I'm still fairly new to this asthma malarkey. Officially diagnosed about 18 months ago and have gone downhill fast. I've been told on a few occasions now I shouldn't be working, but I'm 33 and dont want to be defeated by it. I wonder if anyone has any advice on how to get through the day. I'm a teacher, on a good day I'm fine, bad days I'm off ill. The days in between I'm struggling. I'm well enough to go in but as the day goes on I go down hill. Today for example. 5 solid hours of 30 lots of rude noisy teenagers, meaning lots of shouting and stress for me, put me in a very bad place. Couldn't catch my breath. Couldn't breath by the end of the day, almost passing out on my way home. I cant pause to rest, let alone take my inhaler mid lesson. How do others cope in these situations? I feel stuck in a rut! Thank you.
Any tips for dealing with difficult days - Asthma Community ...
Any tips for dealing with difficult days
Gosh...that sounds awful. Actually, just reading your text frightens me. It doesn't sound like your asthma is being managed at all. Its a serious situation if that's what you're like on a daily basis. Go and visit your GP and and if he/she doesn't spring into action with a plan for managing your asthma on a daily basis, ask to be referred to a Respiratory Consultant (insist on it). Asthma is a nuisance, but it can be managed and you should be able to live a normal life - in fact you should expect to.
Thanks for your reply. I'm with a resp consultant already, hes trying all sorts. My gp doesn't know what to do with me. I get no advice on how to manage. I just want to get on with life without asthma getting in the way. It's just frustrating. I'm findng my resp consultant is just throwing more medication at me, but not helping me manage day to day.
Call the Asthma UK Helpline. I’ve never called them myself, but I understand from other posts here that the nurses are fantastic. asthma.org.uk/advice/resour...
Thank you. I've called them often and theyre always really helpful, but not on this occasion. They were kind but basically said see my consultant.
Gah. It really does sound like everything’s gone to pot with you’re lungs atm 😔. I can understand the feeling (mine all kicked off at uni and had a few comments along the ‘don’t know if you’ll be able to work once you graduate’ lines). I know it’s difficult but is there a way to take pump mid class if you need it? I tend to coach primary school aged and they have learnt that woe betide any of them that muck about when I need my pump... tho they are younger, and want to be there so usually behave a bit better 😅... not sure the kids you teach but try not to misjudge them, if they can see you’re having issues then they may actually behave whilst you take your pump 😉. (I know it’s a small thing, but taking your pump when you need it can slow the grottyness feeling down). Have you tried asking for a support teacher? (As work places should show a reasonable adjustment, and having someone extra to assist/take over the shouting may help). Think the hardest thing to do is to take ‘you’ time... I spent a few years where everything was uni/work/lungs focused which wasn’t exactly healthy... try and do something you enjoy even when feeling grotty... film, books, friends etc
And I can fully understand the days in limbo... no where near good but not bad enough for hospital, and you’re just waiting til you can get more treatment. Are you at a resp spec hosp/eligible for biologics etc (I know you’ve said resp con but is it local hosp or spec)? If not it’s worth asking for a referral etc (I know biologics gave me the hope whilst at uni (was on waiting list for spec hosp at the time), and now I’ve tried a couple and found the right one for me I can almost pretend I don’t have asthma at all (I am no where near as bad as prior, and have not had an emergency admission for months!).
Try and remember things will get better, if you know any colleagues (at your school or others) with chronic conditions and acute flares (not just resp, but crohns, CFS, diabetes etc etc) talk to them and ask how they cope (like a support network), equally if you know any severe/poorly controlled asthmatics you can talk to/are friends with, do so (finding people in similar situations to me was really helpful... could find their coping mechanisms and found out that a lot of things were not just me!). You are not alone, and I hope things settle for you soon x
Thank you for your reply. I like the idea about getting together with colleagues. They have to put up with the same delightful children too. 😬 with regard to using my pump in lesson i feel like it would show them weakness. My students are not the sort to sympathise, it would probably make things worse!x
I can understand your reluctance to show weakness but years ago (I am retired now) I was teaching a group of student 16 -18years who did not want to be in a classroom and were incredibly noisey. On one occassion I literally fell flat on my face having caught the heel of my shoe in one of there sports bags (they were studying Leisure and Recreation and were known as 'The Leisure Reckers!) I expected there to be loud laughter but instead they were incredibly kind and thoughful and told the guy who had left the bag in the way off. It made me realise that underneath their outer roughness they were vulnerable kids themselves and could show another side.
Hope you find a better way of manage and talking to your colleagues is a good start.
I am a retired secondary school teacher so I understand your problem! I absolutely agree with Emma that the hardest thing to do is take your time, but is really is the key to it all. Stress makes asthma much worse and you get into a vicious circle with it. If you are off sick, you have to give in to it, (once you've set the work for your classes of course!!) and do your best to relax, listen to nice music, talk out your stress if that is what you need to do and ideally, have someone look after you. Nobody wants you to be in & out being not quite well, so take time to get properly well. Talk to your HoD if all your kids are vile, and they may well be when you go in after being off sick. There may be ways of managing them with some support, or you may need to look at teaching in a different place. Your health is the most important. Best of luck!
Thanks for your reply. I am actually looking into a career change but it's not easy. What makes things worse is the state of my mouldy classroom. I'm hating going in there as I know its not helping. It's all been reported etc but I'm sure you know how long things take to get sorted. My hod is not sympathetic at all, she just doesn't get it, that adds to the stress too. Oh well 2 weeks till half term!
