i have viral induced asthma.. so normally I have zero symptoms. But once a year or maybe every other year I get a particularly nasty bug that effects my lungs.. I had some bug last week.. I noticed a slight wheeze on Friday.. I started using my ventolin and beclomethazone inhalers.. I used the inhalers Fri, sat and Sun.. by Monday I was no better.. I went to the dr on Monday morning, He gave me a new inhaler Symbicort. a combo steroid and LABA. But after 30 hours I am not much better. Wheezing is less but not at all gone. i expected the dr to give me oral steroids as I have gotten in the past, but he said the side effects were too bad that we should use the inhaled steroids...
So how much longer do I wheeze before I go back ot the dr or to another dr???
S
i went back to the dr. today. (actually took my 5 year old son to the dr for a cough and fever).. the dr listened and said my son was wheezing also. I told the dr that although I wasnt wheezing much.. I felt horrible.. no energy.. blah..
the dr. said we had atypical pneumonia. decided we needed antibiotics.. pink liquid for him. pink pills for me. so no wonder the steroids were not working.. wrong drug forthe wrong problem.
I would call his office, explain what you did here, and see what they say. At this point the side effects may outweigh the risk. Besides if it is only one time a year that you need to resort to steroids than why is that an issue? Maybe the doctor needs to elaborate more so that you are on the same page. Otherwise maybe you need to find a new doctor.
I would call the nurse and say what you have is not working. Then maybe they will try something else.
I think the Symbicort is one of the inhalers that helps but takes time -- like a week or so. Are you still using your Ventolin? Not sure how you're taking it, but a nurse once told me to take the first puff of Ventolin, wait at least 5 minutes, take the second puff, wait five minutes and THEN take the Symbicort. The wait gives the Ventolin time to work so the second puff goes further than the first and the Symbicort gets as deep into your lungs as possible.
Hang in there! Take it easy and remember to relax your shoulders and your neck, and keep your shoulders down. Hunching makes it difficult to really get the most out of each breath.
If the meds are not working, TELL your Doctor.
And I would take yourself to the ER or an Urgent Care if you have to.
They can give you, a nebulizer treatment, right there. If this is acute.
I have Asthma.
Remember, Asthma attacks, come on without any warning
That's a lot of medicine. Give it till tomorrow if you can. You ought to have a peak flow meter so you can quantify your distress. Ask for one. See that earlier post tonight about those. It will take awhile for the steroids to work.
Call him tomorrow. We have no way of knowing when you'll the medication will have done it's job. I do suggest that it will take time and you've only been on the new medication for a day. Always call when you have concerns. That's why he gets the big bucks.
My granddaughter has asthma which is made worse by a virus. The doctor does sometimes give her an oral steroid. I'm not familiar with what you mean by a combo steroid. Perhaps it works as well as an oral one. Since you expected to get an oral steroid, I'd ask the doctor why he's concerned about the side effects this time.
I'm also do not know what LABA is. I could not find it on the Internet. Perhaps the doctor has given you which he expects to work as well as an oral steroid.
Do not change doctors. Doctor shopping just lengthens your treatment time. This doctor has your records and has begun treatment. A new doctor would be starting over. There is no one magic treatment, after all. If you want an oral steroid be assertive with the doctor and find out more about why he made this decision.
I use an actual nebulizer and put a vial of liquid into it then turn it on and inhale the mist for seveal minutes. What this does that is different is that it also contains sterile water in the mixture. Often when a person is wheezing it is because they are dried out and need that moisture.
If a long hot shower helps the wheezing then the extra moisture could be what you need added to the mix. I use Albuterol and it's in a clear plastic vial/tube. It is on the $4 list at Walmart. I got my nebulizer through an oxygen supply/medical supply place. It's portable and runs off a battery, the car cigaretty lighter, or it even plugs in to the plug in the house, it will run off that plug or simply charge.
Here is the one that I have.
It's a Pari.
http://www.pari.com/products/compressors/product/detail/i...
I would continue using for another day than go back may take two or three days to kick in plus. Your probably fight pheumonia or something related.
I would call back tomorrow.
Also talk to them about WHEN you take them. Timing IS everything. My son has a once a day inhaler and an emergency inhaler. During his attacks, they have us give the once a day twice a day AND the emergency inhaler every 4 hours on the mark. So again, talk to them about the timing.
