To breathe or not to breathe. (My Experience of Asthma)

Name: beckslayer

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Product:	My Experience of Asthma
Date:	05/10/01 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: nothing, still nothing

Disadvantages: everything, blue lips

I am 25 years old and I'm an Asthmatic. For the first seven years of my life I did not suffer at all, then one sunny afternoon at my schools sports day it became all to apparent. I remember being so scared on my first attack that I wet my pants; I was never a child with that problem. I was fighting to get my breath, writhing on the ground, as both the teachers and the other children looked on in amaze. The more I panic the harder it became to get in any air.

"She must have been stung," cried the teacher.
"Becky, Becky, come on calm down, it will stop stinging soon"

Then I blacked out.

That was my first encounter with the darkness they called Asthma.

The doctors were great the explained my condition, but I was still very scared, when would it come to get me again?

At the time there were few children who suffered as I did, others knew me as 'gaspy' or 'can't breathe, pees her pants'. But I lived with it I had medication that controlled it, I used an inhaler that took capsules, that could be quite hard to use while you were struggling to breath and in a state of panic. After awhile I became immune to the comments and learnt to read my condition quite well.

Many years passed with out a full-scale attack, at one point I thought I must have grown out of it, but I hadn't.

At 19 I had a horrific attack, I had been out on the town with my friends and we had a rather heated argument, I struggled to breath. Foolishly I had forgotten my inhaler, I had gotten complacent after so many attack free years. One of the boys in our group was trying to help me to hold me upright, the police pulled over at the side of the road. They thought that I was being attacked.

"Move away from the girl" the policeman bellowed.
'She's having an Asthma attack and I can?t help her" he replied.

I remember very little from there some b
lurred recollections of struggling in the Ambulance, the heart monitor beeping and requesting the medic 'check patient'. My heart was struggling to cope with the strain, tears welled in my eyes was this it, was this all I would have of my life?

I woke 18 hours later, to hear the drips, monitors and a respirator singing there song of beeps, buzzers and sighs. I was I terrible pain my ribs hurt like I had never felt pain before. I managed to turn my head slightly awkward breath rasping from my blue lips. There I saw my mother sitting head in hands. I tried to speak to reassure her I was awake and alive, all that left my mouth was a rattling growl, but she lifted her head and with swollen red eyes she saw me. I tried to smile but she wouldn't see it my face was covered by too many things. She still knew and she smiled too.

I had suffered suck a bad attack my rib had broken and punctured my lung, I was very luck to survive.

I was put on various medication including steroids for many months. I went from my usual if I say so nice size 10 athletic figure to being many stones heavier and a size 18. I went into a period of depression, but in order for my respiratory system to recover fully I needed to take my medication.

Again I had a period with no attacks, I took my medication and things had improved, but I had to aware of my limits and that my heart had been affected by all the strain. However some things happen anyway and in the winter of 1999 I became very ill again.

It started out with a chest infection, which prompted my asthma. Eventually I ended up with bronchial pneumonia and pleurisy. Again I was extremely I'll I really believed that this was the end. I spent several weeks in hospital on endless medication and yes the awful steroids again. The side effects were just as bad, nausea and vomiting, intense pains in my chest for which I took a morphine based pain killer the only thing they could find to
help ease my pain. The pain killers made my very drowsy and I felt out of body most of the time, they also came with constipation for which I was given another drug, and so on and so on.

I left the hospital for the millennium but spent it vomiting on the sofa at my parent's house. I was very I'll and missing out on the biggest New Year celebration ever.

I have recovered from all these episodes and hopefully (touch wood) I have been fine since.

My advice is always take Asthma very seriously, I know I am an extreme case, but it is dangerous and it is a killer. Listen to your doctor; he will give the best advice. Find out what triggers you Asthma (what can cause an attack) my triggers and stress, anxiety, dust, pollen and dairy products.

Another great thing I have found is specialist Asthmatic bedding. You can now like me get mattresses, quilts pillows and special sheets. My mattress has changed my condition greatly; I know sleep very well with out interruption and feel much more rested. They can be very expensive, but what price is your health.

There are also many forms of Asthma medication and as many different forms of delivery. If you have problems taking in your medication, don?t be ashamed to ask for help, I have a special spacer device that helps me take my inhaler correctly, which is especially helpful with steroid inhalers, which prevent the attacks.

I can be confusing with so many different medications, some are for prevention i.e. Becotide, some for prevention i.e. Ventolin and Ventide, some do both in one go. So many colours, so many names, if you are unsure get advice. No one will be mad if you ask questions.

If you don't have Asthma, you can help people who do. If you're with somebody when they have an attack, don't fuss and panic it will have the same effect on them, especially with children (trust me I know). Don't crowd them Asthmatics tend to feel very confin
ed because of their breathing, so don't crowd them you will make them feel much worse. Just make sure they are comfortable and if the seem to be getting worse not better after taking there inhaler, call for assistance.

The main thing I will say is never forget what a threat Asthma is, don't be scared of it, but never underestimate it. It may lie dormant, but it is there. Surfers still ride the waves, but they remain aware of the sharks that swim beneath them!!

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