Inhaler

[DJHawkes]

i've just picked up a salbutamol sulphate cfc free inhaler after visiting the emergency medical centre. i don't think i'm drivng it properly as it's not made any difference : (

[daffy654]

Did they not show you how to use it?
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/howtousemeter.htm

[pixie373]

What's up? Not sure if it's a joke, I've missed:-\

[daffy654]

Joke?

[DJHawkes]

No it was in a sealed box, i've never ever had need for such a thing and it's quite scary really. I've read the destructions and it says to spray as i inhale but there's hardly anything there. Maybe that's how it should be though, but it's not helped much, still coughing, same as i have been all night and all day : (

[Eve]

Are you holding your breath for a while after you take (as a deep as possible) a breath in?

[DJHawkes]

well no i didn;t do because i just can't at the moment i can hardly manage to breathe, it's very difficult

[pixie373]

Did they give you a mask? Shake the inhaler, breathe out (if you can) and inhale it as hard as you can. Hold your breath if possible.

[jd_1984]

You were given the inhaler for astma or another diadnosis?
Have you any experience using an inhaler?
Breathe in deeply as you press the button down and hold for 10 secs.
If you need a bigger hit press the button 2 or 3 times as you breathe in, and hold for 10.
If it is not working at all re-visit the medical centre this evening.

[jd_1984]

**diagnosis

[Eve]

You won't feel it much unless you spray it on your tongue which you shouldn't be.

It's likely to try to open up your airways so it needs to get into your airways to be able to get to work.

I know it's difficult and uncomfortable when you can't breathe well but you need to try and get it where it needs to be so as much as a breath in as possible and try to hold breathing out (and expelling some of it back out) so try and breathe out slowly if you can too rather than breathe it all back out in a big puff.

I know it can feel like your head is about to burst and don't go too mad but I find it easier as my airways relax.

A tip someone gave me when I was suffering badly with asthma was to sit on the floor with my back and head flat against a wall at a right angle to my legs to try and make sure my airways were as unrestricted as possible and help get the meds in.

[Scarlett]

Could you get a nebuliser from the chemists? That way you just breath in naturally without worry about how to use the inhaler. Also if it hasn't helped, perhaps it is just not what you need? I had a terrible cough and used my inhaler to get more breath, but it made no difference because it was a cough, not asthma.