I am confused what to do after an attack

[Wheezycat]

Happy New Year to you all!

I had a sudden attack on Christmas Day, due to stuff burning (candles, roasting a bird in the oven) and suddenly I had an attack. While I have had deteriorations/attacks that I have slid into over a day or two, I have never had a sudden one before. I managed to turn it around with Ventolin, 7 puffs, and then I gradually recovered over the next one or two three days. It is all behind me. But I now see that Asthma U.K. suggest following up with a GP. I didn’t, didn’t feel the need unlike those times when I slide into it. So if this happens again, should I do so? Many others do have these sudden attacks, what if anything do you do after?

[twinkly29]

I think if you've got a receptive GP or nurse it's good to check in. Even if it's just to say I'm ok now, not symptomatic and pf is back to this, at least they know what's happened and it's on file. In future it might be useful if say you have had a few episodes as it can form part of a picture.

[Wheezycat in reply to twinkly29]

Thank you, yes I certainly would mention it at a future review. I will check if there is a way, online, to send a message. As they are so overwhelmed I don’t want to use up their time. What you say makes complete sense.

[twinkly29 in reply to Wheezycat]

A message facility would be really useful if that's available - however, no-one should be concerned about taking up GP time. They'd much rather have you under their radar where they can notice changes over time and intervene earlier than have to manage deep seated issues that were ignored. And part of their job is to listen. Yes they will be busy but they've said all along that they want people to use services for other conditions - so please do! They'll probably be glad to talk about something different and positive (in that you're ok now, not that you had the issue!)

[Wheezycat in reply to twinkly29]

Again you are right......but I have a long standing history of not asking until it has gone a bit too far. I am doing my very best to be more sensible and up to a point I am much better at it.

[Wintersbite]

Don't know if this is of any help to you but what I do with my epilepsy is just phone in the episode and just ask for a note to be made that the event took place. I don't do that with my asthma due to the fact that I normally need to be put on a nebuliser and I'm not the one who calls it in reason why I used my epilepsy as the example doctor always appreciated the just to let you know call.

Hope this helps

[Wheezycat in reply to Wintersbite]

Yeah, you are right! I just never thought of it - and it was late afternoon on Christmas Day! I will attend to it tomorrow, in fact ask for a medication review. My system has become a bit more trigger happy since it happened, and I realised yesterday I don’t have an up to date action plan. Also I used to be on SMART so I could vary my meds a bit, but now I can’t due to a change in meds. So there are several good reasons to make that call.

[Wintersbite in reply to Wheezycat]

Glad to help and just see it for future events that you are just giving a quick heads up to your doctor that it's happened and could it be noted on your records no need to bother the doctor as such but you do think that a record needs to be made and if the doctor then wishes to get back to you regarding further information or to give you a medication check it's on there expert views and you don't feel guilty about the something but nothing feeling.

[Wheezycat in reply to Wintersbite]

It turns out that my airways have been irritated by it, though otherwise pretty normal. (I reacted on food smells yesterday, though nothing like as badly. Still leaves me exhausted.) And then I discovered my action plan is well out of date- still on my old meds a year on, and apart from contacting them I have no room for manoeuvre medication wise. I used to be on SMART, which was great for me. So there are things to sort.

[DanceQueen]

I would see a doc if you get a chance as there seems to be some allergies going on there ....if you cannot breathe properly after 10 puffs you should be getting medical help immediately.

[Wheezycat in reply to DanceQueen]

Thank you for. No, I am not allergic (antihistamine would not help) but sensitive to various aspects of indoor air pollution. It took me seven puffs to turn it around. You are right, and I will contact the surgery tomorrow. As I didn’t need to contact 999, I didn’t realise until a week later that I should contact the surgery. It all happened on Christmas Day and I was just relieved not to have to phone 999.