Asthma and self protection

[miss direct]

I had an asthma attack in the night, which was scary - it’s been years since I had one. I don’t even use or have a brown inhaler anymore but luckily at the start of all this I thought ahead and bought a new ventolin inhaler.

Today I’m not working and resting in bed. I’m not going near a hospital - firstly because of the virus and secondly because I don’t have insurance as I’m technically overstaying my visa (obviously can’t leave.)

I’d like some tips on controlling asthma and staying healthy. Hadn’t thought of myself at particular risk until now.

 

[danny la rouge]

Can you get a prescription for a preventer inhaler?

Hay fever at this time of year is a trigger for me, so I take over the counter hay fever meds, and take steps to minimise contact with pollens. (Not an issue really with stay indoors advice).

Keep active, whatever exercise you can manage is important.

 

[miss direct]

I’m not sure if the brown inhaler requires a prescription here (I’m in Turkey). Will ask my pharmacist friend.

Thank you for your reply.

 

[danny la rouge]

Asthma UK : Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Asthma UK

 

[two sheds]

I’m not sure if the brown inhaler requires a prescription here (I’m in Turkey). Will ask my pharmacist friend.

Thank you for your reply.

I found the brown inhalers of no use (highly personal of course). Preventer like seretide or Fostair made a real difference to me - check with your doctor.

 

[hash tag]

You might find more here Underlying health risks such as asthma

Heard about breathing tequniques on the radio earlier, which are highly regarded (well down article)...5 deep breaths, big cough etc. Proper rest and protect your lungs: doctors on what you should really do for your health right now

 

[two sheds]

But also, I think I said somewhere ...

I've recently been to specialist because I've had asthma since I was 6 so 60 years ago and so I've missed all the tests you get when you are diagnosed nowadays (actually I just spoke to my sis who's a doctor and she thinks I've had it longer than that because she remembers me going blue when I was a kid, and for a long time she said she didn't really think asthma was serious until somebody started turning blue ).

But anyway. My asthma improved markedly when I was about 16 and decided I wanted to do cross country for some god unknown reason (and the doctor of the time advised against it), and as it happens I've been pretty well free since then until about 10 years ago. (Although 30 years ago I started getting breathing difficulties when going to bed and by chance saw the Buteyko breathing techniques which worked almost magically for me until recently when they didn't any more).

The specialist however told me that I have 'untreated asthma' for all those years, and so the symptoms haven't been there but the illness still has, and it hasn't done me any good not to have the steroid preventer treatment.

So worth talking to doctor

 

[hash tag]

Interesting. I wouldn't have given my asthma a second thought as it's very mild, I was not and kept it under control. Why is untreated an issue, I wonder, if it's suitably controlled?

 

[two sheds]

Interesting. I wouldn't have given my asthma a second thought as it's very mild, I was not and kept it under control. Why is untreated an issue, I wonder, if it's suitably controlled?

No idea sorry, I wouldn't have thought so either. I didn't mention it to him but I have a feeling that 35 years of smoking had more of an effect myself

Also I doubt they had effective steroid treatments for most of the 60 years he was talking about.

 

[Doodler]

Alright wheezer - brown puffer (e.g. clenil modulite) needs a prescription in the UK but it's easy to get from online pharmacies, who basically want your money. Superdrug's online pharmacy is reliable. They post the medicines to you or you can collect them from one of their branches.

 

[hash tag]

No idea sorry, I wouldn't have thought so either. I didn't mention it to him but I have a feeling that 35 years of smoking had more of an effect myself

Also I doubt they had effective steroid treatments for most of the 60 years he was talking about.

I had childhood asthma and I am sure the doctor told my mother to boil saucepans of water and let me breath the steam?

 

[two sheds]

I had childhood asthma and I am sure the doctor told my mother to boil saucepans of water and let me breath the steam?

Yes with Friars Balsam had forgotten that (apparently invented in 1760s ).

Also remember having a sort of nebulizer/bulb type pump which my dad used to give me when I was going to sleep when I called him upstairs (which was quite often because it was a lovely way to drift off to sleep ).

 

[BCBlues]

I had childhood asthma and I am sure the doctor told my mother to boil saucepans of water and let me breath the steam?

Yes I remember this old trick, add a bit of vicks vapour rub in the water as well. Basically that was the best treatment you would get for asthma back in the late 60s early 70s.
I'm very similar to you 2hats in that I've had asthma since age of 3 or thereabouts, my sister remembers more than I do. Mine got worse though as I got into my teens, I hardly slept and looked awful. I was glad when punk came out as I fit in with that ghostly underfed urchin look straight away. As for cross country running I came 3rd in the school years race in the 1st year of High School, 6th the year after then in the third year got warned about lagging behind with the smokers, not that I've ever smoked.

It comes and goes since, allergies (almonds), pollution (Brixton Hill ffs) and stress (2020 ffs) but it's still there. I hate not having a blue inhaler (ventolin) at hand.

Best natural advice given to me miss direct was breathing exercises, they really do work and help you to keep calm when the attacks come.

 

[hash tag]

So you not find it's better at the moment with less cars around?

 

[two sheds]

Yes I remember this old trick, add a bit of vicks vapour rub in the water as well. Basically that was the best treatment you would get for asthma back in the late 60s early 70s.
I'm very similar to you 2hats in that I've had asthma since age of 3 or thereabouts, my sister remembers more than I do. Mine got worse though as I got into my teens, I hardly slept and looked awful. I was glad when punk came out as I fit in with that ghostly underfed urchin look straight away. As for cross country running I came 3rd in the school years race in the 1st year of High School, 6th the year after then in the third year got warned about lagging behind with the smokers, not that I've ever smoked.

