Hopeless asthmatic

[lyndogg21]

I have had severe asthma since I was 2 years old. I’ve been struggling with it all of my life and now that I’m 21 it’s still not well controlled. I’ve been hospitalized more times than I can count. Lately, my nebulizer isn’t helping because my biggest issue is the congestion. I can’t sleep, can’t hangout with my friends, truly can’t enjoy life like a 21 year old because my congestion and difficulty breathing is so bad and uncontrollable. All my doctor wants to do is put me on more and more steroids or antibiotics and that isn’t what I need. I take regular mucinex sometimes- which I thought was helping but lately I’m not so sure.

I’m losing hope. I am sick and tired of waking up in the middle of the night feeling like I am suffocating. I want to enjoy my life, friends, and family but I am starting to feel like it would be easier if I just let it take me out. Does anyone have any advice. Willing to try anything at this point

[Hidden]

Hi lyndogg21

Welcome to the forum. I'm sure lots of people here will be able to share similar experiences and feelings about their asthma taking over. It sounds like you've had a rough time. Everyone is different, and we all need different kinds of support. It is worth thinking about what kind of support is most useful to you – have you got people you can share your bad days with, people who will cheer on your good days?

You can chat through information about medications and treatments to talk to your GP with the Asthma UK nurse team, they can be reached on 0300 222 5800 or on WhatsApp chat on 07378 606 728 (M-F, 9-5).

Take care,

Dita

[ChrissieMons]

I realy think Dita's advice is best. You need to talk this through with someone who understands, especially as you are getting so depressed about it (understandably!). You should have a consultant and if your present one is no help, get a 2nd opinion on what will help you. You have to discuss all of your lifestyle, meds and activities, so a clear picture of your life emerges and you can't really do that here. If you take some positive action, you might just feel better quite soon. I do hope so.

[Marthabob]

I am not knowledgable enough to help and I know we all have different triggers.

Do you keep a close eye on your diet and have you discovered what foods are likely to increase the production of mucous in your lungs?

I find dairy and wheat have a very detrimental effect on me and give me that feeling of suffocation.

[Taztarr]

Hi lyndogg, I can sympathise and emphasise with your frustration and developing depression, it must be awful.

However, you're young and research is continually making life more bearable for asthmatics and one day in your lifetime there may even be a cure or "take and forget" medication.

These aren't empty words or an old guy patronising you (though it may sound like it). My mother, who died 20 years ago now, was an asthmatic from the day I was born. That was 1954 and the only relief she had was a hand held atomizer. It was literally like a perfume atomizer, a device with glass tubes and a rubber bulb that she squeezed in her palm in order to spray a mist into her mouth to inhale. Then came the aerosol inhalers we know now. In the 60s she started cortisone injections every other day administered by the district nurse. From then on new medications came thick and fast.

I developed late onset asthma 15 years ago and it is kept under control by medications that would have been unknown to her.

So although it may feel unbearable to you right now hang on in there because the future, which you will see not me, is much, much brighter.

[Hidden]

I dont know what its like to be going through what you are experiencing but its obvious you are struggling to cope mentally and physically and it must be terrible.

As lyndogg says talk frankly to your GP and talk to the asthma nurses it can only help.

It may be worth getting blood tests done to find what you are allergic to.

An allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) test measures the levels of different IgE antibodies and is the only reliable test when it comes to allergies.

[emmasue]

Hi, I have had asthma since I was 2. I am now in my early 40's. During my 30's I went through a phase where my asthma wasn't well controlled. It took a hospital stay for me to be referred to a respiratory consultant. After years of tinkering with medication, my asthma is far better controlled. I still ended up in hospital in March with the flu, but overall, my symptoms are better controlled. I think you need to go back to your GP and demand that you are referred to a respiratory consultant. You need help. Contacting Asthma UK is good as well. Good luck and hope things get better soon. x