First serious attack since I was 21

[Ph1llip]

I took myself to West Mid A&E last Saturday feeling awful. Within 2 minutes of my arrival I was on a nebuliser and, 6 hours later, having been offered a bed for the night chose to go home instead. That was the worst attack I’d had in over 3 decades and I found the experience rather shocking.

I’ve managed very well over the years with just Ventolin so to now be on Seretide for the next two weeks adds to the level of shock. I’ve taken the week off work but now several days later still feel as though I’ve run a marathon. Just walking 12 feet across the room leaves me exhausted and gurgling in the chest.

A fortnight ago, I spent 8 hours playing in a tennis tournament; now I don’t think I could walk the length of the court.

Will this general debilitation last long?

[Snowdrop27]

It takes some time to recover from a very bad attack like this. Plus the seretide needs time to kick in. So my advice take one day at a time. If you need more time off work do it. I presume you seen your asthma nurse or doctor. Do you have an asthma plan? You need time to recover from the marathon your body has just done. It will get better

[Ph1llip in reply to Snowdrop27]

My GP prescribed the Seretide though I don’t have an asthma plan. For the last 30 years I’ve been in fine fettle so I’m a bit miffed to be laid so low right now. Handily I’m my own boss so taking time off work is no problem.

Actually, Elana, I’m really pissed off that my body has let me down so seriously and so unexpectedly. I’m off to Egypt on January 1 and want nothing to interfere with that!

[Hidden in reply to Ph1llip]

have you been under stress recently? or have you had injections ready for egypt? either of these could have created a flare up. Get plenty of rest and take your meds as you have been told. A few strict dvd days and your body should start to recover if you where fully healthy before this episode.

[Wheezycat in reply to Ph1llip]

Something similar happened to me. I was only diagnosed in 2014,aged 65, though I think the signs and early stages were there long before. For the first couple of years I considered it so mild I wondered if I was making a fuss for basically nothing. Then in June 2016 I ended up in hospital for four days with an asthma attack after a period of suffering the effects and after effects of a chest infection. Suddenly my meds went up significantly, I couldn’t consider waking 25 yards, and i felt dreadful. I recovered, but it took awhile. I also felt my body was acting in ways I had never experienced before, and since then I have been on a constant learning curve to work out what I may have problems with. I have been fine, basically until I got a cold earlier this autumn, when again I felt like I was put through a mangle, though I didn’t end up in hospital this time. I5 took me two months before I really felt normal and could trust it.

It is hard, isn’t it! And hard to come to terms with, fo me at any rate. Best of luck to you, stay in touch here, there is loads of good support.

[kate_uk]

It took me 5 weeks to feel 100% better after my last attack, I was back to work after 2 weeks simply because sitting around the house was driving me nuts, but with hindsight I probably should have taken an extra week off, I wasn't really well enough to be productive. Listening to our bodies is difficult when we are usually well. Take it easy and go at your own pace.

[Ph1llip in reply to kate_uk]

Handily for me, I run my own business so taking extra time or just working for a few hours per day is easy to organise. I live by myself so, like you, I’m bored stiff. I’d like to get the Hoover out (just for a change of activity) but I don’t have the energy!