have you ever just cried out of frustration

[emptyskies13]

I've been having problems with my asthma the past few days and severe upper back/chest pain to go with it. I didnt want to go to the doctors because ( quite honestly) I hate doctors. They almost never take me seriously and make me feel like I'm just making it all up. Anyway my parents forced me to go and the nurse practitioner I saw was fantastic. She could immediately tell that something was wrong and was concerned about how inflamed my lungs sounded. Despite my good SATS she wanted to give me a breathing treatment and some steroids but she had to go talk to the doctor first. I was so relieved to finally be taken seriously but of course it didnt last. The doctor came in and was forcing me to take deep breaths but I couldnt (still cant) because of how tight my chest is. I started to tear up because of the pain but he said it was just anxiety. So he called off the breathing treatment and the steroids because he thought I was just anxious. The nurse wasnt happy but there was nothing she could do so I got sent home with nothing but an hour of my time wasted and the humiliation of crying in front of two strangers.

I'm still having trouble breathing and I'm in a ridiculous amount of pain but I'm not going to do anything about it because I dont want to be told that it's just anxiety again. Maybe if I get rushed to hospital in an ambulance they'll take me seriously. Gah I hate doctors!!!

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Hi

Sorry to hear this but unfortunately you’re not alone. I have also cried many tears of frustration over care (both GP and hosp situations). Have you tried self treatment with 10 puffs of ventolin, following the AAP? It should help (and if it does return to GP and say that’s what you had to do tomorrow). Alternatively go to OOH GP tonight. If the 10 vent doesn’t help, you do need hospital (urgent care/a&e).

I hope you start to feel better soon and someone is sensible with your care xx

[emptyskies13 in reply to EmmaF91]

Is it bad that I'm a little happy that other's are struggling with the same problem? I'm sorry that we have to go through this, it's awful.

Thank you for the advice, I do know about the 10puffs, I've already done them and they haven't really helped. Unfortunately there's not much else I can do but whatever I'm just so frustrated.

Thanks for your comment it made me feel a little better 😊

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to emptyskies13]

If the 10 puffs hasn’t helped you go to hospital/urgent care. FYI sats only drop when things are really dire in asthma so not a good assessment of control. PF is (if you are one where it drops), or the visual s+s (can’t talk/walk/eat/sleep like normal due to SoB), and cough wheeze etc . Good luck and get help.

[Hannah125]

Since my asthma flared up back in February after a flu, I've seen many doctors and most of them didn't take me seriously! So,I just wanted to let you know that you are not the only one who has been through this. Because I was mostly symptom free before I got sick, I never needed to see doctors for my asthma and I never thought this issue could exist. But since then I've learned it the hard way. You won't believe the number of times I felt humiliated and crushed after an appointment. Like you, I now hate going to see doctors and no matter how bad I feel, I try to manage it the best I can at home. It shouldn't be that way and it's scary but apparently it does happen a lot to asthmatics.

But I find it extremely disturbing that doctors who are supposed to help us and listen to us (having trouble breathing is not something that should be taken lightly) end up caring more about numbers. I've learned that if you are not visibly struggling (wheeze, turning blue, low sats,losing consciousness...) then they don't believe you're asthmatic and then immediately say it's anxiety. Some of them almost told me that I was lying or that I was crazy! Only because I don't wheeze, can talk and have good sats. The tight chest and struggle to breath, however, is not something that can be seen so I have no way to prove them that I'm telling the truth. And normally I shouldn't have to prove anything to anyone, how many people go around pretending that they can't breath just for the fun of it?!

[emptyskies13 in reply to Hannah125]

Wow are we the same person because you sound just like me 😂

I think one of the worst parts of this 'fear of doctors' that I've developed is that I can no longer tell what's an emergency and what I can handle at home. I've forced myself to deal with some pretty awful attacks alone because I was scared I wouldn't be taken seriously if I went to the hospital. Ended up in an ambulance with IV steroids because of that.

I've had a few (very few) medical personnel who were absolutely wonderful and took great care of me but the majority have been terrible and left me traumatized.

The lack of wheeze (unless i'm really sick) and high sats (again unless I'm really sick) are all they seem to care about. So now until I'm literally crying from pain or gasping for air I just try and manage by myself. It's awful I know but that's what they've pushed me to.

Thanks for the response, take care of yourself 😊

[Junglechicken]

I have been in exactly the same position. Sitting in my GP’s office on several occasions wheezing, coughing, normal stats, being told it’s anxiety and I need CBT. I was so angry with my Surgery I went to a private GP who referred me to a respiratory specialist straight away. He has diagnosed chronic sinusitis with post nasal drip which is causing irritation and effecting my asthma control. I am taking antibiotics and a nasal spray on top of my usual asthma treatments. Starting to feel like my old self again. I’m guessing I must have been quite badly inflamed judging by how long it’s taken the nasal spray to become fully effective (2 weeks). I have now gone 36 hours without salbutamol which at the start of the month was either not effective or was taking 5 or 6 puffs to work. I was also taking it every few hours. CBT would have been useless against inflammation and I would still be sitting here struggling to breathe 6 months down the line.

[Whitechinchilla in reply to Junglechicken]

Hiya

I just read your post and hope you don’t mind if I reply to you Junglechicken.

I know with certainty that I have a deviated septum but was told at ENT that it was not affecting me so go home and use the spray.

I use on average 6 packets of tissues a day as I have to keep blowing my nose, 365 days a year . I also know I have a PND and the resultant problems.

My NHS gp is not interested in the effects all this has on my Asthma and COPD e.g. I had 6 flare ups of COPD last year and have never had a change of ABs much less a referral to a consultant.

I have only a small income but if seeing a specialist privately could help then I could save to do that. It’s the follow up treatment that would probably be out of my budget range.

Has it really made a huge difference to you health? To justify the cost?

Any info you can supply would be so appreciated.

Please send a PM if it is easier as I do not want to detract from this conversation.

In fact I should have sent this as a PM but can’t copy it across

Thanks again.

[Jjude1003]

Me too...sometimes it just wears you down.