2 weeks later... 🙄 (but I am a disobedient asthmatic 😝)

[EmmaF91]

So I’m back in a&e 2 weeks after my last discharge 😒. Came down with a chest infection at the weekend (which I think I picked up from the hosp) and got ABs in Monday. 5 days later ABs are finished but I’m still not great (pretty sure I’ve picked up the cold everyone else in my family has 😷). Back to the GP today at 5.30 who wanted me to go straight to hosp (crackles, mild temp, not a normal speech pattern, poor airflow, maybe a bit of silent chest 🤫). Now I didn’t feel too bad (PF low but responding to ventolin) and we had family friends coming round of Chinese in the evening... guess what naughty Emma did with the choice of an a&e sandwich or Chinese with friends (and presents 😉)...

4 hrs after I was ‘sent’ I’ve now arrived and waiting in a&e... not sure what they’re going to do with me yet but at least I got my Chinese... stomach and social life before lungs! Anyone else done this? I won’t tell if you don’t! 🙈🙊🙉🤫🤫🤫

[Lotti_321-]

Oh I do this all the time! I’m so stubborn & I give up so much because of my lungs. So when there’s something I want to do; especially regarding my social life I dig my heels and regret it later.

I hope you are alright and hope you don’t get kept in. I’ve recently had a chest infection that I’ve not fully got over & now got a

Cold that’s doing the rounds. So we’ll see how that plays out. Oh the joys of having asthma!!!

[Wheezycat]

No, I have never had the opportunity. I hope all goes well for you tonight and you don’t have to stay in.

I thought of you the other day when I switched on the tv and there was the film Trolls. Because of what you said then I decided to watch it. Have never seen it before. It was more to it than I expected, and I quite enjoyed it. I can see why it could become a go-to film.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Wheezycat]

GP at triage found it hilarious and now cause me ‘Chinese girl’... at least I made her night! I’ve lucked out and got a medic I’ve had before so already on a combi-neb and hydro is on order 😅. A cons will then decide if I need mag +/- ABs. Hoping to get out tonight or tomorrow at the latest!

Yes trolls is more than you’d expect and a good hosp film 😉. Unfortunately I had to delete it to make room to film my bros passing out ceremony 😢

Hope you’re started to feel a little better now xxx

[Hidden]

Speedy recovery keep.us posted

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Will do. There’s currently a 2-3hr wait in ‘rapid’ assessment if you’re not coming in with a resp/cardio ting 😅

[Js706]

Oh nooo! Glad you got your Chinese though 😜 I definitely understand your decision making there!!

I’ve also got the joys of bugs from family over Christmas! 🙄 I guess they do say sharing is caring 😂

Hoping to stay in bed but may have to wave the flag overnight - hoping not as I’m with family and so nowhere near my normal hospital!

Hope you’re out soon!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

Oh Jess... and you had done so well reaching the 6 week mark! Yes sometimes family is just too giving! Chinese was great tho I missed dessert 😞.

I too am with family so back at my old ‘new’ hosp 😅. I’m just glad I’m not at my new new hospital. Last time they kept me in 2 nights despite me feeling fine... if they saw me like this I think it’d be a week 😅. Was meant to have an AN review with them tomorrow but postponed it due to being 3 county’s away 😅... hopefully I’ll be better by next weekend 🤞🏻

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Oh nooo 😩 I’m currently propped up in bed with a tub of mini marshmallows I got for Christmas 😂

Fingers crossed for a speedy review and stay then! Ouch on the wait time to be seen though 😱

I really don’t like going to a&e here, it doesn’t run quite as quickly as my local one and is a 25 min drive rather than 2 mins round the corner so hopefully I’ll manage to stay out but my pf has been steadily dropping all day regardless of ventolin use (currently 250, was 410 yesterday 🙄) so not convinced!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

I bought a tube of pringles with me for if I do get the munchies 🤤. Luckily I’m more savoury than sweet so I’m sorted ☺️. I reckon they’ll kick me out tonight/tomorrow... there is a bed shortage (surprise surprise) and mepo has made me a non-wheezy asthmatic! It’s really bizarre being at 40% PF but not wheezy - normally by then I sound like a chuff-chuff train 🚂!

