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[Ju Ju]

Hi,

Can I ask the advice from one of the very knowledgeable contributors to this forum?

For the second time in a year, I have had a virus, which asthma has decided to join in. I have managed my asthma very well for 20 years after a stay in hospital where suitable medication was sorted out. Unfortunately, the new environmentally inhalers have not suited me so well. Also, Ventolin  no longer gives any relief. I have been prescribed an alternative, but this does not give the relief I used to get from Ventolin. This time as last time I have had to take a short course of oral steroids, but I was also prescribed anti-biotics as a precaution, as my chest was slightly rattlely. I am very very reluctant to take them because of the devastating effect they have with IBS, which has been severe recently. The ones I have include E numbers that have been a problem in the past. I am not getting better and am starting to bring up a small amount of unpleasant tasting plegm (spelling little sleep). Do I really need anti-biotics? The virus in it's self is not serious. I'm not convinced I have a chest infection. The asthma is the problem.

I will have to see a doctor again today. Last thing I want to do is sit in a waiting room as I want to do nothing at all. I still haven't recovered my energy levels since the last virus, so feeling low, particularly as my son has come home for a week and I am too ill to enjoy his visit. He lives in the USA.

[Taz2]

Hi Ju Ju - I can well understand your reluctance to take the antibiotics due to the IBS but pneumonia would be far worse and, take it from me, the antibiotics for that are even worse! If you have unpleasant tasting phlegm then I would suggest that you do have an infection which needs to be sorted. Have you got some probiotics to use as well as the antibiotic? This may help with the IBS symptoms.

Have you been investigated for anything other than asthma? You need to discover why the treatment isn't working but, first, I feel that you have to take the bull by the horns and start the antibiotics. Which ones have you been given? IBS is such a difficult thing to manage. I am still not right after the antibiotics for my kidney infection in the Autumn so I understand your reluctance.

How long is your son here for?

Taz x

[Ju Ju]

Thanks Taz. I managed to get an emergency appointment this morning to see a doctor. I was able to read your post before I went. The GP was very thorough and decided as the wheezing was general, rather than specific and that I do not have a fever, that I could hold off antibiotics. I have another 5 days of steroids and instructions to go back on Monday if no better and get out of hours help before if necessary. We agreed that I need to go back to review treatment.

I've had a very hard year health wise in 2013, catching viruses, IBS much worse as with asthma, along with low levels of energy and poor sleep. I've had to give up a lot activities and pace myself in others. Going back to work? No chance!

The best medicine has been watching my gorgeous grandson grow up. Yesterday I watched my son play with his nephew with his old Brio train set. I don't who had the most fun. My son is home just for a week. I am very proud of him. He has one more semester left of his paramedic degree in the USA. Not bad for a lad who failed his way through school. He is dyslexic and shut down at school. He left school virtually illiterate. Paper qualifications may be important, but attitude and self belief are even more important.

How are you doing now? You too had a rough time.

[Joyce]

My asthma been playing up of late. No rhyme or reason to it. I know strong smells set it off, but that's not always the reason. I'm to get a tablet which is taken at bedtime, I've to collect prescription tomorrow. I cough lots more at night, so feel tired as a result.

I use Seretide & Salbutamol. Do you take a bedtime tablet at all?

[Ju Ju]

This level of asthma is new, hopefully just caused by the virus. I haven't needed extra between viruses. Normally I take seretide125 2xpuffs twice a day. I now take 2xpuffs 4 times a day. The doctor wanted me to retry Salbutamol again, but for some reason it no longer gives any relief. Used to be amazingly effective. Scarey not working. I have an Atrovent inhaler as a reliever inhaler, but again not very effective. I have had asthma since a few months old and at times serious. Things improved with better medication and the introduction of peak flow meters and self management. As a young adult, every April, I would go to the GP and say I needed more medication. He would listen to my chest and say there was no problem and send me on my way. The symptoms would set in, I had to have stronger medication and lose a few days work. Keeping a peak flow diary sorted that one out. Now the nature of asthma has changed and I don't know what I am dealing with. To be honest, I am a bit frightened and I don't have the same confidence in the doctors that I used to have.

[Joyce]

My GP told me to reduce seretide to 1 puff twice daily, useless, & that's when this bout of coughing took hold. Now on 3 puffs twice daily for next few weeks until I see asthma nurse again. Plus I've to take this new tablet. In retrospect I'd probably had asthma for quite a while, but it was bout of pneumonia about 18 years ago which confirmed it.

I'm restricted as to which kind of inhalers I can have, many have lactose which I can't tolerate.

I dread needing antibiotics now, as after the many I took during pneumonia, I have little tolerance of a lot of them. Give me terrible upset stomach.

