Help with exaserbation of severe/brittle asthma

[wheeezer]

I suffer from severe/brittle asthma and am admitted so frequently  that I hate Hosp.
My GP wanted to admit me yesterday but I refused.
Have you got any advice on what I can do myself??

I take ventolin nebs, atrovent nebs, seretide inhal. phyllocontin tabs.etc......

Any help would be gratefully recieved!!!
Yours
wheeezer

[National Jewish]

We, at National Jewish, recommend strongly that individuals with severe asthma be followed by a specialist. There are new medications, concepts etc that are available and someone with severe asthma needs the care of someone who only specializes in these types of problems. There are several medications for severe asthma that you have not listed in your medications that can be tried under the care of a specialist.

[starion]

Dear Wheezer,
Are you taking steps to minimize your exposure to known asthma triggers--cigarette smoke, pollution & other irritants?
Have you ever had a THOROUGH evaluation by a good large pulmonary department like National Jewish, Johns Hopkins or Mayo Clinic?  Perhaps they could help you develop a medical treatment plan that could help you stabilize your asthma better, so you have fewer flare-ups or exacerbations and don't need to go to the hospital so often.  If you have allergies which are contributing to your asthma, have they been evaluated by an allergist or other doctor?  Perhaps if the allergies are minimized, it m-a-y help improve your lung function.  Has your doctor discussed what an appropriate exercise program is for you?  Have you had your flu & pneumonia shots?  Have you considered seeing a pulmonologist (lung doctor) to help you better manage your asthma?
By the way, there are some great asthma materials at National Jewish's website, www.NationalJewish.org, particularly their MedFacts, LungFacts, and education--self help sections.  Your local branch of American Lung Association can also mail you general information about asthma.
Anyway, these are a few suggestions you may wish to consider to help you maximize your lung function.
Best of luck!
Aloha,
Starion

[Concerned lady]

Dear Wheezer,

A few years ago, my husband and I were repeatedly MISdiagnosed with "asthma", when, we really had VCD (VOCAL CORD DYSFUNCTION). VCD is one of several asthma "mimics".

Have you been laryngoscoped yet, during any breathing attacks, by someone experienced with VCD (like at National Jewish Hospital, in Denver, Colorado), to see if you might have VCD &/or asthma, &/or ?

VCD can cause breathing problems that can even include a "wheeze" (at throat level), among other symptoms & signs.

Also, a person can have BOTH asthma and VCD, &/or other respiratory conditions &/or Gastric Reflux leading to respiratory problems, etc.

VCD is usually treated by teaching the VCD patient certain Speech Therapy techniques, along with Abdominal/Diaphragmatic Breathing techniques, so that the VCD attacks can be promptly stopped each time.

Then, the VCD patient, with their doc's help, needs to figure out ALL HIS OR HER UNDERLYING CAUSES, and try to eliminate or lessen all of these factors, in order to try to prevent having any more VCD attacks.

If you are interested in comparing notes about possible VCD, please email me at ***@****

I would be happy to give you a link to my website about VCD (which includes links to National Jewish Hospital's website, etc.), and email you some SINUS TIPS and GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS, that you could ask your doc(s) about, to be sure that, if relevant for you, would be OK to try, in your particular case.

Good luck to you.

Sincerely, Carol

[wheeezer]

I am under a Consultant, but as I live in England things here are alot different!
After recently being admitted they've found that my wheeze is usually located in the middle of my lungs, usually just above where I get several mucus plugs.
I've also tried sveral of the leaukotriene inhibitors (Singulair, etc), but reacted badly!
The tests I've had are really basic, allergy skin and blood tests, spirometry, that seems about standard here though!!
My consultants good but likes dragging his heels. He usually only does something when I'm admitted to ITU!!!!
Thanks,
WHEEZER

[brittle asthmatic]

AS A BRITTLE ASTHMATIC I EXPERIENCE MANY PROBLEMS WHEN BEING ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL.  THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT MANY NURSES AND JUNIOR DOCTORS WORKING IN HOSPITALS HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF BRITTLE ASTHMA, AND HAVE NO IDEA OF HOW QUICKLY IT CAN DETERIORATE. FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE I HAVE BEEN REFUSED OXYGEN ON A HOSPITAL WARD WHEN MY ASTHMA HAS DETERIORATED, BECAUSE MY OXYGEN SATS. WERE 96%.  TWENTY MINUTES LATER I HAVE BEEN GASPING FOR BREATH, WHEN MY OXYGEN LEVELS WERE REPEATED MY OXYGEN SATS. HAD DROPPED BELOW 88%.  THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE I HAVE ENCOUNTERED BY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IF PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK!

MEDICAL STAFF NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT BRITTLE ASTHMA BEFORE MORE ASTHMA DEATHS OCCUR ON HOSPITAL WARDS. I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT THERE ARE 2000 ASTHMA DEATHS A YEAR, A LOT OF IT IS CAUSED MY UNDERESTIMATING THE SEVERITY OF IT, AND IT FRIGHTENS ME.