I've had lung disease for over 6 years. Bronchiectasis and bronchiolitis obliterans. My FEV1 = 30% , my resting oxygen 95 and my normal flow meter 240.
I was proud of the fact that by being fanatical about taking my medication properly, as prescribed, eating mostly good food, doing easy exercises and clearing my lungs, using a flutter and the breathing cycle and checking for changes in my mucus, that I'd never needed a stay in hospital.
Then along came shielding. Less exercise, more treats lead to a weight gain of an extra stone. Shielding ended but we entered the heatwave.
With temperatures over 30, high humidity and that extra stone I struggled. I got increasingly breathless, I was wiped out by the heat.
Monday 17th August I felt no better even though it was a bit cooler. As the day wore on I really felt bad. Flow meter ok, oxygen down to 90, mucus a little thicker than normal but not too bad.
I used my ventolin a few times, didn't help. Early evening I walked the few yards to the loo, nearly passed out. Rested, started to walk back to the sofa but found myself fighting to breathe. Using sign and odd words got my husband to call an ambulance.
I expected to be told to stop making a fuss but I checked my oxygen and found it was 76! My husband relaid that to the operator. Ambulance men checked yes 76. Nebulised something to open my airways and took me to hospital (the light on the ambulance co-ordinated with my now blue face)
I was taken to resuscitation for the night. Now I started to cough luminous yellow thick mucus.
I was on oxygen all night but it had to be stopped because carbon dioxide was building up in my blood.
2 and a half weeks in hospital on antibiotics now home with a nebuliser and saline to loosen the mucus (heaven, far less work than without it).
Highlights from the staff :
Intensive care doctor "I could take you to intensive care and intubate you but your lungs are far to damaged. I'd be worried about taking away from what little you have. We'll send you to the ward and try to get you well"
Nursing Sister : "You chose the right time to be so ill. We're Covid free at the moment.. We got through the first lot. You should be home safe before we get hit again"
Pharmacist : "Ooh! Can I clone you" She had come to talk about my medication but I was able to tell her what I take, how, when and why. She said the NHS waste a lot of money giving out medication that, because people don't follow the instructions, might as well be thrown away.
So humbly accepting that I am not as good at knowing my symptoms as I thought, I'm well on the mend.
Disappointing hospital visit 
HOSPITAL SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.
Hospital
My Recent Hospital Visit!
