General Chat

Good!...and make sure you use that chart!! At your age you should be aiming for around 550/600 I believe. Think how much better you will feel when you have that much breath! Take it easy. One thing an asthma nurse or your doc should tell you is at what reading to seek help. 150 sounds like an ambulance jobbie to me! LOL Take care Mags xx

Steph, You MUST, MUST!!!stop smoking, my hubby started with asthma, he smoked for years(he quit 2years ago) even if your asthma wasent caused by smoking it can progress into other very serious chest conditions. Roxanne x p.S I hope you feel better soon, I know how frightening attacks are. xxx

my peak flow is normally between 400 and 450 - but today at Gp's it was only about half that - due to the fact I have mild pneumonia. I was taught breathing excercises by a clinic nurse and they have been wonderful - they really does strengthen your lungs

I'm weird Blue! LOL - My peak flow is slightly higher when I have a cold - all that crap has to be coming from somewhere and it must clear my lungs a bit! Mine's 400/450 generally and occasionally 500+ I haven't had a 'purple' in ages now which goes to show ,Steph, that it IS controllable! Mags xx Oh - and I have to admit that after giving up for over a year at the time - I did start smoking again. I gave up again from April until the end of August this year but stupid as I am I have started again. I have to say, slightly in your defence, although giving up can only be good for you and your pocket, a lot of my problem was stress. My asthma nurse, although she advised, didn't insist I gave up, saying that the odd ciggie probably alleviated some of the stress so may have cancelled out some of the ill effects. I do have to say too that my peak flow wasn't any higher when I gave up.

steedie i know babe .when i first found out i had asthma i felt as though my world was going to collapse.how would i cope with it.it is hard.so sorry to hear that you had to give the rats away also.have you had an allergy test done and was it the rats that have caused your attack.speak to your nurse and see what she says.is it serevent and becloforte you are on a brown one and a green one.i have two inhalers which i have to take everyday.it will get better babe.email if you need to talkxxxxxxxxxxx((((:

Hi Steph, I too have had asthma, for 41 years. It used to be really bad in childhood (it started when I was 8), but has gradually got better. Do you swim? That is - and I quote from someone - absolutely brilliant for asthmatics, as it helps the lungs and diaphragm so much. Also, when I used to have bad attacks, I found hot drinks helped, when I inhaled the hot steam. Believe me Steph, I won't let my asthma run my life for me; I tolerate it! It doesn't 'have me', I 'have it', if you know what I mean! And sorry, but I must reiterate about smoking. I won't go on about that, you've heard it already. Your poor lungs, hun! Don't put 'em through it. x

exercise does do you the world of good.strengthens your lungs and makes you fitter.i agree with the smoking.that can play a big part.but you know me i won't lecture you on it.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx(((((((((:

Steedie once you have your asthma controlled it will become easier to live with rather than live round. I have chronic asthma and angina....and swim between 40 and 74 lengths 3 times a week. Once you learn not to let the asthma control you, you will relax more and then you will cope, at the moment it is still new to you, and a bit frightening and seems to take over....it will pass. Try to find the triggers of an attack eg feathers, perfumes, dust. but the stress of it all just wont help at the moment, but believe me love if you control it rather than it controlling you, and do as your Dr says.....eventually you will stop thinking about it, and that will help. Good luck. Oh and if you can swim it is one of the best things for inflating your lungs, and learning to control your breathing XXXXX

its this damp weather that doesnt help my daughters been coughing a lot more lately, i know stress causes it but she got rid of the stress in her life, sometimes if the air is too dry too with heating on it doesnt help take care of yourself hope you feel better soon

Hi Steph, I was thinking of you today when our local radio station had a feature on a method of managing asthma. It's a method of breathing & the people they talked to said it really works. Google BUTEYKO, there's lots about it. Vivienne

Nudge for Steph Vivienne

Agree with everything said...............I am a Chronic sufferer...but I swim, walk do some exercise every day get it under control and that is achievable,..............My first attack I was so frightened and then became terrified every cough would have me on alert.......now I have my meds exercise and relax about it.........find it much easier to cope

thanks for nudging this Linen...and for the info. I did speak to my consultant about doign that kind of thing, he said itrs a great idea but not to do it yet. He said see how i go for a few years and then try that, but at the moment to stick with my meds...but it does look really good!! xxx

can you not combine the two? haven't actually looked at what it involves. Alice

i agree steedie being an asthma suffere myself i would be wary about coming off my medication..stick on it for now .hope your ok hunxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx((((((:

Alice, i thought of that...but Doc said still best not to as it may make me think that i dont need the meds, it may work for a while but if it didnt and i didnt have meds on me cos i thought id be ok id be back in trouble...its also the expense of doing both at the same time xxx