Feeling emotional

Hi,

I was just wondering whether anybody has or is feeling very emotional after a severe attack. I have had 8 admissions to hospital since april, was discharged on sat after a severe attack 2weeks ago resulting in admission to ITU. I was told i was very poorly and now have brittle asthma, ever since then i have been an emotional wreck, flashbacks also.

Before april i was only using a blue inhaler, and now i am on flutiform 250/10 atrovent three times a day and ventolun, also monteleukast, ullephyllin, fexafenadine and cyto.

Sorry if this post sounds depressing, but finding it hard to come to terms with it all of a sudden.

Thanks x

[Hidden]

Hi, I just wanted to say that feeling wobbly is appropriate when you've been so poorly, and might well be just as poorly again in future.

I would go to see your GP to see if you can access any help with the psychological side of things. Unfortunately nobody can magic the anxiety/PTSD away, but talking therapies can help us to manage and integrate the uncertainty and the unpleasantness into our lives in ways that make it feel less overwhelming.

More than half of patients treated in ITU experience post traumatic stress - you may find (via GP) that the ITU you were admitted to actually provides psychological follow up for patients who need it. If not then the hospital respiratory team may have an attached counsellor or a nurse with some counselling function. As another option, most hospitals have a 'liaison psychiatry' department - who deal with the psychological fall out of serious illness. Your GP (or ITU) might be able to refer you there. I'm seeing a liaison psychiatrist at the moment and it's helping me a great deal.

Some of the anxiety will be reduced by having a really solid care plan, written down, and as much information and knowledge as you are able to get about how to manage your condition. But even with the best care plans and step-up/step-down strategies, you will feel vulnerable because you *are* vulnerable.

So - yes, it's not just normal to feel very emotional after a life-threatening experience, it's abnormal to *not* feel wobbly.

When I was very unstable I had weekly appointments with my GP for a while - most of them were 20 minute appointments so that I could talk about the emotional side with her as well as the practical side. It can help to know that you have somewhere to take your concerns and questions. I'm guessing whether you can and/or want to do that will depend on your relationship with your GP, but it's a good use of primary care, so do ask for it if you think it would help you.

Take care,

Cx

[Hidden]

Bubblybird sorry to hear about your situation. Being in hospital is stressful so don't be ashamed of being anxious.

I found talking to the respiratory nurse & british lung foundation helpful. They help you understand asthma and how to manage it.

Keep smiling and it will get better, we all understand how you feel and have all got emotional about it.

I find the most difficult situations are getting people to believe you when you feel tightness/breathless etc especially when there are no physical signs, you might look and

sound ok but inside your lungs are screaming. I get emotional that maybe its all in my mind especially when my peak flow is ok but lungs are sore.

Take care.