Neb picked me up from 260 to 390 but already dropped back to 340 within 1 1/2 hrs 🙄. Still waiting for my hydro (and bloods etc) 😞. However for once breathing in is harder than out! Good old chest infections 👍😅. Obs just done and surprisingly enough after sitting for 2 1/2hr my HR and BP are lower than after I walked into triage 😆.

25 mins is about the same distance for me as this hosp. My new one is 30-40 mins by blue lighting ambulance 😅 (60-90 mins by car). Come join me in the fun of Friday night a&e! Already seen 1 lad wandering round with his hands in the air (bone deep laceration on thumb) and his trousers by his knees (no belt and no hands to pull them up with!) 🤣

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Yeah I definitely prefer savoury too! Planning to go raid the leftover Christmas cheese if I can’t get to sleep 😂

Weird! On the other hand I sound like I have an orchestra in my chest 😂 (not a very talented one mind you!). Ugh hope you get your hydro etc soon!

Got to love Friday a&e! 😜 I feel bad for laughing but that sounds rather hilarious!

Stuck in the awkwardness of I hate calling ambulances if I can get there myself (and my mum often prefers to just bundle me in the car and pelt down the motorway rather than wait!) but I’ve walked in unable to speak once before and got sent to minors for assessment (cue very panicked transfer to resus 😂) so don’t really want a repeat of that!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

Do it! 🧀 🧀 🧀

It is! Lungs have reverted back to like they were before they were a pain in the ass... little or no wheeze even if I have little/no air flow. Very worried GP with the silent chest but meh it wasn’t that bad!

I’ve had to ask for another neb which means they need to find a doc to write it up... which will arrive first do you think? The hydro or the nebs?

It was very amusing watching him waddle out... now have a drunk/mental health patient kicking off and being threatened with security/the bill if she doesn’t settle soon (looks like a head injury if some sort).

Only been in a ‘proper’ ambulance once! Always been dropped off or caught the bus otherwise (even when at resus level 😅). Oh how triage can be pot luck - you defo don’t want a repeat of that! Today the triage GP took me to majors lite who looked at me and my obs and ‘nope!’ 😂Forwarded to (not so much) rapids.

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Hahaha ooooh who knows! Both together would be nice? 😂

Oh dear 😔 hopefully that all calms down too!

Yeah, I’ve only had them really when others insist on ringing! I’ve called them once or twice myself but only when it’s been the middle of the night and I’m home alone with no cash for taxis!

Oh dear 😂 hope it becomes rapid soon, meanwhile I’m off to search the fridge! 🧀🧀🧀

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

Ah she’s not too bad as she’s left for some ‘fresh air’. She didn’t want to be hear so don’t know if she and her sister/friend will return.

Only rang for the last one as I’m now living alone in an area where I have no friends/family yet (had literally just moved there for work 2 days before). Had great fun on the phone ‘gasp-word-word-gasp’ 😅. Apparently they had the air ambulance on call just in case cause I’m so far from the hosp 😅🤣. Ambulance crew told me that with my history call as soon as I start contemplating hospital so they can get to me in time... I’m not that bad!

Had bloods done and cannula is in situ! Hydro is looking more promising as already prescribed!

Hope the cheese is good! X

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to EmmaF91]

And the neb wins!!! 🥇 🏆 🎉

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to EmmaF91]

And had my 200 of hydro 💉 🙌 🎉

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Oh Emma what are you like 😜 always causing such a fuss 😂

Glad you got them both! 🎉 fingers crossed the hydro kicks in soon.