That is tough.
That’s not just tough, it’s a health and safety issue. Mould is really, really bad for asthmatic lungs! Please raise this issue and maybe even speak with a Union rep? your health is at risk.
I second all the other advice here, I’m a teacher and have been unable to work for three years due to the asthma. I taught little ones, 5 years, and have been advised not to go back to that because of infection risk.
I’ve been thinking around other ways to teach, have a good sit down with someone you trust and brainstorm other options..
Online tutoring, one to one in a specialist unit for autism or other learning disabilities, teaching adults, older learners, community courses, local college of FE, online exam marking?
There are lots of options and lots of people in need of good committed teachers. I dint think you need to give up work or give up teaching but you need a different way of doing it.
I completely second the advice about reducing stress, it really does make the asthma worse. I’m under Dr Rob Niven in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on Mepolizumab now for 18 months and have good improvement, but we discussed stress last week and he is very clear that it exacerbates the disease greatly.
Good luck and I hope your asthma stabilises with the right treatment.
Xxx
I'm 33 and I'm apparently "a bad asthmatic" (says far too many gp's)... I have finally gotten somewhere that's manageable the good days are good the bad days are bearable but it's taken 5 years and 2 respiratory consultants more medication and tests than I care to talk about
I've never thought about giving up working because... I cant stand Jeremy Kyle!
I'm right with you. I'm 33 too and dont want to throw the towel in! But I've been told I could retire early, which is ridiculous. When I see a new doc they're shocked I'm working. So I think I should get a pat on the back at least for getting through it 😂 but its bloody hard sometimes!
You have done really well to keep going, but do remember Asthma is a serious and potentially life threatening disease, please take care too. Xxx
If your mouldy classroom doesn’t help, and your head doesn’t get it, is there no occupational health you could talk to? Or union? You sounds as if you have a good case! It sounds as if both the stressful environment and the physical one needs attention, and workplaces surely have a responsibility there! I bet they can’t afford to lose you! And could you use your pump in the break before it gets so bad? Like routinely, for now, after lunch?
I agree with the comments especially ChrissieMons ones. I have work in Education as a teaching assistant since last November. I am working as a supply TA/LSA to gain experience to get a full time job. From what I have seen and know teachers work long hours and they have a heavy work load. So I admire and respect the work that you teachers do. Thank you.
As for myself have had moderate serve asthma for 4 years and have been under a consultant but for now staying with GP care. There have been times in the pass two years where my asthma has been tricky to manage with visits to respiratory hot clinic, breathing tests, consultant appointment and many course of steroids. I have felt very low and wondering if I could ever work.
However now although its my danger season when my asthma control can slip I feel better able to deal with things. Thanks to my local surgery, my family, my church and my friends.
If I have ever need to use my Ventolin inhaler at a job (I use a big spacer which can be embarrassing) then I have been able. This is because I always told the school I work in straight away I have asthma and I need to keep my inhaler in the classroom. Every school I have worked at has been fine with it and I have been encourage to use it necessary.
Lastly I going to leave you with my suggestions. Ring asthma uk helpline link below asthma.org.uk/advice/living...
Its not just for the physical side of asthma but also you can talked to them about how you are feeling.
Keep posting on this forum the people here are great and really supportive. I know from my own experience.
Have a good weekend.
From the age of 26 for 40 years as a chronic asthmatic I thought that would be taking medication for my whole life which could have been frighteningly short i.e. 2 episodes of Anaphylaxis near death experience . Mould was one of my triggers. 10 years ago I heard about Proteolytic Enzymes after I had suffered Whiplash. The capsules I took not only allowed me to reduce and stop taking 7 different types of medication but also cut down my asthma symptoms. Only when I started taking Probiotic Capsules 5 years ago and I miraculously stopped catching chest infections, colds, flu etc . did my Asthma clear up completely. O.K. retirement reduced my daily stress but I was still affected by mould, salicylates, and other chemicals. Today in my seventies I lead a healthy- eating, physically active lifestyle and am determined to reach 100. Hope this helps !
I totally get this as i am a secondary school teacher as well. I am currently off work following influenza type a and having been in hospital 3 times this christmas and i still hsven't gained control- i came out of hospital on Sat. It is hard being s teacher and managing it but it is possible. Before this Christmas, i generally always managed it well and it didnt impact on my career; It only ususlly effected me when i got a cold or chest infection.
I am lucky i have a supportive school- is yours? We have an office close to my classroom which i use to privately take my inhaler so it isnt in front of the pupil my school made sure my room down stairs so i didnt have the stairs to climb either.
My asthma nurse has been brilliant too- i would advise you seeing yours as it does sound like it isn't contolled at the moment. I also photocopied my action plan and i having given that to slt and my line manager. I also keep one in the office for my colleagues so they know what to do and they can call an ambulance if need be. All of my close friends, colleagues and family understand the signs of an attsck now so this can also reassure you in a work place. My school also will create a risk assessment on my return.
I dont know if any of this is helpful and i hope you get sorted. I always feel hurrensously guilty about calling in sick but you cannot help it. Remember a job is a job and this your life! It is not worth the risk.
Take care x
Hey! I read in the comments that you’re under the are of a respiratory consultant but you’re getting no joy. I had a similar experience but once I got referred to an asthma specialist, things have gotten better. Perhaps try to get a referral in if possible?
It sounds like you’re having an awful time but it also sounds like you’re one hell of a trooper! I really do hope everything gets better for you soon, asthma can really make the smallest of things so difficult when it takes hold!
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