Nurse practitioners are not doctors

[Lisacharman]

I was wheezy last week I finally got past the receptionist and got an appointment so I went it was a nurse practitioner which made me mad as it was agreed by the doctors surgery if I called about asthma I would see a doctor so I went in saw this person who said he is steroids and antibiotics if that doesn’t work come back within 45 minutes of leaving the surgery I had a respiratory arrest I ended up with the air ambulance and 3 paramedics here I got to hospital then I was put onto a ventilator for 24 hours they drained 4ltrs of fluid off and I very nearly died I spent 7 days in patient then the ward I was on got Australian flu in the room I was in I asked to be dishcharged as I knew I wouldn’t cope with anymore infection anyway they said I had to wait for the doctors the nurses were in masks and aprons and gloves but we got nothing the staff were amazing as they were so pushed as every side room had a flu case in it so I discharged myself home I spoke to my respiratory nurse the next day and she said you did the right thing 6 others did the same that day it wasn’t the staff or hospitals fault but this flu is real and the staff are going down just as quick as patients I have my home on lock down to avoid to many people coming round as I am very susceptible to anything but they call each day wanting updates of peakflow oxygen levels etc so I have help if I need it this is my third arrest in 3 years and it’s always a viral cold it’s so frustrating because there is no protection from this nothing else much starts the attacks off but I am exhausted but in my own bed I didn’t think I would see at one point I am disabled anyway luckily it happened when I had my personal assistant with me so bless her she has been telling me the bits I have no memory of so just stay safe guys I have got some face masks and if anyone visits me at the mo I am wearing it to give a bit more protection x

[Lisacharman]

Has anyone else had to be put on to ventilator this is beginning to scare me to the point of do you go out or stay in I have the flu jab each year but each arrest has been worse than the first and I go so quickly I have got brittle asthma I do keep thinking it can’t get worse but it I can’t see it getting worse you hear about people dying from asthma but when you come so close it makes you over think your life style but I do all I get asked to from the hospital

[emmasue]

Poor you! I wish the NHS took asthma more seriously. I hope you feel better soon. Take care. x

[Lisacharman in reply to emmasue]

The sad thing is the hospital which is an hours drive from my home it’s to risky to drive to the hospital directly so I have no choice but go to doctors to try and prevent things getting as bad as they do they know this it’s so frustrating as I get discharged and back to community teams the acute team have written 4 times telling my go that I have to have an emergency pack at the ready of steroids nebules and antibiotics at all times and steroids must be 40mg not 30mg and for 7 days not5days so it’s frustrating and no fun being poorly I have multiple illnesses I have had 2 pulmonary embolism as well and I am paralysed from waiste down I try to do as much exercise and keep moving as best I can but there is always people worse than me that is how I look at it xxxxxxxxxx

X

[emmasue in reply to Lisacharman]

That's not fun. I hope things get better for you. You are right, there is always someone worse off, but don't use that excuse not to take care of yourself (I know I keep putting everyone else first and the results aren't pretty! ) Anyway, take care and hope you feel better soon. x

[Lisacharman in reply to emmasue]

You would think they would understand asthma is a killer it is serious I crashed in 12 minutes after being at the doctors but thank god the ambulance got to me and the air ambulance they saved my life this time so just got the recovery to go and try to stay away from the good old common cold xxxx

[Lisacharman]

Sorry for the late reply but been back in hospital they thought I had flu but it was just another viral cold they have finally put me on tamiflu to try and help cut down on risks I am now back to square one on my recovery so just got to rest lock the house so nobody unless necessary need to come round and my carers now are wearing masks etc for my protection the hospital I was in has so many poorly people with the flu so they are all aprons and gloves and masks to try and get on top of the spread I wish they would announce the truth of how many people are effected and it is an.epidemic this year but one day maybe the government will stop looking at what it looks like so guys keep breathing and the winter is half way through just need to stay away from viral colds which is why there is the issue that is my trigger which nobody can control

[emmasue in reply to Lisacharman]

Poor you! You have been through the ringers, haven't you! Hope the Tamiflu works and you get better soon. xxx

[Lisacharman]

So do I if I only had the asthma I think I could deal with it but I have multiple other problems to go with it so it does get you down at times especially when I try to stay active and do the right things but at least it was only over night to get tamiflu started but I was monitored if the asthma started good luck everyone let’s hope the next 4 weeks are better health wise and thank you all it means so much to talk to other sufferers sometimes you do think you’re alone when your really not