The days pondering

[Chip_y2kuk]

Been speaking to someone and she said to me.... "I'm a really bad asthmatic, I have a blue and a brown".... "what do you take?"

I was thinking WOW.... I wish I was only in blue and brown that would be an improvement

I think the NHS or whatever medical authority in all countries should be teaching people the stepwise asthma management so they know how bad they are and what is next for them if it gets any worse and once it's under control the step below to see if its manageable

I had a great asthma nurse who was asthmatic and my new asthma nurse is also asthmatic and on the same combination inhaler as me

But it would appear that there arent as many people with asthma management plans as should be and people with preventers dont know what to do if things start to deteriorate and this causes unnecessary trips to NHS facilities (urgent care centres/ a and e/ gp etc)

I'm sure I'm preaching to the converted here... but it does make me wonder how many 10's thousands of people do fit at least partly above

My asthma nurses have both said your clued up so you need to do whatever is necessary to keep yourself well.... but i can only do that because between asking them questions when I was on 3 monthly reviews, google and groups like this...how many people dont have that?

My pondering for the day

[mauschen]

I was diagnosed with Asthma at the age of 28 years old, was given a salbutamol inhaler and told to take 2 puffs every day with no further advice. My brother and sister were both diagnosed in their 50’s, and my sister the only smoker in the family , also has COPD diagnosed by her GP from a chest X-ray. None of us were invited to attend an asthma clinic nor have lung function tests to monitor our progress. Therefore I believe you are correct to assume that many people are not given adequate advice on how to manage their asthma.

I am now retired and have learned to manage my own asthma over the years. Through my previous job, I was able to attend a lung clinic for assessment after a small lung embolism when I was 55 years old. Only then was I told that I had a mixed form of moderate Asthma , complicated by both obstructive and restrictive lung disease. I often wondered whether or not I could have been spared this diagnosis if I had been properly Asthma managed as a young woman ?

[appyalison]

Hi Chip,

Thank you for your thoughts. I take Ventolin and Seretide night and morning and extra Ventolin if required during the day. I also have rescue meds which are a great thing as I can take them when I deteriorate rather than make an appointment and end up in hospital while waiting.

I have an annual check up and that is it.

I have sarcoidosis nodules in the lungs.

What sort of plan would I need?

appyalison

[Troilus in reply to appyalison]

I was diagnosed with asthma last year. I went to respiratory clinic every six weeks for the first 9 months and I now go every three months. Every time I go I see a different nurse and when I ask about an action plan it’s always next time.

[appyalison in reply to Troilus]

Thank you for that Troilus.

I wonder what the action plan is designed to do. My specialist never mentioned having one, nor did my GP or Nurse. No doubt my GP will go nuts if I ask about one. Good luck with it all.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to appyalison]

Asthma uk has a downloadable one here:

asthma.org.uk/advice/manage...

That you and your doctor/asthma nurse should take the time to fill in

[madonbrew in reply to Troilus]

Goodness,my surgery is pretty amazing for me where asthma is concerned ! I do have severe asthma, however they have always been on top of the asthma plans! I’m sure I read somewhere that statistically, people with an asthma action plan are less likely to need emergency treatment as they have everything written down for what to do as and when.

I’m sad & shocked to hear that so many of your GPs have either never referred you to asthma nurse or made an asthma plan with you!

[StanChad]

I was told my son had ‘mild asthma’ by my GP when he was around aged 4. He was prescribed a blue and a brown inhaler, but we were never advised about using them. His asthma always peaked during hay fever season. Over the years he used his blue inhaler when required and that was pretty much it. Then aged 17, whilst at work, he suffered a ‘life threatening asthma attack’ out of the blue. No warnings. He had the blue inhaler with him as it was hay fever season. It didn’t work. 7 paramedics later, peri cardiac arrest, dual pneumothorax and induced coma in critical care his mild asthma didn’t seem very mild. He would have lost his life if he had been at home and not working in a sports stadium on match day. I found him a fantastic clinic online and asked my GP to refer him there and I asked the main Consultant, ‘does this mean my son has severe asthma?’ His response was that he doesn’t like to put a label on it. He said, any asthma is severe if the plan is not followed. My son had never had a ‘plan’ to follow. He’s 19 now and I read sites like this so I can learn and teach him about his condition. Thankfully we got our 2nd chance.

[Smoggy1990Boggy in reply to StanChad]

That sounds horrendous your poor son and you. It sounds like it would be worth phoning Asthma UK about this and asking advice as he should have a consultant. The fact that he has had a life threatening asthma attack means he should be under secondary care. Please phone Asthma UK for their advice on how to discuss this with the GP