Dont you just cough and take an inhaler?
If I had a pound for every time I was asked this, well, I'd have a lot of pounds. Asthma is a illness that varies greatly. Some people get flare ups when exposed to a specific allergen (common ones being dust, pollen, nuts and so on), some people get flare ups when dealing with viruses such as colds, flu etc (if you are offered a flu jab get it believe me), some when they exercise.
A lot of people see their GP and their local asthma nurse and it may take sometime but they find a combination of drugs that that works for them.
This is a broad subject and there are lots of other varying degrees of asthma and treatments I could talk to you about all day. However I think we would all be a little info overload.
Mine gets quite complex. Its understandable why people don't get it, but it can also be a little crushing that people think you're making a big thing about nothing. Hopefully reading this can help people understand just a little so if they know someone in this kind of position, not just with asthma with any kind of illness, why a seemingly innocent question can feel like a bit of an insult.
So firstly this is a list of all the medication I take currently:
40mg prednisolone (steroids) daily
Montelukast 10mg at night
Fostair 3 puffs 3 times a day
Qvar 3 puffs 3 times a day
Spiriva 1 breathe in capsule once daily
Ventolin inhaler as needed
Sabutamol nebuliser (nebuilser is a machine that makes medication into like a mist so you can breathe it in)
Ipratropium nebuliser
D3 adcal twice daily
20mg Omeprazole twice daily
Alendronic acid once a week
Vitamin D
Cocodamol
Amitriptyline 40mg
So this can vary in doses and there can sometimes be others added into the mix but this is currently my lot that I have to take everyday. Side effects suck as well in case you wondered. 5 of these are there to fight the side effects of the Pred. They also make you gain weight which is not only crap but probably counter productive as obesisty can worsen asthma. Now don't get me wrong I am lucky that a)I have these to keep me alive and b) people have to take much worse. They do suck though.
However despite taking these I still regularly end up in resus because I'm having an attack. So much so they all know me in A&E, AAU and the Respiratory ward.When admitted with these I usually have to have several treatments before it stabilises and then it takes a couple of weeks to recover.
Not being able to breathe is scary.(at some time I will attempt a post to explain how scary) However whats even more scary is I will often get confused and not realise how bad I am. This is because the Co2 builds up in your system. So while I am allowed things like a nebuliser at home because I am quite sensible in general there have been many times when I haven't really been that scared, because I don't realise how bad it is. Its only after I think "hmmmm well that could have been a bit dodgy."
Day to day my life is very much one day at a time. some days I can't walk far, some days talking is tiring. Some days I am a little slow but you wouldn't really notice. Some days the pain in my chest is my main issue, some days its the side effects of steroids. Its hard because I can be fine one minute and the next I am not. If you want a marker last time I had a breathing test to measure my inflammation in my air ways it was 4 x higher than the highest end of ok.
Ive missed out on so much day to day life with my children I can never get back. Plus Hen do's, parties, sports days, assemblies. I lost my jobs, had to give up on my hobbies. My husband had to give up his career and just work part time jobs that can fit around me and the children. Its not just hard, some days its so gut wrenching over whelming there feel like there is no way you can do this for the rest of your life.
I find it helps to look at the positives;
Everyday I thank my stars, I live in the UK; free health care, help keeping a roof over my children's head and ensuring there is a decent meal on the table every evening (for them to moan about). We have even had help getting a reliable car so I can get to my appointments that are 45 minutes away and so I can get about even when I am not feeling to good. My daughter gets help at school to deal with all going on at home. A charity for carers helps and supports my husband. If I want to go out and cant face walking I can hire a wheelchair for practically nothing. (I am not going to lie I don't relish the idea but its there.)
It wasn't always the easiest dealing with any of these agencies and in fact there was many tears, tantrums and feelings of helplessness. So I am not by any means implying these systems are perfect. But we are so lucky to have them.
So in answer to your question no, I cant just take my blue inhaler. Everyone out there fights a battle. so I don't think I am special or deserve attention. However do I feel we all need to be a little more understanding out there?
- Sure I do. Now I cant help you understand how someone who has mental health problems lives or how someone who cant have children feels. But hopefully I can help you understand a little bit about living with an illness that tries to rule your life.
