Long story short, have severe obstructive asthma, fev1 always crap & ard 49%. On Spiolto & occasionally when I can tolerate it, nebulised budesonide (long story re steroids but they can make my chest way worse!) Anyhow, chest a bit irritable earlier in week, still took my nebulised steroid as thought it would be ok but it wasn’t. 5 mins later had my most severe asthma attack ever. Managed to claw it back eventually with 10 puffs of ventolin, but scared myself stupid as I was on the point of passing out. Realised afterwards I should very much have dialled 999 & I will never make that same mistake again. I was so lucky.
Anyhow, since I have very little leeway, I realised afterwards that if I had called them, on a good day they would take at least 30 mins to get to me if I was lucky & it could have gone the other way & they would have been too late anyway.
So I have sent a request to my gp & my consultant to ask if I can have some emergency oxygen at home for any future severe attacks, to tide me over until the paramedics arrive. I will wait for a reply.
(Incidentally husband rang gp after my attack & they said they didn’t need to see me 🤷♀️)
Not quite back to normal yet, but getting there.
However, found a company online that supply oxygen (without a prescription) for use at home - ostensibly for ‘sports’ use & recovery & wondered if any of you good people out there have ever used them for such emergencies?
They are called clearo2
I thank my lucky stars that there is ventolin out there & I would never use any other brand as they are not as good!!
Thanks
Liz
Written by
virgolizzy
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Have had a look at the item and about how it works. From my reading you are only taking in a minimal amount of oxygen and I don’t believe it is intended for use in emergency situations. Indeed am doubtful it will assist most athletes which is really what it is marketed for.
Am also sceptical that your doctors will agree to emergency oxygen at home. Oxygen is used as a medication and as such needs to be prescribed carefully. Indeed too much oxygen can be as bad as too little.
The fact that using ventolin eased the situation (although you recognise you should have called for an ambulance) demonstrates that, this is what is required.
I don’t think self prescription of O2 at home will be advised by your medical team as a first line/go too option after an asthma attack. It is quite specialised treatment outside of hospital and as such requires specialist input.
Its rubbish that your GP hasn’t seen you, as they should be suggesting alternative/stronger preventative medication to stop you from becoming ill in the first place. You should push them or your asthma nurse for urgent review - maybe speak to them yourself?
Also , there are plenty of other medications that you can try before going down this extreme route. Are you on a biologic?
As a general aside - please remember that O2 is very flammable so be very careful with storage and use at home.
Unsuprisingly my Consultant said no. Totally understand & respect that you need a prescription - know all about it as my Dad had oxygen at home etc & my Mum who also has lung problems is a carbon dioxide retainer. My issue still remains tho - my leeway is so small, if ventolin doesn’t manage to pull it back in the future, then an ambulance taking 30 mins minimum will simply be too late. Something I have to accept I suppose. 🤷♀️
On a brighter note - well sort of - my chest is still not right after the severe attack, gp didn’t want to see me after the attack, I requested a same day ring back from the asthma nurse last Friday as wanted to ask if I needed oral steroids to hel reduce the inflammation. No phone call. Do I simply go ahead & take a short course as I have some at home or metaphorically jump up & down on Monday to get to see my gp for him/her to listen to my chest, to give me the ok for the prescription?
I would phone the 111 service to get advice on starting the oral steroids, seeing that it's the weekend. That way, you have the go ahead to start your meds and I suspect that they will also say "you must see your GP tomorrow". That means your GP will have to see you (111 will mark your records accordingly). I'm fortunate that my GP surgery always get me a same day appointment in respect of my asthma, albeit by phone, but that's often turned into me being asked to pop into the surgery that day. But if I was refused, my next step would be the 111 service, followed by A&E if necessary. Sometimes we have to take control and escalate our own case, especially when we're not been listened to.
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when do you need hospitalised ?
To neb or not to neb...that is the question!
Do we have to isolate or not? 
