Advice please

[Lucy-j-16]

I'm currently in hospital. I'm having nebs but they havnt done anything else. I'm still very wheezy. My peak flow is down to 50% and I'm getting very scared. What should be happening now?

[Asthma-girl]

I'm sorry to hear that you're in hospital, it might be worth speaking to the doctor treating you.

I hope you start to feel better soon

[Damon1864]

So sorry you are in hospital, please try not to be worried or scared, speak to the doctor in charge of you and ask him to explain things to you. Take care and let us know how you get on 😊 Bernadette XXX

[Hidden]

Hi Lucy hope your feeling better soon speak to your doctor if your worried about anything your in the best place big hugs

[yorkieiron]

Hi Lucy, hopefully things are improving, but as already mentioned you are in the right place, during my captures I have had varying types of initial treatment, things ranging from back to back nebs, oxygen, magnesium etc, I trust that they have checked your blood gasses and are keeping you closely observed?

Try not to worry about what they are or aren't doing for you (easier said than done) but if the nebs aren't helping try to speak to somebody.

Fingers crossed that you are feeling better

[BigTim]

The hardest part is not getting scared. I think unless you have had asthma not even the health pros can really appreciate just how frightening it is. I've been rushed in to hospital up to a dozen times over the years - most recently just last weekend. I've found that 111 and 999 operators, GPs, paramedics and ambulance crews do respond very effectively because they are the ones dealing with the immediate crisis. But by the time you get to A&E or are admitted on to a ward the situation is more or less under control, and although you are still wheezing and coughing, by this stage you're heavily nebulised and much less worked up. So to the pros who've seen it all before, you appear to be a lot better than you actually feel. They leave you alone because they are busy, and so you just lie there, complete with Salbutomol headache and the shakes, reflecting on the previous few hours of blue lights, wah-wah sirens and fear. You don't say anything because you don't want to make a fuss - so they assume you're OK and carry one leaving you alone! What should be happening now? Not a lot probably, unless you become very ill again. Hospitals work in a parallel time zone to the rest of the world. There are 620 hospital minutes to a normal hour. Keep a hold of the nurse call button and don't be afraid to use it if things start to get more difficult. But remember that this attack is now behind you. Try to get some sleep. An asthma attack knocks the stuffing right out of you and you need to rest. If you end with Prednisolone pills then sleep will desert you for a week, so make the most of it now! When the Docs come to see you tomorrow pick on one of the more junior ones and talk to them. The question they really respond to is 'How can I help myself?'. I say a junior Doc, not because senior are not good doctors, but the juniors are often more approachable, and more eager to please! Sounds odd, but to them this is another day at the office, although to you it's your one and only life! I've been asthmatic for most of my 58 years and had some scary moments in that time. But things do get better and you learn to live with it. Without doubt you'll get lots of conflicting expert advice. You'll get times when you feel lousy, but you're told that your SATS are good, your chest isn't too noisy, and your PEF is holding up. (Just how some Docs manage to hear your chest with a cheap borrowed stethscope, through a shirt and jumper, in a noisy ward or A&E is one of life's enduring mysteries!). The best asthma expert you have is you - detaching yourself from the immediate fear and panic is essential. The medicos will do what's needed for you, but don't be afraid, politely but firmly, how you can best help yourself. If you feel that you're not being listened to then do be persistent - not rude or angry, but polite and persistent. So, keep strong and know that you're going to be fine.

[Operanut72 in reply to BigTim]

What Big Tim says +++.

Hope you're on the mend at this point. I can't add anything more than what was stated above. But I'll be thinking of you over the next couple of days.

Take care and keep us in the loop.

[Sandie500 in reply to BigTim]

Agree with you Tim - no-one can appreciate how scary an asthma attack is unless they have experienced it themselves!

That's a very nice detailed reply you have given

[Lucy-j-16]

I want to thank everyone for your support. I got really sick last night requiring back to back nebs a couple of times. But today I am a lot better, only having 6 hourly nebs and hopefully to go back onto inhalers tomorrow morning and home in the evening. They want me to have allergy testing, they're also thinking of changing my preventer inhaler back to seretide or something that is the same. I'm going to be seeing the asthma specialist nurse now in the hospital.

I have got to say the nurses have all been brilliant and I can fault the care where I am! I'm just glad I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I've been told it can take my lungs up to 6 weeks to get back to what they were before so it's still going to be a long recovery but I'm feeling more positive today! Xx

[Operanut72 in reply to Lucy-j-16]

That's really good news. Hope things continue to get better. At least this way you'll be better able to look after your little one.

[Hidden in reply to Lucy-j-16]

Awwww great news Lucy glad your on the mend plenty of rest x

[Sandie500 in reply to Lucy-j-16]

So glad to hear that you are feeling better. Asthma is an awful thing to have but I'm lucky in that I haven't actually been admitted to hospital though it has been close at times. I do feel your fear and wish you a speedy recovery.

[Lucy-j-16]

I've taken a bit of a step back I'd nearly managed 24 hours without a neb but I've become wheezy again. My peak flows have been consistently above 400 today though! Fingers crossed I'm still allowed home tomorrow but I have a funny feeling I won't be

[Operanut72 in reply to Lucy-j-16]

Take it easy and take the opportunity for any rest you can get. Hopefully it will settle back down and you'll still get your discharge papers.