Asthma attack fear

[alcopop]

Hi everybody
I've had mild asthma since birth, I'm now 32, female. Right now I have a kind of chest cold, feeling crappy.
Last time I had this, about 1 year ago, it sparked an asthma attack and I ended up in the A&E. Up to that point I hadn't really been taking my preventer inhaler and the doctor at the hospital told me that I was a high-risk-of-death patient cos i hadn't been taking it!! Since then I generally take it as prescribed, sometimes forgetting. But now I have this cold thing and I'm absolutely paranoid it's gonna result in an asthma attack again. Do any other asthmatics feel this way or have any advice on how to keep an attack away?
Thanks in advance.

[RadioGaGa]

First of, forgive me for scolding you, but you are extremely foolish for not taking your preventer inhaler. This is a big 'no no' if you want to reduce your risk of attacks.

Can I ask what preventer you take?

There are six steps to treating asthma, each step is an escalation with more intensive treatment. Seeing as you're on a preventer inhaler, this actually takes you out of the 'mild' category (Stage 1). Stage 1 is simply a 'SABA' (short acting beta agonist) which is taken 'PRN' (when required). So you're at least stage 2 of treatment.

I say this not to scare or alarm you, but to make you realise you have a chronic condition which needs treating. I have asthma as well.

Do you keep a peak flow? If you do, see this link (https://patient.info/news-and-features/peak-flow-diary) and consider keeping a diary. If not, consider discussing it with your Asthma Nurse/specialist. Peak flow often drops in the days leading up to an attack, therefore giving you warning and enabling you to take action.

As you've had an attack before, you should now be better equipped at knowing when one is about to occur and what to do during it (https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/asthma-attacks/).

My tips/advice for you would be to do the following:
* Take your inhaler EXACTLY as prescribed;
* Have your pharmacist check your inhaler technique (to make sure you're inhaling it properly - many, many patients don't inhale correctly)
* Date check your salbutamol - is it still in date?
* Have a few salbutamol inhalers - and again, check all are in date

Some pharmacists and doctors do not agree with the following, but many do. IMHO, it is a good way to see how many doses you have remaining, and something I've done all my life:

* Put your inhaler's canister into water. If it floats, its likely empty. You'll also notice it feels lighter.

Some fear the above may cause the powder to 'clog' the opening, thus rendering the inhaler useless. This has never happened to me and I've never heard of a patient reporting it happening. Hence, I do it myself and advise patients to do it.

Don't waste too much time fearing your asthma - if you follow the advice above, and keep in close contact with your asthma nurse (e.g. annual asthma review) you're doing all that you can to prevent an attack.

Although asthma is potentially fatal, it is rarely fatal.

Good luck

[Scass]

I always worry about my asthma when I get a cold, I’m worrying about it now. It serves me no purpose, and the advice from the poster above me is awesome!

My doctor always told me to double the dose of my inhalers when I am ill with a respiratory infection, but since I don’t know what medicines you are on I won’t advise that.

Keep your salbutamol close, take it if you feel you need it.

Worrying can make your breathing worse, try to relax.


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[alcopop]

Well ive had a preventer inhaler since childhood. I got complacent about taking it cos my dad told me it's what gave me a fat face (the steroid).... When my doctor heard that he'd said that to me she said it was unforgivable.

My brown (preventer inhaler) is clenil modulite 100 mg per acuation. Beclometasone dipropionate.
Peak flow today was 300

I know it was stupid of me not to take it... but since then I do take it as required because I've realised how serious asthma can be.

Thank you so much for your replies.

[RadioGaGa]

The "moon face" people get from steroids is usually only seen in very high doses - although it can happen at 'normal' doses as well. You could ask your doctor to change you to another preventer.

Keep a peak flow diary - if your asthma is well controlled, there shouldn't be much (if any) variation in your peak flow. If your diary shows variation, get back to your doctor as this would say your asthma is NOT well controlled.

Also, maybe avoid ibuprofen, aspirin or other NSAIDs as these can trigger asthma in some people.
Red wine - this triggers my asthma.