I'm 48 and recovering from an asthma attack after a combined bad cold and allergic reaction to pet rats.
My history in brief - I had bronchitis/hayfever as a child. In the last 10 years my allergies have got progressively worse - lots of oral allergy syndrome plus the normal stuff like cats/rats/pollen/fungi spores/feathers/household cleaners etc.
I'm on regular blue and brown inhalers and just started 5 days ago on steroid pills.
The really scary fast breathing/coughing/sneezing/having to rest all the time has gone but I'm just generally feeling that I'm not getting enough breath; short of air all the time; coughing; just the air passing over my throat makes me feel out of breath. everything I am doing is at snail pace. I usually sing in a choir but at tonight's rehearsal I was out of breath just following the score silently.
I'm a wife/mother of two/dog-owner and main walker/hold two part-time jobs/a million and one pastimes and usually on the go all the time. Now I'm just slow at everything; although trying to carry on with the basics of domestic life.
Already my treatment from GPs in and out of hospital has varied. Last Saturday my peak flow was ok (although the GP wouldn't show it me) and my oxygen levels were ok. So why do I feel like this?
I know I need to go back to my GP but have this feeling that I have to start being a bit more assertive.
Oh, and I'm also having a few side-effects from the steroids; hence being at the computer at 5am.
I'd be very grateful of any suggestions about what to do next.
