General Chat

hi everyone...i had another asthma attack last night but i was ok cos i had my pump on me(the blue ventolin one) went to see my nurse this morning and she has prescribed me 2 more pumps. its driving me mad though ive had to change everything. i even had to give away my rats yesterday and that broke my heart (no laughing) im just sick of it already xxx

Steph Have you tried anti allergy bedding , lamenate or wood floors etc dont keep soft toys, if you do put them in a plastic bag in freezer every now & again to kill dust mites. All these things may help you Elaine x

Hi Steph, can't help but ((((hugs)))) and hope things start looking up for you soon hun. Maz. XX

Have you thought about approaching this from a homeopathic angle (ie. reflexology, kinesiology etc)? Maybe changing your diet/lifestyle in some way might help? It must be awful being controlled by a condition, Becx

The best advise I can give - as a chronic asthmatic - is NOT to let it take over your life. Try to live as normally as you have always done but if certains factors trigger it - change them.

Steph try buying a good team cleaner this really does help to keep dustmite's at bay, also maybe a good idea to speak with the GP and see if taking a antihistamines daily will help, good luck

steph not being funny hon but you really need to get off the fags. you'll so regret it later in life. take care of yourself xx

thanks for all your advice. Elaine...i have one polyester pillow but my nan is buing us more and polyester duvet to match. thats what sets it off the most is when im in bed asleep...its the feathers from the pillows. ive stopped using scented candles/bubble bath/shampoo. basically ive changed everything that can sit on my chest or affect my breathing. Including putting all my cuddly toys on top of the cupboard (poor babies lol) Bec...i looked into something like that forgot what it was called but it helps your breathing technique and is used by alot of ashmatics...apart from it being too expensive ive heard that there is different kinds of asthma and that tecnique is for people with a minor kind of form which wouldnt help me at the moment... xx

didnt realise that you smoked - that is one of the major triggers of asthma

Steph - Have PMed you. If it's a money thing then my Stepmum's friend would work out a way for it to be possible.

Sheila...my consultant told me that smoking wont help me get better but it definatley didnt cause it...but yes know it doesnt help and im trying soo hard to kick the habit xxx

Oh and re: the smoking. Your GP should be able to tell you about your local 'Quit Smoking' Clinic which will provide you with support, techniques and patches/gum all for FREE. Might be worth a shot?

I wish you luck in stopping. Bec - our local practice nurse runs the stop smoking clinics as well - they are excellent from what I have heard

Steedie, it's very early days yet. I didn't have my first asthma attack until I was in my early forties. I had 11 days in hospital with that first attack and couldn't walk more than three or four paces without stopping when I came out. I was sensitive to so many things. We couldn't use spray deodorants and hair spray was a no no. Cleaning products provoked other attacks often and one of our poor cats I couldn't be in the same room with. I used to go purple when I laughed - which was the worse thing imaginable for me! Eventually your body will let you reintroduce some of these things again as you become desensitised. The thing is not to go mad but also not to let it rule your life. Don't say 'I can't' say 'I will try and see how it goes' I laid a patio after I came out of hospital! LOL I could only manage to do two slabs a day and it took forever but I had to prove a point to myself. Don't let it accommodate you! You accommodate IT! Give it time. Mags xx

Mags...thank you soo much youve made me smile. my attack wasnt as bad as that...but i made myself worse by trying to do a runner from the hospital (yes i ran) but ended up back in the bed with the mask after mins. The thing is they didnt really give me any info about it. i thought that once i had the blue pump i would be fine....but even after using it a cant breath normally which i didnt know would happen. It just feels like another day ive had to have off work you know. But now ive got an orange pump which ive never seen before which i think is more steroids which i now have to take 6 a day xxx

steph if you're doing blue and orange pumps you really need to go back to the hospital! lol! (couldnt resist!) xx

Thanks blue...ive never exprianced anything as scary as what i went through the first time just before xmas. Last night i was asleep in bed and i think its the pillows that set it off i have to get them changed. Paul lol your crazy...im just a bot worried...whatare you saying the pumps are lol xxx

Steedie - sorry you've had another attack. Never had it myself but watched my brother have many as a child and wouldn't wish it on anyone. Sound advice from everyone here, and if I can put my mummy hat on for a minute, please, please give up the fags and give yourself a chance. Love Daisy

Steph - Have you checked with your doctor to see if they have an asthma clinic? I found it invaluable. You should also have a peak flow meter and check your readings twice a day. Sometimes your lung capacity can be lower without you being breathless so you may not even realise that you are in danger of having an attack. Keeping a peak flow chart will also help your doctor decide on the best course of treatment. It will show the times of day when you may be struggling and your medication can be adjusted and maybe increased to take account of that if a pattern emerges. Don't leave it. Once your medication's sorted it's 'copeable' Mags xx

Thanks daisy hun...and i promise i will xx Mags..i was given one but to be truth ful i didnt take the people at my hospital seriousley...so much stuff went wrong when i was there i just didnt think they were worth listening too. but i stillhave the chart and peak flow...when the nurse tested it this morning it was 150 normally its 400 but now its about 300 so itsgetting better xx