The cheese was excellent👌 although did have to have a break heading back up to bed as I’m in the converted loft here 😂

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

This doc seems to be happy sending me home tonight. PF at 400/630 post neb and hydro. In the next hour I’ll expect it to drop again (unless hydros really kicked in). No wheeze and I can talk in sentences so I’m fine 🙄. Bloods are good so no ABs. I swear I live in opposite land! I think I should be in I get sent home, think I should be at home I’m kept in! Oh well, let’s see what the morrow brings!

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Hmmm quite surprised by that really! Particularly as ye olde witching hour is here!

Ah well, fingers crossed it does all kick in super well and everything stays well behaved!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

Yeah this a&e cons doesn’t follow asthma protocol (had him before and he sent me home too soon then too)... ‘he’s asthmatic so he knows’ 🙄. Just woken my dad up for a lift home. We all assumed that presenting at 9/10ish would mean an overnighter for me but nope! Oh well worse comes to worse I return tomorrow 🤨😒. At least I can sleep in my own bed tonight (or any bed as I think I’d have been made to stay on the chairs if I insisted on waiting! 😴😅

Glad you had some yummy scrummy cheese, tho if you’re having to pause on the way back to bed it does sound like you’re heading for trouble!

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Oh that’s my favourite type! 🙄 hope you won’t have to return but at least you will definitely have a bed tonight!

It was 2 flights of stairs to be fair! But also just needed a rest coming up 1 from the loo so it isn’t looking promising 😩 it’s annoying because I’m not overly wheezy while lying down, just reallyyyy tight (I know this may well be my quiet chest appearing but I’m choosing to believe it isn’t for now 😂)

Have agreed with myself I’ll probably go in if my symptoms wake me up at all tonight - although that does require me to get to sleep first! 😂🙄😴

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

Yup 🙄. I’ve hit the hydro high so it looks like it’s going to be a YouTube night and hope I drop off at some point!

Definitely doesn’t sound promising! But think positive - maybe tonight you’re getting over the hump of the cold and you’ll start feeling better tomorrow... you can always hope!

Just got home and either the time frame or the stairs has dropped me slightly down to 55% 🙄.

My plans for daylight hours. If I’m back down at 260ish and feeling it I’ll return to hosp. If I’m just feeling a little dodgy I’ll ring my new local asthma team for advice. Hoping for a phone call!

I’m signing off to lay down and pretend to sleep! (My hydro head bobble has hit! Shake-shake, shake-shake-sh-shake it!😅)

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Yeah I’ve got the audiobooks going😂 oh dear, hope it’s just the stairs and it picks up so you can get away with a phone call!

That’s what I’m hoping🤞🤞 although I only woke up with the symptoms this morning 😩 lungs eh? Not worth the fuss!

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to EmmaF91]

There's a nurse who has asthma so she knows too. Luckily we're all exactly the same and react exactly the same and have exactly the same lung health and medications to which we all react in exactly the same way. Awesome. Anyway I hope going home won't prove to be premature for you and you can do some good pretend sleeping 👍

[Hidden]

2 -3 hours my...hope you get seen soon my dear

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Been seen by a advance clinical practitioner hence being able to have nebs and hydro (when it arrives 🙄). It being resp I’m getting seen a little quicker 😅

[Hidden in reply to EmmaF91]

Glad to hear you are good luck

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Being sent home (2AMish). 2x5ml salbutamol neb, 2x atrovent, 200ml hydrocortisone. PF at 60% post neb (I have a known habit of dropping 2-3hrs after which I did after the first combi-neb 🙄). But no wheeze, can talk normally and bloods are ok. Hoping it’ll last and that the hydro kicks in so I can maintain! Hope you’re well x

[Melanie1989]

Ugh i hate how some dr's ignore asthma protocols. I have been to hospital so many times with the same presentation but treated differently everytime! On my last visit i have never been so grateful to hear a wheeze!

I hope things improve for you and your early release hasnt made things worse. (P.S i am disobediant with my asthma and have been known to drive myself to hospital 🙈 hope the chinese was good though!)

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Melanie1989]

It’s such pot luck!

