Hello! My name is Jessica, I am 33 years old. About 3 1/2 weeks ago I had my first severe asthma attack. I've been struggling with asthma for about 10 years but it's been progressively getting worse. I have rescues but it's never been well controlled. A couple weeks ago I was cleaning and then gave my dogs a bath. All of a sudden my throat and lungs felt like they were closing. My rescue inhaler after multiple puffs was not working. I called 911 and went outside. My neighbor was out there and saw me and asked if I was ok. I said no and he called 911 and sat down on my porch. I was getting tiny amounts of oxygen and sat down with my neighbor and that's the last I remember. I woke up in a dark room, my hands were handcuffed to a post and I had a tube down my throat. They took the tube out and off with the cuffs. I was disoriented and thought it was the same day I had the attack. I txt my mom and told her where I was. My neighbor txt me and said I had passed out as soon as I sat down, my lips turned blue, and started having a seizure..... and that was 2 days ago. I was in ICU for 3 days (unconscious for 2 of them) and then admitted to the hospital for another 2. On a ventilator, the nurse said she and others were "bagging me for 4 hours" whatever that means. I was in respiratory arrest and ventilated
This was 2 1/2 weeks ago that I was discharged. I still have not been back to work.
The last 2 weeks have been some of the hardest I've been though. I have laryngitis, my throat was so sore I was crying every time I swallowed. I was making there weird noises breathing. My whole body hurt. I would wake up gasping for air. Using my nebulizer every 4 hours, completely exhausted but couldn't sleep, couldn't cough, just terrible!!
As of today..... it has gotten so much better and I'm so very thankful for that and to be here. The doctors said I was very lucky.
Here is my question.... is it "normal" to still be feeling exhausted and unwell? Throat still hurting too. How long does this recovery usually take? I still don't have much of a voice, will this return? Ugh this is so hard and I have nobody to talk to. I see my doctor next week so I will chat with him too just wondering from anyone who's experienced this. Thanks for your time!
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Hi jess hope ur feeling better soon I was rushed in icu in November put asleep for a week with life threating asthma which I didn't know I had I also had pneumonia septis it does take a while to get better u will get there I couldn't sleep when I come home my throat was really sore I was also having panic attacks because of the trauma I had been thro am just starting to feel better now after 4 months u will get there Hun good luck
Thank you! Wow!! 4 months!? And whole week being out, ventilated and intubated.... im thinking this causes a lot of trauma to our bodies. Guess because we're out we don't really understand and see what our body just went through! I'm glad you are feeling better. Thanks so much for sharing. ~Jess
Poor you! That was a pretty nasty attack! I've never had an attack that bad before. My problem is the asthma leads to bad chest infections which means I wind up in hospital. Still, you have been very, very ill. It takes time to recover. Listen to your body and try to take the time to get well. I know it is hard. I have two kids and it's hard for me to be unwell and have to rely on friends and my husband, but sometimes it is what I have to do. Take it easy and I hope you start feeling better soon. x
Thank you! Think I'm still in denial or shock..... I wanted to go back to work the week I got out! My body had other ideas! But yes, very hard!! I'm trying to listen to it and not push myself too hard to where I wind up right back in! But like I said to Sarah above I think my body went through a heck of a lot more than my mind can comprehend.... or maybe wants to admit. Thank you so much for the advice and comment. And I hope you are and continue to do well yourself! -jess
Oh my heart goes out to you. I was in icu last sept for a week. Ventilated. I lost my voice and was drained and exhausted. It took me four months to recover from that episode. On max amount of meds and still taking attacks. As for my voice...well half a sentence is normal and then I sound like I sucked on helium! It's frightening and I hope you have good support. I have started pulmonary rehabilitation yesterday and ended up taking an attack.
Please don't be alone. I would have been lost without this site and lovely people on it. Xx
Woooow! 1 week and 4 months recovery??! I had no idea how bad it can be! Can't believe it can take so long to recover and do so much to our bodies! It's just crazy to me. Glad you are seeing somebody and I hope they get it under control! I feel terrible for those of you who have got it worse! I seriously wouldn't wish what I went through on anybody, let alone more. What is pulmonary rehab? Did this cause the attack? And thank you! I'm defiantly glad to have found this place! Nobody out here understands..... I feel like I'm expected to feel and be a certain way by now, but I'm still just not at a good point and I know it and feel it. It's just so extremely frustrating that nobody understands and expects more from me than I can possibly do at this point.
