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Anyone with asthma taking Symbicort have choking problems?
I have a combination of asthma and bronchiestases along with grass allergies. After resisting Symbicort for many years I have had to acquiess because of an asthma flare. I have heard that Symbicort can thicken mucus and cause other immune problems.
I have found myself waking in the middle of the night choking on thick mucus at the back of my throat. Scary. Have been sipping on warm water to clear it.
Does anyone else have this issue and can anyone add to this/have found a solution?
I am wondering if cutting the Symbicort down a little might help?
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@narelled23 I use mine every night. I skipped a few nights recently, and felt a lot worse. I soak daily in 1/4 denture tablet & scrub. I soak in 70% alcohol weekly. The dentist said do not boil or stem!
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2 Reactions@narelled23 First I saw an ENT to rule out permanent throat damage, then I went to a speech therapist in my pulmonologist's practice to work on coughing.
As for throat clearing, years ago, I realized it was a habit, and I needed to break it. I was taught to sip a little water or use a lozenge (Throat Calm or SoothEez). Or I do a little huff cough or some deep breathing. I'm not perfect, but try to be very aware of it, and if the above techniques don't work, I may need Mucinex, or more airway clearance.
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1 Reaction@sueinmn I just picked up some Sootheez to try. Glad I did as it contains about 4-5 times the amount of pectin as Ludon's. I remember you writing that one of your care givers said the key to reducing coughing was pectin. The flavors are a bit wacky - birthday cake, berry lemonade, and not cheap. I will save them for times when I really need to prevent a cough.
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3 Reactions@sueinmn
Thank you so much.. will need to investigate this I think. 🙏
@sueinmn
Unfortunately my airway clearance consists of nebulising hypertonic, coughing and throat clearing. 🙄 Am going to find it very difficult to break these habits.
In case it may help others, I am pasting below a Lung Clearance technique a physio gave me 8 years ago...and which I wish I had continued with, as the focus is on stopping coughing, but it is also a very effective clearance process.
PULMONARY REHABILITATION MANAGEMENT
AIMS
To increase lung volume, increase effectiveness of cough, decrease need to cough and ultimately
decrease rate of ongoing chest infections.
ACTIVE BREATHING CYCLE
Perform 1 – 2 cycles, three times a day.
1 cycle = 4 breaths.
Try to limit coughing between breaths.
Aim to cough at the end of 1 cycle.
1. Breathe in slowly and deeply into your lungs as much as you can, breathing right down to
the base of your lungs, trying to fill them with as much air possible.
2. When you cannot take in another inch of air, exhale through your mouth.
3. As you exhale, squeeze your hands onto your ribs and “vibrate” vigourously.
4. Perform this 4 times as one cycle.
5. At the end of a cycle, try a cough or huff to expel any phlegm.
HUFF
Instead of a cough, a huff is an effective way of expelling phlegm that is less tiring, can be more
effective, and less violent.
Make an O shape with your mouth
Leave the back of your throat open
Take in a large breath
Quickly and forcefully exhale through your open mouth as if you were trying to fog up your
glasses.
This may cause you to cough up phlegm.
Try to huff as much as you can, rather than cough.
HYDRATION
Staying hydrated is an important way to thin out the phlegm that is stuck in your lungs, making it far
easier to cough or huff out.
Drink plenty of water daily
Take warm showers with the exhaust fan off, to steam your lungs
Use a warm steam bowl
Having a shower or steam bowl before your active breathing cycle makes the cycle more
effective.