Is My Asthma Controlled? Trying a New Medicine

I have long believed my asthma was under control. However, during a recent appointment with my asthma specialist, my doctor asked, "How often do you use your rescue inhaler?" I replied, "Once or twice a day."

He responded, "Then your asthma is not controlled. You should only be using it once or twice a week."

My initial thoughts

A lot of thoughts rolled through my mind. Among them was, “Oh, boy! Here we go again. Another doctor who bases good asthma control on the number of puffs.” Sigh!

Sure, there are times when I go a week only needing my rescue inhaler once or twice. And there have been great weeks, even months sometimes, when I don’t need it at all.

Still, for the most part, I generally find myself using my rescue inhaler once or twice daily. And this, I have decided, is fine with me, especially considering how bad my asthma was from the time I was born until the early 2000s. I’m completely satisfied with a few puffs of my albuterol per day.

So, years ago, I chose to embrace a different definition of good asthma control: “You are satisfied with your quality of life.” And I AM satisfied with my quality of life. With my current asthma regimen, I am able to do pretty much all the things I want to do – with some limitations, of course.

My doctor's suggestion: Trying new asthma medicine

But then, the rational, mature part of my mind took over. This part of my mind knows that I am wrong sometimes, and it’s good to listen to experts like this doctor, who may, just may, have an idea that could help me achieve better asthma control.

It was this part of my brain that kept my mouth shut as he was talking and led me to agree to his suggestion that I stop taking Symbicort and try Trelegy. “Many people who have tried it have noticed great results. So, I think it would be a good option for you to try.”

I have likewise heard good stories from other people with asthma taking Trelegy. And I have heard success stories about this inhaler from people with COPD, too. It does seem like a nice inhaler, so I decided to try it.

I have now been taking it for over a month and have yet to notice a difference. Still, while I have yet to see better results, this inhaler does have its benefits.

For one, this inhaler requires 1 puff per day as opposed to the 2 puffs twice per day with Symbicort. Another benefit is that with fewer puffs, I am feeling less jittery. And I’m good with that.

I will be patient. I will continue taking this inhaler every day like a good asthma patient should. And the hope is that, as the medicine builds up in my system, perhaps, just perhaps, I will start to have better asthma control. And this will lead me to need my rescue inhaler even less than once or twice a week, as the asthma guidelines suggest.

If this happens, I will be so gratified. If not, well, I do not have my hopes up anyway, so that would be fine, too. I’m just happy that there are so many options for people with asthma to try.

What do you think?

What are your thoughts? What is your experience trying new asthma medicines? Are you, like me, open-minded to trying something new? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.