Had an asthma attack yesterday
Admitted to A+E. Nebulized 4 times because I simply couldn’t breath. After 4-5 hours I was told it’s anxiety and to go home !!! I could have cried
I have been asthmatic for 60 years. I am now giving up. No more doctors for me. I will plough through on my own
So upset.
Oh no! What a horrible experience for you! I don’t understand why they told you it was anxiety as it was clearly asthma or they wouldn’t have given you nebs.
I’ve had doctors accuse me of panicking, yet I try to remain as calm as possible when having an attack and have had paramedics comment how calm I am, but I don’t think they appreciate that subconsciously you’re bound to panic slightly as you can’t breathe!!!! It’s sort of essential!
Luckily I’ve had more good experiences than bad. I can totally understand how you feel but I would say persevere as most doctors are great and understand what you’re going through. Please don’t suffer on your own xxx
Thanks so much
After 4 nebs I was told to go home and try to take deep breaths !!
Oh if only I could
Going back to see the Gp who sent me to A+E next week
The nurses were brill though and so kind
After telling 5 different doctors the same story....as best as I could.... whilst trying to breath , I did loose the will to live 😩
That old chestnut! ‘You need to take deep breaths’ ‘ you need to slow your breathing down’ they literally have no idea!
Well your GP clearly thought it was your asthma so are they questioning their medical judgement?! Urgh! Some doctors are a nightmare!
Stay strong and just write it down as a bad experience, sending lots of get well wishes and hugs!
Maybe try EmmaF template have it done up so if to go in hospital and struggling to speak you got all answers for them xxx
Some Drs carp some brilliant all depends sorry you had bad lot
RD23...What a horrible experience for you to have to go through. If you nebulize and it helps they should realize that there is something causing the inflammation in your airway. Isn't there a medical board you can complain to? Can you ask your GP to refer you to a group that is more knowledgeable regarding asthma. Of course, you get stressed when you can't breathe...we all do and so would the Drs. if it was happening to them. Don't give up...try to see some new drs. if possible. Remember the old saying..."insanity is walking down the same street that leads the wrong way and continuing to do so, thinking you will eventually get a different result"... try another course of action. You have fought this for 60 years so don 't give up now! It is worth it to survive...even if it is something that is as simple as having a cup of tea and watching the sun rise. Life is a blessing, worth holding onto but hold onto by taking charge when you can....good luck!!! Hannah
Don't uou dare!!!! Have you got a drop in centre nearby or urgent care team available please use something else if you unwell and feel as if you are being ignored. Don't mess with asthma attacks they can be fatal and this is probably a better world with you in it than without. Back to back nebulisers aren't nothing they are given for a reason. Ask your GP for a nebuliser at home or buy one if he will supply salbutamol nebules then you always have a backup at home even if anxiety. Stress exacerbates asthma. Get help and advice 😃
Ive been asthmatic for 60 years too don't let a doctor tell you its anxiety you know your symptoms you lived with it this long
problem is some doctors are ignorant and havent got a clue about asthma sufferers so don't let a bad diagnosis stop you from asking for help when needed .
Is it possible that they treated the asthma but some anxiety remained? In some people, asthma can trigger anxiety.
I don’t think they would have given you all those neb treatments if they didn’t see evidence of asthma. They can’t have thought it was anxiety at the beginning, because neb treatments can aggravate asthma.
But often they send one home before that person feels ok. They can listen to your lungs and hear things we can’t hear. They can tell that the asthma is no longer an emergency.
I suggest you have your doctor look at the hospital record. They explain very little to patients in emergency. It’s annoying
The problem with that is that yes sometimes they have correctly assessed you are ok to go home, and other times they really don't understand enough about asthma and they are not correct, often because they're using the wrong measurements or don't understand things about risk or maintenance - a common one is that oh well you're not wheezing so you're fine to go, or 'you sound ok right after this neb' - yes but will it last? And sometimes the first dr you see can be good but the next one, who maybe sees you a bit better, is less good and thinks any improvement = fine to go. Sounds like a bit of a revolving door of drs here and tbh asthma can be hit and miss in UK hospitals I think - I've had many positive experiences and some really bad ones.
I can get a bit better with nebs during attacks but it won't last. During this period some drs might want to send me home but that would be a big mistake - it won't last and I will need more! I can't tell if this is the case with Eryl-Davies but frankly I am suspicious of drs who pull the anxiety card in this situation, especially since as you say asthma and anxiety can co-exist. I too would be upset and frustrated if I were sent home when 4 nebs had helped but I was still having symptoms which I knew were asthma and not anxiety -asthma doesn't make me anxious, but drs not listening to me does!
Eryl-Davies I have been in this kind of situation and it's horrible -I know the feeling of wanting to give up but please don't! I have also had great drs who do listen and treat so while I have often felt like giving up I've persevered and often managed to get treatment. I know it's horrible though. Glad you're seeing the GP again but please don't wait to go back to hospital if you need to. Is there any other A&E you can go to? Sometimes they just have bad days even if normally good but if you often have bad experiences and can get to another one it may be worth a go.
I agree potentially they have badly communicated (far too common) but to say that to someone whose been having an asthma attack makes them feel dismissed and that their symptoms are being diminished and that the Drs are saying you are wasting their time because it's just anxiety. It demonstrates a lack of understanding at the least.
I’m so sorry to hear about your attack. They are just shear terror, no other way to describe it. I’ve had my asthma dismissed as anxiety or panic on several occasions. I once had an 8hr panic attack according to my GP (what?) with coughing, wheezing, mucus, that improved with Salbutamol and came on gradually (I really don’t think panic attacks work like that). My PF has been erratic over the last 3 months. Sometimes it drops during an attack sometimes it doesn’t. It can also be high in between attacks then suddenly go into my boots. It took a specialist to say yes this is asthma and these are attacks. I finally got the treatment I needed to stop the frequent attacks I was experiencing. I actually had to go private to be taken seriously. Makes me very nervous, as in the future I may not get the treatment I desperately need. I wish you all the best in your recovery and hope that you will be able to get everything sorted.
My PF after 4 nebs was still only 300
They said I was fine and sent me home 🤷♀️
Depending on your personal best that is still pretty low. I think the % they give is not helpful on OF it my personal best was 430 it's down to 410 now but I feel ill at 300-350.
In normal circumstances having attack between 250-300 need help but when suffering infection and symptoms 300-350 need help.
When I was ill before (5/12/18) Christmas lasted till Feb couldn't get above 350. When got infections the difficulty to breathe is really scary especially when alone and it's 2am . Diagnosed with asthma in 1990 but Dec 2018 first time had a nebulizer - once by paramedics and then again next day when TO sent me to A&E with sputum culture results identifying the infection
Oh yes been there too. I dropped to before an attack 61% PF and was told it was absolutely fine. My PF had improved by the time I got to GP but still only to 75% with 10 puffs of Salbutamol. 3 days later I had 2 severe attacks in one day. I was upset, angry, afraid and desperate. That’s why I went to see a private doctor who referred me straight away to a specialist as he felt their was certainly something respiratory that wasn’t right. My lungs were being constantly irritated by post nasal drip. However, please don’t put yourself at risk by not seeking professional medical help when you need it.
Thank you xxx
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