Asthma

[Deeko]

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.

[NotOnUrHelly]

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

[Wheeze]

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.

[NotOnUrHelly]

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

[NotOnUrHelly]

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

[Wheeze]

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!!

[over the hill?]

you should be blowing at least 600...
460 is about the rate for a 45 year 5'2" woman!!

Some women like that can blow more than you think.

[Marvin]

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.

[Deeko]

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,

[NotOnUrHelly]

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