Asthma newbie inhaler question

tk123

Hi guys. I'm an asthma newbie - i'm 32 and have had it for the last year since I had surgery to remove a mass on my thyroid. The mass was compressing my airway and had grown down into my chest and was causing me pain when I took a deep breath etc. Anyhoos I haven't been getting any relief from my blue reliever for ages but the cold weather has really been causing probs so finally went to the docs and got a preventer 2 weeks ago for the first time - the purple diskus one. I'm not really feeling much difference with the preventer and find I'm still needing to take 8 puffs of my blue one every day. Is it normal for the preventer to take weeks to kick in or do I maybe need a different one? I've been holding out going back to the GP because the last visit cos €55 and the inhaler was €61! On the Asthma society of Ireland webpage it says it can take up to a month for the preventer to work but friends who have them have told me that if i'm not seeing and difference after two weeks it's time to head back to the GP.

FluffyCat

Its not unusual for an inhaler not to suit but you should ring your doctor. If they want to change it you may be able to just pick up a script rather than going back.
Make sure you are taking it correctly and also the cold weather may be delaying effect but it very well may take up to a month for improvement

medici

I had bad asthma as a child (have "grown out of it" to a certain extent thanksfully). Still though, have also experienced increased need for the blue one with the cold weather in recent weeks - haven't been medicated for the preventative in years but do remember experiencing relief from it only after a few weeks of usage. As mentioned above though - check it out with the doctor if you're getting nothing out of it.

tk123

Thanks guys - I called the doc earlier and have to head in this evening so they can have a listen and see whats going on etc.

sam34

i'm going to close the trhead as we cant give specifc medical advice here