Asthmatics/people who know about asthma QQ

It all depends on what your normal peak flow is, not everybody is the same. Hope you get it sorted quickly though!

Ah, I see. It's probably worth you ringing your asthma nurse for advice, she knows your asthma history, so will be able to advise you more appropriately. For the time being, if you feel short of breath, wheezy etc, then use your inhalor, you obviously need it. Are you struggling now?

Hi Joflake , i'm asthmatic although i don't measure with a peak flow anymore.

I was never told a certain number and then use Ventolin (assuming blue inhaler is Ventolin ).

I was and always have been told to use it if i need to.

If you are struggling for breath you must use it as the symtoms will only become worse if you don't.

I hope you're ok.

WSS. I used to (about 15 yrs) ago had guidelines/ peak flow figures that I worked to but they were personal to me. I don't think they work like this anymore. I would use it as as when required. Could you be getting breathless because you're worrying about peak flow figures? I know I've done that in the past ?

I'm interested that your peak flow is increasing with reduced medication. I wish I could get mine over 200. If you think you may be having anxiety/panic breathlessness would it be worth trying a paper bag? I remember the addage that most problems with asthma are caused through under, rather than over, medication. ?

Tanta - have you ever used Seretide? I'm on one puff a day of the 250 and I never need to use my blue inhaler anymore - it's expensive but as I pointed out to the pharmacist it is cheaper in the long run as 1) i don't use the ventolin on a daily basis and 2) I've not had a serious attack now for 6 years and therefore haven't needed ER

That seems like a drastic cut in medication all at once! I just use seretide twice a day and I know if I've forgotten to use it as I need my ventolin loads. You're going to end up needing your ventolin more often which in turn will probably increase the panic attacks...I know I get panicky if I think I've forgotten my inhaler and then I start to wheeze. I would double check with the nurse or with someone else and just have your blue inhaler when you feel you need it. Hope you're ok x

Me to , i was prescribed Seretide a couple of years ago and it really reduced the amount of times i use my Ventolin.

I didn't know it was more expensive though , as i pay a standard fee for all prescriptions.

Apparently its about £70 a disc according to my grumpy pharmacist

I would use it when I felt like I needed to, I don't think I would look at the peak flow and base it's use on that reading. I don't even know where mine is any more but I had to use the blue inhaler a few times last week. ?

There's a link between panic attacks and anxiety and asthma though so it's not surprising you find it difficult to tell. Might be worth asking your GP or asthma nurse if there is any simple ways to help you work out which is which and when you should treat as asthma. For example, I *think* you would breath faster during a panic attack but not wheeze.

?

I think somehow you just know when you need your blue inhaler. I finally got my asthma under control a few years ago and now think I am over-medicated but since my last attack was a huge one the doctor doesn't want to tamper with what's working. I'm on 2 puffs of Becloforte (recently been renamed I think) and 2 of Oxis 12 per day. I rarely use my Ventolin anymore, I'm even out and about without sometimes - this is soemthing I wouldn't have dreamed of years ago.

I remember getting my peak flow to 350 once and being really proud of myself lol. I've no idea what it would be now.

I hope you're okay Joflake ?

I don't take Seretide. I have Serevent and Flixotide and Singulaire. I don't use much Ventolin at all and am mostly in control, just no lung capacity worth speaking of.

I think if you're wheezing, whether it's a panic attack or not a couple of puffs of your blue inhaler isn't going to hurt.

I've managed to control my asthma by one puff of Symbicort 200/6 each night and that's me done for the rest of the next day! Can tell if I don't take it though as by the lunch time I'm suffering. I also get the wheeziness if I don't take my blue inhaler out with me as I panic without it, even though when I do take it I never need it!

Are you starting from not much then and raising your medication till you find out what suits?

Still shocked to learn that it's about £38 just one for inhaler that I have! Although it keeps me breathing and I only have to pay £2.10 so can't really complain ?

I've had a lot of panic induced wheezing episodes, usually in the middle or end of a proper asthma attack which makes it hard to tell the difference.

I've realised that when I'm panicking the tightness and wheezing is all in my throat and my chest is clear (when listened to by a stethoscope or another person) during a proper asthma episode the wheezing and tightness is in my chest, not my throat. Also, my blue inhaler has no effect on my panic attacks and often just leaves me feeling awful because I've taken so much in an effort to control the wheezing and the side effects aren't nice.

It's horrible, because it's that same tight, breathless feeling, but actually realising that it's not my lungs that aren tight and that if I concentrate I can still breathe calms me down fairly quickly.

Is it? Never realised that! Maybe it's worth trying some calming exercises first, so deep breaths, calming thoughts etc and if your shortness of breath goes then it's just a panic attack and no need to use your blue inhaler.

Good luck with it! It's a juggling act to get it right. However once they do get it right it's fabulous! Would be nice if one day they'd find a cure though so I wouldn't have to worry about taking it each night!