Allergy & Ventolin

[EcclesCake]

I am allergic to a friends dogs. I visit regularly and have to take antihistamines as soon as I arrive, during the winter months when the house is more shut up I suffer with wheeziness and a tightness in my chest. My GP gave me a prescription for Ventolin to be used as and when necessary.

I rarely need to use the inhaler except at about 3/4 in the morning when I wake up with a shortness of breath, using the inhaler helps and I can go back to sleep.

Would using the Ventolin before I go to sleep help or is it only effective as a treatment rather than a preventative measure?

[Sqad]

No it wouldnt work, as Ventolin is rapid onset but short in action.....about 3 hours at best.

Have a word with your GP or perhaps an ABer (marie26) to see if there is a long acting broncho dilator........e.g steroid+salbutamol.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks Sqad, I suspected as much from my memories of my asthmatic father.

I doubt my GP will be willing to look at alternatives as they felt I would be better not getting myself in to a situation where I have such a bad reaction to the mutts!

[Sqad]

Pulmicort would do the trick.

Google it and have a word with your GP....waking up in the early hours of the morning wheezing, can´t be much fun.

[EcclesCake]

Excellent, that looks just the ticket and I have no contraindications. I will mention it when I next see the GP.

No, waking up wheezing in the middle of the night isn't much fun, especially when you have to stumble around trying to find the inhaler in the dark!

[daffy654]

Seretide is another that you might consider if your GP is amenable to giving you another inhaler. It contains both a steroid and a long acting airway relaxant.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks to you both.

[marie26]

Your night time wheeziness, along with your allergy to dogs and seasonal symptoms, suggests that you should be tested for asthma, rather than settle for ad hoc use of your Ventolin inhaler. Do you also cough more at night than during the day? Ask your GP to refer you for spirometry; your treatment can then be tailored to the results that you achieve.
Ventolin is a short acting 'reliever', but its action can last a few hours. A steroid inhaler used regularly twice a day will help with your symptoms and allow you better night time rest, and then you will only very rarely need the Ventolin. But, you do need spirometry testing.

[anneasquith]

that was quick marie, a wee word from sqad, and there you are..

[EcclesCake]

Marie, thank you for your response.

I visit my friend on a weekly basis and stay overnight, my overall time in the environment is 13 hours typically. The allergic reaction is virtually instantaneous and shortness of breath may occur after 3-4hrs but usually only once I have retired for the night, I have very little coughing. The wheezing seems to be worse in the winter months when the windows and doors are closed and the dogs spend more time in the house. My symptoms only occur when I am around the dogs, in my own home I have no problem.

Given that the issue is within a very isolated set of circumstances does your recommendation for spirometry testing still stand?

[Sqad]

Eccles...bot marie and yourself pose an interesting problem and you description certainly fits the diagnosis of asthma.
However it would also fit a lung condition known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD in which there tends to be irreversible lung damage.
The 2 conditions can be defined by Spirometry as suggested quite rightly by marie.

So what is the difference in treatment of asthma and COPD in the initial phases?
Basically ...NONE. Both would respond to a bronchodilater/steroid spray.

Marie is correct specific diagnosis should first be entertained.

I too would be interested in marie´s reply.

[marie26]

The relationship of asthma and pet dander (and lots of other things) is known. I think that spirometry would help decide the issue, given that you need to take antihistamines when visiting your friend. If the spirometry is performed mid-visit to your friend it should be reliable and reassure you.
As you are well in your own home, your use of antihistamines and Ventolin when visiting may well be enough, but I worry about the night time wheeze, shortness of breath and occasional cough.

[EcclesCake]

Marie & Sqad thank you both.

It seems I should put a little more effort in making an appointment to see the GP. I had been putting all the symptoms down to the hounds, and had assumed that the wheezing was a step on from the sneezing, streaming eyes allergic reaction!