Newly Diagnosed and struggling....

[Emzie092]

I was diagnosed with asthma back in March. Ever since I have struggled to get into the rhythm of having the preventer twice a day (I've always been terrible with remembering medication). It's got to the point where I've woken up two nights on the run, struggling to breathe and needing my blue inhaler. I'm always coughing and even just laughing a bit sets me off. I'm really sick of it and I know what I need to try and help with it but I just struggle with it...even a reminder on my phone doesn't work. Tips for getting into the routine of it? I work full time shift work and part time university and I am often on a very tight schedule...

[Chip_y2kuk]

I can only tell you what works for me and I am also terrible with remembering to take medication

I put it somewhere I will see it in the morning and night and what's the first thing we Brits do in the morning and after work....put the kettle on to make a cuppa... my brown inhaler lives on top of the tea caddy

Chip

[freefaller in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Good idea! I keep mine on my bedside table. Have been taking for decades but still can forget.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to freefaller]

Hey they crazy thing is it works... I forget everything which is why me and long term medication don't work.... if it doesn't hurt it's easy to forget... but I drink tea all year round and i can't miss it when it's in my way

[freefaller in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Yeah I go to bed every night and get up every morning but can still forget lol! I keep my tablets by the kettle - again take morning and evening but still forget them too occasionally! Think that's because my partner drinks more tea than me and generally makes that first cuppa. I tend to do well for the first 6 months on anew regime and then, when I should be used to it start forgetting. It is probably because I am feeling better and don't feel the need to take the medication? Maybe my brain is shrinking lol.

[hattonvilla]

A good idea is to keep your preventer inhaler with your toothpaste,and to take prior to brushing,this firstly prompts before and after bedtime use,and also can help prompt mouth rinsing after using inhaler,hope this helps

[lakelover]

Leave a reminder in your bathroom so you see it at night & in the morning.

[Celticsandy]

Fair play to you your doing a lot. It is scary to wake struggling to breathe so I think if my sleep is disturbed I won't be able to function properly during day or night so I have to take my inhaler to get proper rest. Please put your lungs first and use whatever to remind you. My mom had emphysema and asthma please take your inhaler

[ChrissieMons]

Part of missing the medication is sometimes the thought that it is kind of giving in to it, so your subconscious rebels against the routine needed. Give yourself a thorough talking to (on your own, of course!) It is the only way to manage this condition. The reminder app on the phone might help if you do it straight away, not 'ok, got it, let me finish my tea' or whatever; then you forget again. Make sure you have enough time in the morning to have a whole 5 minutes to take the inhaler and brush/rinse, as it is no good taking it in a gasp: the stuff hits your throat and slides into your tum instead of being inhaled gently into your lungs where it can work.

It takes a while, but you'll get there in the end.

[healthwish]

I keep a diary in the kitchen and open it first thing every morning then i have my medication in a wee lunch box i sit it on kitchen counter beside diary. I hav breakfast then take my meds and record the time i took them in diary. I go to work hav another wee bag of medication which goes into my work bag aand travels with me everywhere i go incase of emergencies. When i come home i go to kitchen and my wee diary is there which reminds me to take my medication. We cannot forget our medication and inhalers. We hav to learn how to cope wi asthma and know the importance of medicines. Be proactive not reactive. Hope u develop a plan.

[WHOA]

I put a recurring reminder in the phone calendar and everyday without fail comes on. This is a good memory jogger.