Why are asthmatics not believed?

[juliesharp]

Why do so many people including general public, paramedics, nurses, gps, doctors, and non respiratory consultants think asthma is just like a panic attack. They always say if you calm down your breathing will be fine. Or they sit there saying breathe in breathe out breathe in breathe out. What do you think I am trying to do? Do they think we are stupid? I cannot breathe out I am an asthmatic. There is air (or gas) trapped inside my lungs as I am having an asthma attack (ie airways have narrowed). Why is there so much disbelief as to whether a person has asthma? Why is it not being seen as a life threatening or life limiting condition? Why is there so little support? Asthma Attacks put pressure on muscles making people fatigued for several days after an attack. This is not laziness. Why is asthma seen like a fake illness to so many people in this world?

Asthmatics have to fight to breathe yet they also have to fight to be believed!

(disclaimer: I am breathing nicely and do not need a gp or medical attention)

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Why do so many people including general public, paramedics, nurses, gps, doctors, and non respiratory consultants think asthma is just like a panic attack. They always say if you calm down your breathing will be fine. Or they sit there saying breathe in breathe out breathe in breathe out. What do you think I am trying to do? Do they think we are stupid? I cannot breathe out I am an asthmatic. There is air (or gas) trapped inside my lungs as I am having an asthma attack (ie airways have narrowed). Why is there so much disbelief as to whether a person has asthma? Why is it not being seen as a life threatening or life limiting condition? Why is there so little support? Asthma Attacks put pressure on muscles making people fatigued for several days after an attack. This is not laziness. Why is asthma seen like a fake illness to so many people in this world?

Asthmatics have to fight to breathe yet they also have to fight to be believed!

(disclaimer: I am breathing nicely and do not need a gp or medical attention)

Your post is not surprising. The people you mention would need to be in your shoes before they could ever comprehend how you suffer together with millions of other asthmatics. I have always been concerned about the plight of small children with asthma who do not have the understanding of it all as you do. They cannot therefore express themselves as you would and are more at risk of being disbelieved.

There needs to be a greater understanding of asthma and faster responses to attacks. There also needs to be a global campaign against atmospheric air pollution.

[NouveauDruid]

After a month of pain and having tonsillitis, anxiety, and then mild pneumonia diagnosed, I believe I have adult onset asthma. My GP even put me on two rounds of antibiotics, gave me a corticosteroid shot, took blood, x-rays, a CT scan, etc., and still, I am short of breath about 2-3 days a week. Sometimes the inhaler doesn't work, either. I take Mucinex nearly daily and Singulair when the breathing gets very bad. I am uninsured here in the good old U.S. where I make too much money for Medicaid and not enough for Obamacare. Any suggestions as to making my GP diagnose asthma (I am 51 and menopausal, too)? And if so, do you think my medications will change or improve?