Symbicort Turbuhaler not for me.

[giddyup]

After seeing the specialist for a cough and chest infection that just wouldn't clear up he prescribed Predisnolone as well as Flemex and also Symbicort. I think the Predisnolone pretty much cleared up the problem, but I thought doctor knows best, I'll keep going with the Symbicort twice a day, morning and evening since it cost me 1400 baht. I followed the instructions to rinse with water after use, but after a few days I developed a chronic hoarseness and the feeling of flem stuck in my throat. Then to top it off, I develop a bad case of thrush in the mouth.  only used it for a week so I figured stopping wasn't going to do me too much harm, which I've done, and so far so good, the cough hasn't returned. Now I'm taking Nystatin to clear up the thrush. I'm wondering whether the specialist wasn't a bit gung ho in prescribing so much medication for something he assessed as "possibly" Asthma, a condition I have never had in my life.

[Sheryl]

Did he do pulmonary function tests (spirometry)?

[giddyup]

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Did he do pulmonary function tests (spirometry)?

No.

[Sheryl]

Then I would have doubts re the diagnosis and if symptoms persist see a different pulmonologist.

 

Depending on dose and duration it may be necessary to taper off the prednisolone as stopping abruptly may cause problems.

 

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[giddyup]

6 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Then I would have doubts re the diagnosis and if symptoms persist see a different pulmonologist.

 

Depending on dose and duration it may be necessary to taper off the prednisolone as stopping abruptly may cause problems.

 

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The doctor prescribed 30 predisolone 5mg, 2 tablets taken 3 times a day. After I'd used them all after 5 days I stopped. There were no instructions to get more. It seems to me he pushed the Symbicort on me without seeing if the predisolone had any effect. I found out that once you start using Symbicort you are supposed to continue forever, and there is no way I'm going to do that unless my (ex)condition becomes chronic and I can't manage without it.

I had a pulmonary function test done some time ago at Bkk/Pattaya and the nurse had me sucking instead of blowing into the tube, that's how savvy she was. The doctor couldn't understand the results until he asked me how she had administered the test.

[Bill Miller]

I was diagnosed with asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea several years ago in the US, and was prescribed Symbicort along with several other remedies.
After moving to Thailand at near sea level from 2,000 meters altitude in Arizona I found the Symbicort to be unnecessary for awhile. Now, after almost four years without, it is again good to have. COPD is apparently progressive, even without the prima causa, (smoking).
I quit all tobacco and other inhalation vices about twelve years ago. Forty + years of non filtered cigarettes did the damage.
The new scrip specifies one "puff" twice daily instead of two.
It is gratifying to b able to breathe more freely.

[giddyup]

24 minutes ago, Bill Miller said:

I was diagnosed with asthma, COPD, and sleep apnea several years ago in the US, and was prescribed Symbicort along with several other remedies.
After moving to Thailand at near sea level from 2,000 meters altitude in Arizona I found the Symbicort to be unnecessary for awhile. Now, after almost four years without, it is again good to have. COPD is apparently progressive, even without the prima causa, (smoking).
I quit all tobacco and other inhalation vices about twelve years ago. Forty + years of non filtered cigarettes did the damage.
The new scrip specifies one "puff" twice daily instead of two.
It is gratifying to b able to breathe more freely.

No side effects?

[Bill Miller]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

No side effects?

I do have to be careful re: the thrush bit. I use an anti bacterial mouth wash, which seems to really do the trick.