask the doc why he was sending me for a chest x ray - what does he think it'll find? my general health is really good and i've been training well of late. I started a new job last week which was a big leap for me and i was nervous and stressed and perhaps that explains this particular incidence....

I;m rambling, but i wondered whether anyone else had been sent for an x ray in similar circumstances and what happened?

Thanks

ST