Is it Asthma? - Asthma Message Board

takumi · 05-13-2009, 08:10 AM

Recently, i went to see the doctor as i was having difficulty in breathing & i was coughing alot. Windpipe was feeling itchy. My chest will feel tight when it is cold or change of weather or some other things that trigger it. Doctor diagnosed me as having sensitive airway. Doctor prescribed me with Symbicort to be used daily twice a day as a preventer & taught me how to use it. However, i stopped as i was feeling the side effect & i got lazy too...

I just went back to see Doctor a few days ago because i couldn't use Symbicort to relief my attack. Now, when the attack comes, i will have chest tightness, breathlessness, a sudden sharp pain or sometimes a dull pain. Is this Asthma or what?

When i went to see the Doctor the 2nd time, he prescribed me with Ventolin Evohaler. However, he didn't teach me how to use it. So i have been wondering am i using it correctly to get the med into my lungs. As i feel that when i sprayed it into my mouth, i feel that it was being sprayed onto my tongue. When i tilt it, it seems to spray onto the roof of my mouth

Anyone able to teach me how to use the Ventolin Evohaler properly? Where should it be sprayed to? How should i feel?

I have never used any of this before & its the first time i have been diagnosed with it.

Would appreciate it if anyone could help me so that i will be able to relief myself whenever i need the relief, whenever i have the attack. Thanks.

Titchou · 05-13-2009, 09:58 AM

Symbicort os a daily med to control asthma. Ventolin is a rescue in haler for when you have an asthma attack. They are both used the same way. Spray into the middle of your mouth as you inhale and then hold the inhalation for a few seconds to get the med into your lungs. Watch in a mirror until you get comfortable with it. Or ask your doc for a chamber - that will help oyu get accustomed to the method. Was this a pulmonologist or other asthma specialist? Or just your PCP?

Jephy · 05-13-2009, 02:42 PM

The medicine that comes out of the inhaler must get into the very deepest part of your lungs to work. "Work" means the medicine affects the smooth muscle in your bronchioles to relax, so the bronchioles dilate and more air can flow in and out. When you take a deep breath only the FIRST part of that breath gets to the deepest part of your lungs (the very last part of a deep breath barely gets past your lips if you're taking a maximal breath--think about it). And the in-between parts of a deep breath get to various levels in your trachea and lungs, but not into the bronchioles where the smooth muscle is located.

1. Exhale maximally, so you can't get another tiny puff OUT of your mouth no matter how hard you try.

2. With your lips snug around the inhaler, spray/activate the inhaler at the same time you take a maximal breath in. Do not stop breathing in until you can't inhale any more and your diaphragm is down all the way, and your chest muscles have completely expanded your chest.

3. Hold your breath for a minute: give the medicine time to work before you exhale it back out, which you will with the exhalation.

4. If you exhale 1/2 way, take a second puff and repeat step #2 then rebreath in and out of a plastic bag for two or three minutes (hold your nose) you can concentrate the medicine and greatly increase the efficacy of 2 puffs. Do not extend it beyond 3 minutes--there is no oxygen source hooked up to the plastic bag!

Good luck! And if your doctor's office doesn't have a nurse or respiratory tech to teach you how to use the inhaler, get a new doctor. Also, seek a cause of your asthma so you can get off your medicine permanently. I recommend The Allergy and Asthma Cure, by F. Pescatore as a good place to start.

takumi · 05-13-2009, 09:14 PM

I had just gone to see my general practitioner. I didn't go to the specialist & my doctor didn't refer me to a specialist.

Thanks Jephy for your help. Will try it. Will keep practising. Hopefully i will get it soon.

Titchou · 05-14-2009, 06:21 AM

Jephy: Interesting method. I was told never to put my mouth actually on the inhaler. Of course, I started with a chamber so there was no need and I eventually tossed it.

Takumi: See a pulmonologist and get a real work up. Be sure to get a written plan while oyu are there and get them to show you how to use your inhalers and when.