Do You or Your Child Have Asthma? (My Experience of Asthma)

Member Name: Collywobs

Product:	My Experience of Asthma
Date:	09/11/00 (243 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lots of advice and information

Disadvantages: like all medical things they can be expensive

When it comes to having to buy medical equipment most people don't know just quite where to start. As someone who has been there I think it is important for anyone to have the right understanding and knowledge, before trying to obtain various medical equipment.
Seven years ago my asthma returned having previously disappeared for 12 years. I found myself in an extremely difficult and frightening position. My asthma returned with such a vengeance that I needed oxygen, nebulizers, ridiculous amounts of medication and on oral steroids. After being hospitalised for too long, in order for me to go home I had to have my own nebulizer. My GP bought me one and I agreed to getting it serviced regular and to look after it. It lasted 6 years until it gave up completely. I now needed a new one and didn't know where to start. After searching I found Clement Clarke.

http://www.clement-clarke.com
Clement Clarke are now an international company, they specialise in breathing equipment and have a vast selection at different prices.
A few of the things they sell are-
Peakflow Monitors- these measure the amount of air your lungs are moving.These are essential to see how bad a persons asthma is.

Windmill Trainers- Ideal for children, it is a device that fits on the peakflow monitor to make sure the monitor is being used properly, if it isn't then the windmill trainer is designed to train how to use the monitor the correct way

Flutter Mucus Clearance device- Widely used for cystic fibrosis, yet asthma sufferers can benefit hugely from this as it helps to clear the mucus which makes asthma worse. I use one of these it was recommended by a friend in the states who has severe asthma. This really works well.

Able Spacer- Now this is a must for any parent who has an asthmatic child who uses a spacer to take their inhalers . The able spacer is pocket sized and ideal for children as well as anyone else. Clement- Clarke sent me a f
ree able spacer for my 6 year old, what a difference it is, my 6 year old can use his own in-haler with the able spacer without any help from anyone. The 'normal' spacers are plastic and about the size of a 2 litre bottle of fizzy drink, carrying it round is awkward, the ablespacer is so small it will fit in your pocket.

Nebulizers- Nebulizers are breathing equipment designed to deliver medication direct to your lungs, the medication mists up in a chamber and you breathe the mist in. These are life savers and essential in an asthma attack.. Unfortunately they don't come cheap. But what price do you pay for your life. A basic nebulizer would cost around £80-£100. But the faster, better designed and easier to transport nebulizers can cost up to £400. I'm totally dependant on mine, having it regularly serviced and keeping it clean will make it last longer. There are different sorts of nebulizers, including portable battery operated ones, and the new halo light, which is small, quiet and easy to use.

Clement-Clarke have lots of information on their web-site, they don't have the prices, but will send you any information you want. They also sell accessories for nebulizer-the oxygen masks, chambers, leads, batteries, filter packs and year packs.
A vital company for anyone with asthma or breathing related illnesses.

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