Dilemma

[Annista]

I've just had an email from Allergy UK asking me if I work in an office and, if so, whether the environment affects my allergies. The answer to both these questions is yes.

Then comes question 3 - would I be prepared to talk to the media about it?

The short answer is that I don't know. On one hand, I kind of feel that anything that helps to raise awareness of the problems asthma and allergy sufferers face is a good thing. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure I'd be embarrassed and self conscious talking about it. And I'm not sure how my boss would feel about it - he's really understanding but would he understand if I publicly stated that my asthma is much worse when I'm at work?

The only decision I've been able to come to is that I should stop dithering and ask for some other opinions.

So, what do you think? Anybody had any experience of this sort of thing, or strong opinions either way.

Help!

[Hidden]

I've had this - not been emailed directly but have seen appeals for similar things asthma-related which I fit and have felt like I should come forward, but I'm not really comfortable talking about it in public! Anything else, like my job, I wouldn't mind so much (I'm not scared of public speaking per se), but like you I'd feel really self-conscious discussing my asthma like that! I find it hard enough to do in appointments...

So no real solution to that - except that maybe if you feel really uncomfortable, don't do it, maybe try to do something else so you feel like you're doing your bit for awareness? Do you know what's involved exactly, or can you ask for more details? I'd want to have as much info as possible.

Re your boss: if you do decide you'd like to do this, could you have a quiet word about it with him first? If he's understanding generally, maybe you could say you really want to raise awareness and you're not saying it's his fault or that anyone at work is making you worse on purpose, but that it's something you and other asthmatics have to deal with wherever they work? You're not obliged to, but if he's generally supportive and helpful it might be nice to let him know beforehand what you're doing and why so he knows it's not a veiled criticism of him.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Re your boss: if you do decide you'd like to do this, could you have a quiet word about it with him first? If he's understanding generally, maybe you could say you really want to raise awareness and you're not saying it's his fault or that anyone at work is making you worse on purpose, but that it's something you and other asthmatics have to deal with wherever they work? You're not obliged to, but if he's generally supportive and helpful it might be nice to let him know beforehand what you're doing and why so he knows it's not a veiled criticism of him.

Thats what i was thinking too

I'm the opposite actually. My asthma is not particularly bad usually (and when it is everyone knows about it cos i'm a cougher LOL), i've come to accept it and now it doesn't bother me talking about it to anyone. I will say though, i've been diagnosed asthmatic now for about 24 years and it's only in the last 3-4 years or so that i've come to this way of thinking. I will now take my inhaler if i need it rather than trying to wait until i'm alone or wahtever.

[Annista]

Philomela, that's very good advice. I've asked Allergy UK for more details and then I'll speak to my boss before making a decision.

Jinglefairy, I'm sometimes a cougher too. My last really bad patch was about 6 months of constant coughing, but the time before that was a long visit from Steve the boa constrictor. I don't know which is worse, and one of the reasons I'm reluctant to talk about it to people I don't know is that I can't say with certainty how a trigger will affect me so I feel that I come across as a dithering idiot!

Thank you both for the input.

[Hidden]

Hello

I had this email (a couple of times) think it must go to all registered at Allergy UK.

I would say if you feel you are an apprppriate candidate (my asthma isn't generally worse at work eventhough i work in an office) and you clear it with your employer then go for it bet if would be a really good experience