Hi everyone, feeling rough, tired and a bit tearfull this morning , newly diagnosed last week XX
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Good morning
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Kaz777
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16 Replies
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Kaz,
I'm sure it is all a little difficult for you at the moment. Asthma can be hard to cope with when you are first adjusting to the fact that you have the condition. Everything will seem a little uncertain right now, particularly if your version of it is giving you a bit of a hard time.
Morning is often the time when asthmatics are most aware they have the condition - that can happen even for someone whose asthma is usually well controlled if they have unwittingly come into contact with something that has caused a flare or are coming down with an infection. Once you get to know you condition and have been put on medication that helps to control it you may well find that things begin to improve.
I know this might seem hard right now, but try not to get too stressed about it. That isn't going to help - if anything it will only make things worse. It is possible to lead a pretty normal life with asthma. There are people on this site who do running, ballet, ice skating etc. It will take a little time to adjust to it and to find out what triggers your condition but remember that there are people who can help you through this: your consultant, your primary care providers, the Asthma UK helpline, and then of course there is this forum.
You mentioned in a previous post that you thought mould in your flat was a possible trigger. That's not unusual, mould is a problem for many asthmatics - it's a major trigger for me. Mould thrives in a damp environment, so there must be an issue with this in your flat somewhere. Do you know where and have you any idea of what might be causing it?
Kaz777 in reply to
Hiya Maggie, thank you so much for your reply!
I live in a large house ( council property) converted into flats, I've been here 4 years and almost a year ago I noticed my breathing was laboured and getting rashes etc, my GP referred me to the lung centre in Jan this year, I've had test after test and at the moment only have a reliever inhaler which doesn't appear to do very much!
Going back to the house, I complained about an awful smell coming from the basement which was damp, also my bathroom was getting very mouldy then one day there was water leaking from the bathroom above mine, it seems the pipes under his bath had never been connected properly when the flats were refurbed 8 years ago. . . . so the ceiling had been drinking the water until it couldn't hold anymore and found its way into my flat, therefore I had been inhaling nasties all that time from their bath water as well as the stuff from the basement when it rains the smell from the basement is horrendous and the council refuse to clean it up!
I'm so happy I found the site and the forum, it's lovely to have support isn't it Maggie!
I'm feeling much more positive now, so thank you! XX
in reply to Kaz777
You need advice on this situation with your flat. The Asthma helpline may be able to point you in the right direction. Can I suggest you get in touch with them.
Hi Kaz777
Sorry to hear you've just been diagnosed.
If you’re worried about anything to do with your diagnosis, speak to your GP, asthma nurse or pharmacist. You can also call our Helpline on 0300 222 5800 (9am – 5pm; Monday - Friday) and ask our asthma nurse specialists anything about your symptoms or treatment, your lifestyle or the way you’re managing your asthma.
Take care,
Dita
Kaz777 in reply to
Hiya Dita, thank you, I took your advice and rang the helpline spoke to a lovely Nurse and she gave me lots of helpful advice, so I'm feeling much happier now!
xx
I highly recommend getting to know your asthma nurse. I was back and forth to mine asking lots of questions and getting my inhalers changed several times, adding allergy stuff in, etc, until it all settled (or mostly settled) and I understood the condition better and how to help myself. My asthma nurse is lovely, and never made me feel like a time waster. Hopefully yours will be as lovely.
Best wishes. Xx
Thank you S4LOu153, I will be speaking with my GP this week to arrange things so I shall look forward to meeting my Asthma nurse very soon!
Love Karen xx
On the subject of the flat specifically, I worked in housing for 30 years, so if it's rented let me know & I might be able to advise on any options you have or point you in the direction of people who can.
Hiya, Minushabens, yes it's a rented flat with the local authorities thank you so much XX
OK, so what you need to do is go to your local housing options service (they may have another name - if you are willing to let me know your local authority I can find out). You need to tell them that you believe that your current housing is unsuitable on health grounds. Now, the chances that they will immediately hand you the keys to a better place lies somewhere between zero & not a hope, but that starts the ball rolling.
They may come & look, or more likely they will ask you to provide evidence of why it's unsuitable. If there's an independent advice service (again I can find this out for you) they will support you.
At this point, establishing whether or not SAFS is a possibility will be helpful, as you can point out a clear link between mould & a risk to your health.
You could also apply directly to RSLs (Housing Associations in old money) on the same basis.
Good luck.
Flats in my area are few and far between, I would be happy if they could sort the issue in the basement but they refuse to do anything, even after inspectors came and looked at it, they say if they fix this house, then they will have to fix all the other properties as well!!
xx
Hi Kaz777
To add to the advice already given, it might be worth calling Shelter for advice as well. They might be able support on the legal side: england.shelter.org.uk/get_...
Take care,
Dita
Thank you, Dita, yes I will contact Shelter again, I rang a few months ago, so they have all my details I just need to give them an update
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