Thank you. PFs now 290/300 so just below 50% for me. Tbh the restriction seems more in than out so probably more due to the infection not asthma. Going to ring my team and ask their advice...

The Chinese and social were great! Much better than an a&e sandwich!!! 😂. I won’t tell... I used to get the bus to hospital (resus) until I moved to a house further away from the hosp 😅

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

Hehe this is totally the kind of thing I would do...Last time it was the rather sad excuse of 'there is a lunchtime session at work I want to go to.' I was going to attend despite the trek from my desk over to the room seeming endless, and not talk as it was hard but seems I cannot shut up even when talking is effort! Glad you enjoyed the Chinese hehe and amused the dr.

Ugh to the trip and also the potentially inappropriate being sent home- I really do not like the ones who think having asthma is substitute for knowing about it. Play around with your own asthma mate but treat mine properly! My former consultant was like that and she knew very little about recent research.

Hope you are better today and Jess also hope you're managing though didn't sound promising ugh... My lungs also protesting but are at the in between stage - was good to know I could move around my flat without getting SOB over the last few weeks (as stuck in the bad limbo for ages before that) but now back at the stage where I can't and am sucking down the Vento...at least it waited till after Xmas but I had plans grrr.

Wishing you and others either staying out or a smooth experience if you go in. Emma I would hope they pay attention if you have to come back today after being chucked out yest!

[Js706 in reply to Lysistrata]

Ive definitely put off going so I can raid a drug rep sponsored lunch on placement 😂 they buy m&s and Waitrose stuff!!

Still stuck in limbo too! Not too breathless lying in bed but can’t really be upright for more than about 20/30 mins before needing to go back to the pillow pile! (Less if I’m trying to talk 😂)

My lungs either need to decide to improve or go downhill to hospital point soon though, I’m meant to be going to centre parcs on Wednesday!! 😡

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

Ugh stupid lungs interfering with plans! My body is having fun as flat is not good for lungs atm but an old spine issue I had (basically T3/T4 vertebrae somehow mess with the surrounding nerves) has decided it doesn't like that arrangement atm aghh. The physio who fixed it for me last time is miles away so I should really find a new one who knows about this - it's a bit of a weird niche problem but then when do I ever do normal lol? I had to go to urgent care with it last year as I decided that exercises I had might help (forgot they were for when it's not acute...), and they gave me diazepam and dihydrocodeine without me even thinking of it!! They just make me drowsy rather than get me high, but I laughed given the effort I go through at times to get a neb which is not addictive or really harmful even if not needed...

I hope your lungs make a decision soon and it is the right one...come on Jess's lungs! You know you want to behave...

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Lysistrata]

Ouch 🤕 not good! Hope you find a comfy position somehow which you’re back and lungs both like!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

I’ve spoken to one of my asthma nurses and between us have decided that even tho I’m back to swinging between 40-60% depending on activity and vent usage I *should* be ok to stay out esp as I’m seeing them next week - of course return if vent stops working yada yada yada. I told her I was leaving the decision up to her... ‘Thanks 😒’ 😂. Hard explaining how often I was using vent tho.. 2x 4 hrs plus 2 every time I leave me bed (cause that makes it drop immediately!). However given last nights experience and the fact I’m not feeling bad enough for a&e and am back in limboland she agreed that I can self-manage til GP Monday 🎉.

Oh Jess - I’ve heard all about the brilliant drug rep lunches even on my non-drug relating course - definitely worth putting off a trip! 🤣

I vote for you heading in sooner rather than later... you don’t want to miss centre parcs! Maybe you’ll get away with an ‘in and out’ jobby which will put you’re lungs to rest!

Hope you both start to feel better soon (or that your lungs at least decide what they’re going to do!)

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to EmmaF91]

Sounds promising Emma! I always get the urge to edit in these situations which is no help to anyone - but the response from former drs to me using lots of vent was 'just stop it, you can't need that much, you're overdosing' without any real attempt to think about why I was! It sticks in the head... I am impressed you got hold of your nurse on a Sat before NYE I have to say! I know the week between is often normal for NHS but my lot in general don't work weekends (I get the resp physios if admitted who do, and know their stuff).