It comes and goes since, allergies (almonds), pollution (Brixton Hill ffs) and stress (2020 ffs) but it's still there. I hate not having a blue inhaler (ventolin) at hand.

Best natural advice given to me miss direct was breathing exercises, they really do work and help you to keep calm when the attacks come.

I came 23rd in school cross country the first year I did it. Then I started training and got in the school team and next year I got flu just before the race and came 23rd again.

Why have you not got a blue inhaler?

 

[hash tag]

I did anything to duck out of any form of exercise at school. Now in itching to get out for a good run but haven't been outside my front door for 2 weeks with 10 more to go.
My last decent plod was about 8 miles and was looking forward to getting up to a half marathon

 

[kazza007]

May I ask, what prompted your asthma attack if its quite well controlled, as attacks are quite rare (I have a preventer and salbutamol and despite admissions into hospital as a child with nebulizer etc, I haven't had an attack for 19 years)?

I would say general physical protection with face mask, getting a preventer (possibly) inhaler, and some form of exercise to strengthen the lungs, steam inhalation can help to moisten the airways.

 

[hash tag]

Cold weather & exercise, dust and bonfires maybe. Red wine.

 

[scifisam]

Caffeine helps a bit too - it's a bronchodilator. Drinking it helps, as does inhaling a very hot bowlful of it (and you generally inhale some as you drink it too). Have you stopped drinking as much coffee for some reason?

(Here's a link for the sceptical: The effect of caffeine in people with asthma)

It's definitely not worth relying on, obvs. At least you have a blue inhaler now, but it's worth getting a brown one too - I bet there'll be somewhere online to buy one easily. You shouldn't really take them without talking to a doctor, but if you don't have one to talk to, then you have to make do.

You're not supposed to post inhalers within the UK without a medical professional being involved, but I'm sure someone here will anyway given that you don't have many other options. I would but I don't have enough to spare - lovely people offered to send me theirs until my pharmacist finally came through.

Interesting. I wouldn't have given my asthma a second thought as it's very mild, I was not and kept it under control. Why is untreated an issue, I wonder, if it's suitably controlled?

Yeah, I'm not sure how having untreated asthma with no symptoms could cause problems. I guess a doctor would know, but it doesn't seem logical. Maybe they meant there must have been underlying symptoms all this time.

 

[lazythursday]

I very rarely get attacks either although I was really bad as a teenager. But recently I've noticed my breathing doesn't seem to be as good late at night as mentioned by two sheds - though a month of not smoking anything does seem to have improved things a bit. I wonder why it's worse late at night? I've gone years without blue inhaler but recently stocked up - you can buy easily online from superdrug, no need to go near a real life doctor.

 

[BCBlues]

Why have you not got a blue inhaler?

I have. In fact I have more than one at hand. I dont abuse them but leave them in strategic places. I say I hate not having one at hand because it panics me and my chest just tightens up until I'm drained of all energy.

I'm retired now but when I was at work I lost a lot of time due to Asthma. So much in fact that with help of the Union it was recorded as a Disability for Employment Purposes, which prevented some of my more stupid bosses asking why I needed time off when asthma attacks only last five minutes . Its like the sleepless nights, lack of appetite, lowered self confidence and ensuing fatigue never existed.

 

[miss direct]

May I ask, what prompted your asthma attack if its quite well controlled, as attacks are quite rare (I have a preventer and salbutamol and despite admissions into hospital as a child with nebulizer etc, I haven't had an attack for 19 years)?

Probably TMI but got my period, was in a lot of pain and vomiting, got into a state of panic and then couldn’t breathe.

 

[kazza007]

Sounds more a panic attack or anxiety attack rather than an asthma attack triggered by specific allergen (s). I think deep - breathing may have helped oxygenate and reduce adrenaline in this instance, but always good to have a Ventolin handy.

 

[two sheds]

May have said above but blue inhaler doesn't really work for me any more. I did find nebulizer made a marked difference (although specialist disagreed ). They're not normally prescribed for outside hospital or recovering from hospital though. I've spoken to my doctor and agreed that I'll buy the nebulizer (when it's available again, argos doesn't have it and german company can't export it here because of tariffs) and she'll prescribe refills if I need them.

 

[hash tag]

Went down with bloody hay fever last week; sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes

 

[two sheds]

Ah and I remembered why the consultant said that years of untreated asthma don't do you any good (either this or the other thread): it's because the steroid inhalers keep the elasticity of the lungs.

 

[hash tag]

I'm sure sneezing will help the elasticity?

 

[scifisam]

Ah and I remembered why the consultant said that years of untreated asthma don't do you any good (either this or the other thread): it's because the steroid inhalers keep the elasticity of the lungs.

Yeah, but that's untreated asthma with symptoms - you said the consultant said that untreated asthma without symptoms was dangerous. Untreated symptoms can definitely cause long term damage.

 

[two sheds]

Yeah, but that's untreated asthma with symptoms - you said the consultant said that untreated asthma without symptoms was dangerous. Untreated symptoms can definitely cause long term damage.

I told him that I'd not had symptoms over those years and he still said I should have been treating it, unless he misunderstood me - but he was incredibly thorough and accurate in the rest of his analysis.

 

[two sheds]

Anyone use an Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (OPEP) device? Apparently been used in hospitals for quite a while but now available generally. It works by vibrating your lungs to loosen the mucus.

Most complete writeup I've seen for a device including warnings on when not suitable: https://drburtonhpi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/530_PocketPEP_IFU_PN_372rev02.pdf

First one I saw advertised was £50, I got one for £20 but I'm not sure whether it's actually as good. It does seem to work well and I've been breathing more easily, although I've started walking the dog too, so am not sure how much is down to that. Am going to start using it daily.