If you would like to more info on asthma like mine or even asthma in genral, Asthma Uk are pretty good. https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/severe-asthma/what-is-severe-asthma/
Callie
x :-)
A lot of people see their GP and their local asthma nurse and it may take sometime but they find a combination of drugs that that works for them.
This is a broad subject and there are lots of other varying degrees of asthma and treatments I could talk to you about all day. However I think we would all be a little info overload.
Mine gets quite complex. Its understandable why people don't get it, but it can also be a little crushing that people think you're making a big thing about nothing. Hopefully reading this can help people understand just a little so if they know someone in this kind of position, not just with asthma with any kind of illness, why a seemingly innocent question can feel like a bit of an insult.
So firstly this is a list of all the medication I take currently:
40mg prednisolone (steroids) daily
Montelukast 10mg at night
Fostair 3 puffs 3 times a day
Qvar 3 puffs 3 times a day
Spiriva 1 breathe in capsule once daily
Ventolin inhaler as needed
Sabutamol nebuliser (nebuilser is a machine that makes medication into like a mist so you can breathe it in)
Ipratropium nebuliser
D3 adcal twice daily
20mg Omeprazole twice daily
Alendronic acid once a week
Vitamin D
Cocodamol
Amitriptyline 40mg
So this can vary in doses and there can sometimes be others added into the mix but this is currently my lot that I have to take everyday. Side effects suck as well in case you wondered. 5 of these are there to fight the side effects of the Pred. They also make you gain weight which is not only crap but probably counter productive as obesisty can worsen asthma. Now don't get me wrong I am lucky that a)I have these to keep me alive and b) people have to take much worse. They do suck though.
However despite taking these I still regularly end up in resus because I'm having an attack. So much so they all know me in A&E, AAU and the Respiratory ward.When admitted with these I usually have to have several treatments before it stabilises and then it takes a couple of weeks to recover.
Not being able to breathe is scary.(at some time I will attempt a post to explain how scary) However whats even more scary is I will often get confused and not realise how bad I am. This is because the Co2 builds up in your system. So while I am allowed things like a nebuliser at home because I am quite sensible in general there have been many times when I haven't really been that scared, because I don't realise how bad it is. Its only after I think "hmmmm well that could have been a bit dodgy."
Day to day my life is very much one day at a time. some days I can't walk far, some days talking is tiring. Some days I am a little slow but you wouldn't really notice. Some days the pain in my chest is my main issue, some days its the side effects of steroids. Its hard because I can be fine one minute and the next I am not. If you want a marker last time I had a breathing test to measure my inflammation in my air ways it was 4 x higher than the highest end of ok.
Ive missed out on so much day to day life with my children I can never get back. Plus Hen do's, parties, sports days, assemblies. I lost my jobs, had to give up on my hobbies. My husband had to give up his career and just work part time jobs that can fit around me and the children. Its not just hard, some days its so gut wrenching over whelming there feel like there is no way you can do this for the rest of your life.
I find it helps to look at the positives;
Everyday I thank my stars, I live in the UK; free health care, help keeping a roof over my children's head and ensuring there is a decent meal on the table every evening (for them to moan about). We have even had help getting a reliable car so I can get to my appointments that are 45 minutes away and so I can get about even when I am not feeling to good. My daughter gets help at school to deal with all going on at home. A charity for carers helps and supports my husband. If I want to go out and cant face walking I can hire a wheelchair for practically nothing. (I am not going to lie I don't relish the idea but its there.)
It wasn't always the easiest dealing with any of these agencies and in fact there was many tears, tantrums and feelings of helplessness. So I am not by any means implying these systems are perfect. But we are so lucky to have them.
So in answer to your question no, I cant just take my blue inhaler. Everyone out there fights a battle. so I don't think I am special or deserve attention. However do I feel we all need to be a little more understanding out there?
- Sure I do. Now I cant help you understand how someone who has mental health problems lives or how someone who cant have children feels. But hopefully I can help you understand a little bit about living with an illness that tries to rule your life.
If you would like to more info on asthma like mine or even asthma in genral, Asthma Uk are pretty good. https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/severe-asthma/what-is-severe-asthma/
Callie
x :-)
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