Crossed fingers both your sets of lungs manage to do what they should!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Lysistrata]

I thought I’d be fully truthful cause I know if I had been admitted I wouldn’t be complaining (like I was last admission 😉😅). She said so long as it was 2 not 10 ever 4hrs then 2-4 on top than that was ok(ish).

I know right! I only tried cause I knew they were running asthma clinic today cause I was meant to be attending (moved date to next week cause a 3 county journey is a bit far for an appt 😅). Apparently this hosp does a weekend asthma clinic 🤷‍♀️

Here’s to all our lungs deciding to grown up this year... I want past the terrible twos but before the stropy teenage years please!

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Crikey, weekend clinics! I know a couple of specialties that run those at home but they’re the specialties that are very very behind 😂

Ugh I give up with ventolin use, my consultants seem to think I rely massively on mine and use it loads which really isn’t the case! I’ve had to start keeping track of it to prove the point but still not sure they believe me 🙄

Sometimes the rep lunches are a bit disappointing but the one I snuck into a few weeks before Christmas had an excellent spread of sandwiches and cakes 👌 one of my friends went to one recently where they had actually just ordered an enormous Indian takeaway 😂🤤

Yeah, I’m definitely keeping an eye to head in early on in trouble but if I go now I’ll just end up sat in the waiting room for ages and will then end up getting much worse with the door opening and closing constantly! At least if I stay in bed I can stay warm for now while I keep an eye 😜

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

I do kind of rely on Ventolin use but not to a silly degree eg 10 every few hours...I have made it clear that 3-4 times a day is a good day though and no I'm not taking it every time I get vaguely breathless, or using it as habit, or getting comfort from it etc etc. I mean it's loads more than a 'normal' asthmatic and I get through 2 in a month or in 2 weeks if bad but there's not really much I can do about it unless they want to give me nebs lol.

Yep going in early never actually seems to result in getting prompt treatment I find, just in getting sent home again and having to do it all over again! Especially not keen given I try to go to the hospital where my clinic is not my local who can be good but also weird -the chief resp cons there likes to chuck people out without checking whether they can even reach the bathroom. My asthma clinic one can do that but less often.

Wow weekend clinics! That could be useful...

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Lysistrata]

I have never had a max ‘when to get help’ level for ventolin so just take it as and when 😅. I can go through a pump in a week and not be too worried about it 😬🤫 However I know I can get to not needing it at all when I’m at my best so that’s what I strive for! Yes nebs help a lot when I’m at this level as an indicator for more help... if it does help/last then I need to go in... hoping my new cons won’t try to take it away from me!

Oh I know the feeling! Even yesterday I didn’t feel that bad despite my GP not liking my lungs (hence my happiness to delay the trip)... and look what happened... in and out and know I’m stuck in limbo waiting for it to drop to a level where I feel bad again! There for 5 hrs got 2 nebs and hydro (from a acp I’ve had before who ordered what I asked for!). My GP even told me that the only reason my sats were ok and I wasn’t feeling it was cause I’m body has learned to compensate as a severe asthmatic who’s constantly in and out of control so I give a false impression!... the a&e cons just decided that cause I could speak normally basically immediately after a neb (and I’m now a non-wheezer) then I was good to go... tried to explain my history but he wasn’t interested. I no likey not being typical 😠😣😅 (I think I’m feeling a little bit of your pain now lysistrata! Paybacks a witch!)

It’s a catch 22 - in early don’t get what you need so you end up putting up or returning, or, delay and get told off and made to stay in 🙄 (esp at hosp who don’t know you well!)

