A right triple whammy

[louise]

A few days ago I developed a heavy cold, which then set my asthma off

Last night I started to feel more unwell and developed left sided chest pain so I headed down to my local walk in clinic was given a diagnosis of a right sided chest infection and left sided pleurisy.

So I am now drugged up to the hilt on nebulisers, inhalers, prednisolone, strong painkillers and strong anti biotics

And if I am no better by Friday then its off on holiday to the costa del NHS

 

[Sittingduck]

Sounds nasty... get well soon!

 

[fossyant]

Nasty - take it easy - it will be a while until you are on the bike...

 

[Crackle]

Colds are a bugger when you've got stuff like asthma too.

Take it easy and get well.

 

[col]

Blimey you dont do anything by halfs do you?Chill and chill ,then chill some more,hope your well soon.

 

[mr Mag00]

get well soon

 

[Chris James]

I feel your pain. I recently had a chest infection that kicked off my (fairly new to me) asthma. I ended up with half my normal peak flow.

I was put on amoxicillin, prednisolone and my first brown inhaler. Everything then cleared up (except for chronic indigestion due to the amoxicillin). A week after the steroid tablets finished I came out in an allergic rash which covered me from head to foot.

So now I was on loads of piriton, but the rash got worse so I knocked the brown inhaler on the head as I appeared to be allergic to that, and went back on steroid tablets. The rash eventually cleared up but by now the asthma was back!

Now I have a powder 'brown' inhaler which seems to be working well - at least I haven't been wheezing despite having had bad cold and sinusitis!

I am normally quite healthy, but my youngest has just started at nursery and is picking up (and transmitting) viruses like they are going out of fashion.

Edit - I forgot to say, get well soon!

 

[Crackle]

I feel your pain. I recently had a chest infection that kicked off my (fairly new to me) asthma. I ended up with half my normal peak flow.

I was put on amoxicillin, prednisolone and my first brown inhaler. Everything then cleared up (except for chronic indigestion due to the amoxicillin). A week after the steroid tablets finished I came out in an allergic rash which covered me from head to foot.

So now I was on loads of piriton, but the rash got worse so I knocked the brown inhaler on the head as I appeared to be allergic to that, and went back on steroid tablets. The rash eventually cleared up but by now the asthma was back!

Now I have a powder 'brown' inhaler which seems to be working well - at least I haven't been wheezing despite having had bad cold and sinusitis!

I am normally quite healthy, but my youngest has just started at nursery and is picking up (and transmitting) viruses like they are going out of fashion.

Edit - I forgot to say, get well soon!

Chris, have you seen an asthma nurse rather than your GP. I use something called Symbicort which I believe is a better product than the brown one which son no.1 moved off from to Symbicort. Like you I was diagnosed with adult onset asthma last year, Symbicort use is daily and keeps it under control, you also don't need a reliever seperately, though my GP gave me a turbohaler to use before excercise, just to open the airways up. I also got bad indigestion from oral steriods related to my polypee sinuses <sigh>.

Must be at that age where bits of us are crumbling

 

[Chris James]

No, I haven't seen an asthma nurse. I was pretty happy with my GP and my sister in law is also a GP and seemed to think what I have ended up on (flixotide) seems reasonable.

I suspect that 'brown' inhalers are just the cheapest product so get prescribed first.

So far, with flixotide accuhaler, I haven't had to use my reliever at all, so it seems to be working well. Fingers crossed!

 

[louise]

Great news I am staying at home !

My lungs are still crap in particular my right one where there is not a great deal of air going into it, he knew I had a chest infection before he even got the stethascope near me.

Yes it tend to be that brown inhalers (there's also a higher dose burgendy one) get prescribed first but flixotide is the better drug in my opinion, asthma nurses can be a useful rescource mine was great until she left. Luckily I have a good GP.

Its like that the indigestion was down to prednisolone not amoxycillin I also get some gaviscon or zantac in when I am on it.

Symbicort is also great but not strong enough for me even at max dose

I would also advise anyone whose asthmatic to have a "self management plan" Asthma UK can supply lots of info on this

I am currently on

Seretide 500mcg/50mcg (sereide has flixotide in it) twice daily
Phylocontin 225mg twice daily
Prednisolone 40mg
Clarythromycin 500mg twice daily
Ventolin 5mg nebules twice daily and as required up to eight a day
Atrovent nebules 500mcg twice daily and as required up to 4 times daily
Plus my blue inhaler
Paracetomol 1gramme 4 times a day
Codiene Phosphate 60mg 4 times a day
Sodium Chloride Nebuliser solution 4 times a day
May be I should start an asthma thread, I am more than happy to help advise any one it?

 

[Chris James]

Blimey Louise, you'll be rattling taking all that.

 

[col]

People like yourself who are experienced in this can be great advisors,perhaps this could be a sticky for anyone needing help like you say?As i believe there are more sufferers out there that dont realise it yet?And it takes an activity like cycling to bring this to their attention.

 

[louise]

Moderators/admin can I just check that you will be ok with me starting off an "asthma thread" and as suggested by Col if it is ok by you can we have it as a sticky

Thanks