Know what you mean about losing trust in GPs.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Ju Ju]

Thanks Cubagirl,

Yes my daughter is lactose intolerant or allergic. She experienced breathing difficulties, but was told she was not asthmatic as she didn't respond to the inhalers. With the help of a very good nutritionist, she found that dairy and eggs were the problem. Once removed from her diet, her breathing improved. She can climb hills, walls etc., but if she has dairy or eggs, she has very sudden and violent diarrhoea. I suspect she has always had this problem, always having diarrhoea and nappy rash as a baby, though otherwise healthy. She has to be on the ball if she needs medication.  She had preclampsia  and had to check every prescription as they kept forgetting. She has become quite cynical about the medical profession, after these experiences, but she's a tough, rather wonderful, cookie. Why do they put lactose in asthma medication when it is a known allegen?

As to the asthma, I'll have to see what happens. I am feeling better as the virus has loosened it's grip and I am dealing with asthma mainly. Good sign is I am bored silly. It is made worse by activity and I am very tired (disturbed sleep). I hate being dependent for getting things done. Hubbie is forced to extend his cooking repertoire!

[Joyce]

I sympathise with your daughter's lactose intolerance. Sudden & violent diarrhoea is horrid, have had it many times.

I have to remind GP every time I need tablets. A real pain!

I'm away to check asthma forum to see how others have managed with the bedtime tablets.

[Ju Ju]

Well, I'm home after having been in hospital. Thursday night I was unable to sleep for coughing and wheezing, aggravated by any activity. Sat in lounge and was aware my legs felt strange. In the morning I couldn't talk much. My husband and son were off out for together, but when I said I was scared of being on my own, they were shocked. GP came as soon as she could and arranged ambulance. Hours in assessment unit then night and day in the high dependency unit, then another night and day in the ward. They let me home earlier than I think they would have. There was some uming and arring but I was distressed as my son goes home today and I've been ill all the time he's been here. My day has been planned with a huge list of medication. Yes, very high doses of antibiotics included. Good news is that I did not react to the colourings in the oral ones. Any IBS payback will have to dealt with later.

We've all been shocked and upset, more my family because I was somewhat out of it. They felt guilty, but they didn't notice how ill I was. How could they? I had no fever Thursday and I had seen the doctor, who thoroughly checked me out. I'd been coughing and wheezing all week.

I'm up in the night, having slept well for a few hours, coughing and spluttering. I thought things were getting bad again, but my breathing has calmed and my peak flow meter readings are slightly higher than they have been. Writing this is helping me to process what has happened a bit as it seems as if it was happening to someone else.

[Kathleen]

Hello ju ju. Just wanted so say sorry that you are feeling so unwell. I'm afraid I can't offer any practical advice other than I recommend a good quality pro biotic should your IBS cause problems.  Take care and hope you feel better very soon. K.

[Taz2]

I was also thinking you should add probiotics into your list of medication Ju Ju. Optibac make ones specifically for those on antibiotics. I found them good although it is better to sprinkle the capsules on food if you have certain food sensitivities.

Taz x

[Ju Ju]

I'm glad to say my peak flow readings are slowly climbing and I feel a bit better, enough to clean the loos! My husband and son were wonderful, but I think they think loos are self cleaning along with changing duvet covers! Still, resting now in my PJs. Can't bear wearing a bra.

I have a few probiotics left and have ordered some suitable for the situation. I googled the new medication that I was given. I have to take Omeprazole every morning to support the gut. I do have a follow up consultation for the colonoscopy I had at the end of the month. I can ask for advice if I have problems. I have awful memories of taking antibiotics after being bitten by sand flies while camping around New Zealand. I got Cellulitus on my face. I refused antibiotics, but was told that I was in danger of my getting a serious infection in my eyes and brain. I had horrendous problems and became temporily intolerant of eggs and soya.

[Ju Ju]

Oh dear, asthma has got worse during the night and my nose has started streaming. Surely not another virus. I haven't had time to get well. Another emergency visit to the doctor today, I think. Just put paid some bills just in case things go further downhill and then I wouldn't be able to get my head around it. 

[Ju Ju]

Well, seen the GP and we've throwing everything at it now. Third lot of antibiotics, longer stronger course of steroids and a stronger inhaler. And there was me worrying about antibiotics! I just want to breathe freely. My bowels are irritable, but no more than normal. What kind of treatment have other people had, when asthma is so severe? There seemed to be an assumption that this was par for the course for me, but it's not. I have been able to manage the asthma very well for 20 years, even if I had an infection.

[Taz2]

Any help here Ju Ju? http://forum.asthma.org.uk/

Taz x