They did offer me a 8.30am appt next sat... it’s a 90 min journey to the hosp by public transport (can’t drive yet and probs shouldn’t if I’m like this anyway 😳😅)... turned it down for a 10am appt 😂

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador in reply to EmmaF91]

I had a day last year when I didn't take any Ventolin. I think...lol. I would love the nebs for when I have specific triggers - eg I have noticed scent triggers can be dramatic but unless combined with something else don't push me to hospital level. Nebs help me to stop feeling crap, but I can't seem to get one neb out of a doctor - it's either 'no you're not wheezing' or 'omg panic' when I don't need it.

I don't have a max for Ventolin either though my colleagues have begun to impose one! I hadn't even realised my colleague was counting but she does, and she doesn't let me get away with 'just a couple more' - usually it's 'if the last 20 didn't help, 4 more aren't likely to either'. They have been right too given I got blue lights and admissions the last couple of times... if I were at work now they might be calling one in a few hours but I of course cba so am seeing how it goes (will be sensible of course but so much cba as long as I am safe.)

Shame you have become a non-wheezer - I wouldn't wish my brand of weirdness on anyone given the implications! I do loathe it when they don't even consider the context eg yes I can just about talk to you in this bed after a neb. I don't have a neb at home, don't live in my bed and in order to get home, I have to move. Oddly enough, I can't do that! Or the one I get where they decide I have a PE due to odd asthma, test me for it, then send me home when I don't have one without doing anything about the asthma. FYI medics, raised d-dimer and troponin happen in asthma attacks too - want to consider why they're there with no PE? IN a pt who is still SOB?

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Lysistrata]

😂... my last vent free day was Oct/nov I think (when the weather was still ok and just starting to decide about turning cold). Had like almost a month when I only used my ventolin once a week for coaching!

😂 - definitely agree with your colleague there! Be sensible - we all know our bodies so I’m trusting you to get help if/when you need it but before it’s too late!

I’m just glad my PF still works as normal! I’d never get any help if it didn’t cause it’s the main thing I rely on 😅. My new hosp is really hot on protocol so even without a wheeze I know I’ll be looked after properly if I have a dodgy PF!

Luckily I’ve only ever been caught in the panic attack trap in the past... had a couple of PE tests when sent by the GP cause my asthma control was deteriorating but they weren’t identifying it as that 🙄😒, but at hosp I’m treated as asthma or panic (not since I’ve been under specialist hosp tho - whew!).

Look after yourself and don’t take too many risks!

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

How’re you doing now?

I gave up and got mum to ring an ambulance overnight - pumped full of nebs, fluids, hydro, IV antibiotics and good old magic mag!

Managed to escape though with an extension to my rescue antibiotics and an extra one so my family obviously gifted me a chest infection for Christmas too! Realised just now that with the antibiotics I have to take everyday I’m currently on 5 different antibiotics a day 😂 oh joy!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

Oh Jess 😞 - at least you got all the good drugs! Hope you’re feeling a little better now, but with 5(!😱) different ABs that’s probably shifted the issue from your lungs to your guts!

I’m basically back to where I was breathing/PF wise (40-60%) but the gunk in my chest is shifting now so that’s something! Generally feeling a little better so hoping I’m over the worst of it! Meant to make a GP appt tomorrow however might not as moving back up to Norfolk Tuesday and have AN appt next Saturday at the hosp so...

Keep breathing 😉

[Js706 in reply to EmmaF91]

Yeah I’m getting there - it was nice to finally get a couple of hours of uninterrupted sleep this morning!

Thankfully managed to persuade them to give me some anti-sickness tablets (they wanted me on doxycycline which always makes me vomit horrendously!) so that’s at least helping some of it 😂

Glad it’s all shifting now and can’t say I’d blame you re the GP appointment - I won’t tell if you don’t 😜🤫

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Js706]

Whoop whoop! Plus glad it’s not just me on antiemetic when on doxy 😅. 🤫🤫🤫 don’t want to risk them sending me back in!😂

[Hidden in reply to EmmaF91]

Hope you are on the mend now

[brauliobo]

Checkout healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...