Awe your ok. Pul. Rehab. It's basic gentle exercise to try and assess your threshold while under medical supervision, respiratory nurses and physio. Ten weeks of assessments. I managed to walk for five minutes and then ended up in wheelchair to be brought back to main area. I'm 58 and work full time until last September. Sadly I'm now permanently of work. It's been a huge shift in my life and live alone. I was shocked and devastated at the trauma my body experienced and my head just would accept my new reality. Three weeks ago I took another really bad attack and it floored me again. I had built up from bed bound to 15/20 walking and then bang...back where I started. I guess what I'm trying to show you is that recovery isn't a fast process and adjustment to new life style, which seems to be permanent, isn't an easy adjustment. 😂 I was like you in the beginning. It's the way things are and accepting that is painful. Rest as much as you can my dear and take all the help offered. Remain blessed and as well as possible xx
I'm gemma I'm 32 and suffered with brittle asthma for past 20 years. i have too been ventilated 5 times in very simliar circumstances to you and numerous ITU admissions. Hospitals stays have ranges from 2 weeks to 3 months.
Firstly I wanted to say, you have been through a massive trauma, being ventilated as I always explain to people for me is almost like being reborn, you almost have to retrain your body to do simple things like walk, think, mine was always writing I found difficult. I also use to be an ITU nurse and I cannot emphasise enough the traumatic effect being ventilated has on the body, the drugs used to keep you asleep, the lines, the unnatural environment then list goes on. As a result the journey back is VERY challenging and you must allow (as frustrating as it is) as we are similar ages,want to be better straight away I totally get it Hun
Energy will be the hardest things, remember there will be inflammation in your lungs still despite the attack being over, your airways will be exceptionally vulnerable and so your body will be working harder than usual using its energy and oxygen for your lungs!
Give you self time and treat that body like glass. It's taken me many years to accept and manage my asthma after servers attacks, I have always pushed myself to soon and ended up taking 2 steps forward 5 steps back. I wish I could give you a time line, but everyone is different. The most important thing Is to have regular gp vsists to go oever things, helps for reassurance that it is normal to feel unwell after these type of attacks.
Also do you have a resp nurse, you should after an attack like that to re discuss your management. Don't accept this as one of those things that happened, make a fuss.
Your gonna be tired, drained, sore (all over not just your throat), possible flash backs, moments of anger, tears all of the above. Ventilation is a last result for asthmatics and I don't say that to scare you but to remind you to give yourself a break and listen to your body and if it can't do everything you want it to at the moment don't give up. It will get back to normal but you need to pace yourself. If you broke your leg you wouldn't start just walking again, it's no different to an asthma attack (other than asthma is life threatening)
The actual sore throats should result in a few weeks but mine could be sore for a month. Ice, and spray for the Gp can help numb it. There is is no harm taking some paracetamol to help with the soreness too. The energy is horrible and you have my deepest sympathy. Usually it is a few months before I feel "normal" but as I say everyone is different.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact, what a lot you have been though and to reassure you everything your describing is totally normal and does last a few month. I can actually say that from a medical profession (nurse for 11 years) but more importantly a fellow asthmatic who has been there! Also you may find your sleep pattern is knocked out?
I'm sorry for your experiences but I want to thank you so much for sharing and the advice and reassurance. This is exactly what I needed. And yes, My sleep pattern is complete messed up.
Hi, allow yourself time to recover. Your body is telling you something.
It sounds as if you have some allergies, (cleaning and then dog baths). Have you had allergy tests - dust, dust mites, cow's milk, grass pollen, fruits, cats, dogs - just to name a few? Any of them can be triggers even if you have previously been okay with them. Keeping a food diary/general diary will help to find out if you have allergies & what triggers it. A skin test does not always let you know about food allergies. Cow's milk creates phlegm, some people with narrow airways cannot get cough it up and it reinfects the body. Were you given a peak flow meter? Have you got an asthma nurse?
In Germany, thyme and sage tea are used for colds/coughs, you can sweeten with honey. Coffee helps opens up airways, but KEEP USING YOUR MEDS please. Green Tea helps too. Fish oils (anybody remember getting cod liver oil!) help build your immunity to infections. Tai Chi/Qigong exercises are gentle and can help strengthen your lungs. While exercise helps, chlorine levels in swimming baths does not! Extreme cold (air) can trigger it too, use inhalers before doing exercise.
Homeopathic remedies help too. They can be used with your meds. Ask to be referred to a qualified homeopathic doctor who is qualified in both.
You KNOW how you feel best. In the extreme case, if you are ill, have a temperature and the inhalers are not working , with your extremities cold and turning blue, please please go to the hospital, even if your GP has checked you out and said that you are okay. Cold extremities and blue fingers are not okay, it means that you are not getting enough oxygen to those parts and can be critical esp for young children.
This is not meant to scare anybody, just to make you aware that you are in charge of your own health and body - so please do not get on your high horse about all this. If you know the triggers, it will help manage it so you can get on with your life.
Singing or playing a wind instrument helps strengthen lungs too
Thank you. Well after this I am now seeing a specialist. I am not well enough (in my Dr.'s opinion) to undergo allergy testing just yet. He does however believe this near fatal attack was caused by allergens. He gave me a Epi pen and lots of meds until I can go do allergy tests and get on a long-term treatment plan. I was prescribed but need to pick up my peak flow... just this week feeling well enough to go pick up.
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