Itโs holiday season and Christmas is on Friday!Here is a time and place to admit our sins to make sure Santa does visit us these year, despite the COVID restrictions ๐.
Here are my confessions for 2020; I have not washed my spacer/neb as often as I probably should, I have over used my vent to avoid needing to use my neb a couple of times (to no avail), and I once decided to grab doughnuts before going to hospital (tbf they WERE Krispy Kremes and it was just after lockdown 1.0 ๐ ).
Anyone else have any confessions? Let it off your chest to get on Santaโs nice list! ๐ ๐ป๐คถ๐ป๐๐
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EmmaF91
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Yes same here to the neb washing....often it gets hot water run through it too rather than proper soaking.
And ๐คฃ๐คฃ to the Krispy Kremes. After being stuck at home with no Boris boxes until the week before they stopped them I think you deserved those donuts!
I confess that I wash my neb properly but the spacer hmmm.
I confess that my ideas about what to do with annoying healthcare staff, including ones I see regularly, are not fit to share on here because I have a twisted mind and I'm very annoyed with them.
I confess that I have just told a text from my council to go and do something anatomically impossible after it told me I should be shielding.
I confess I have bought ALL THE FOOD to make up for being in Tier 4. I am actually going to BECOME Steve the annoying asthma python on Xmas Day at this rate.
I confess I let a call from the hospital go to voicemail last week because I knew they'd leave a message with the information and I couldn't be bothered to talk to anyone medical.
I confess I have an unhealthy compulsion to read comments on vaccine posts even though it annoys me every single time.
I confess to sending you creepy messages to make you laugh, so you could no longer ostrich. And to sending you llama picture with the same outcome. ๐๐๐
I confess to losing track of when last washed my CPAP machine hose and mask.
I confess to forgetting to take the extra doses allowed of the Duoresp and going for the Ventolin.
I confess to chucking my Duoresp away in the last 10 doses on red because the taste is horrendous just for those doses..
I got a grant to use leisure facilities from 24/02/20 to 23/09/20 but due to COVID it got extended to 23/04/21. I confess I haven't used it as much as I should have. I used it quite a few times before lockdown 1 in the month I had it but since 1st Aug to 5th Nov only managed to go once. I had a fall in September that knacked me for at least 3 weeks. Since they opened on 2nd Dec had planned to go Wed this week but decided too much to do before Christmas so am going to rebook for new year.
On a different note I definitely hate getting older - (I am 50 in 2021)
1) since 5th Dec 2018 start of really bad infection I have not been 100% - energy and pain and breathing
2) I have PCOS and osteoarthritis as well as asthma and have had chronic pain for the last 20 years and since lockdown I KNOW I have put on loads of weight !!
3) I am sure I am perimenopausal because of Age and not just PCOS as not had a period since 22/08/20 and this yearonly had 4 periods.
Have a great Christmas and here's hoping for a better 2021 for everyone xxx
I bought myself a cassis and fig essential oil room spray which is supposed to help you sleep. (Knowing that Iโm allergic to just about every scent going)
Then I thought it would be a great idea to generously spray the house just before going bed
(See above)
๐
Doughnuts donโt count as a confession because theyโre one of your 5 a day, they contain flour which is from a grain, and grains count toward one of your 5 a day. And theyโre doughnuts. Nuff said ๐ฉ
I confess I donโt always take my Fostair as often as I should ๐คฆ๐ผโโ๏ธ. Youโd think with 2 puffs twice a day it should be as much of a habit as going for a wee, but it isnโt!
Part of it Iโm sure is that rebellious streak with being a unicorn ๐ฆ that if they donโt know and canโt be bothered to find out what is going on and it isnโt standard asthma, then I shouldnโt have to take standard treatment regime!
Who is going to end up being the one suffering the consequences!! ๐คท๐ผโโ๏ธ๐ณ๐คฆ๐ผโโ๏ธ๐คฆ๐ผโโ๏ธ
Hmmm, cleaning my nebuliser ..... must be due itโs annual Spring clean then ๐๐ป๐ฟ๐ช ๐ชฃ๐งฝ
I could be here all night...lol ๐I confess to doing my own inhaler experiment to see what was causing my blurry vision without telling anyone medical.
I confess to having many rants at the hospital resp team in my head and have felt like a loon having a billion conversations with my consultant (sort of my consultant???) in my head and if anyone could see inside, theyโd defo be calling the men in white coats!
I should confess to several meltdowns at my cons....๐ณ๐ฌ๐ But it's not really needed as he is fully aware they happen! I think he actually probably prefers covid-high times when I haven't seen him as he's in the danger zone and I'm not (not for covid obviously but it avoids my meltdowns....!)
Yea but that experiment worked so doesn't class as a sin ๐๐. I'm glad I'm not the only one that gas these arguments with cons in my head then when I see them I just sit an nod pahahaha. X
I confess to having given up taking my meds the past three weeks. They are no longer working as they should, but Iโm not getting worse by not taking them. In my sole offering for the defence - I canโt get an appointment face to face or telephone.
You may be ok now but come the time you need them they won't work as they need time to build up in your system. I know it's frustrating not being able to see people but they should be able to have a discussion over the phone - most of a face to face is discussion anyway. They being GP or asthma nurse. Or maybe give the Asthma UK nurses a call? They could go through things with you and might have some ideas.
I confess to not doing my daily walks as prescribed by asthma nurse and putting weight on throughout the dark covid age - I've indulged in a small (?!) amount of crisps & chocolate biscuits as a way of coping with it all. I've exploited the fact that my GP can't see me face to face to talk him into allowing me my own Ventolin regime to supplement all the other meds (they can't face you off over the telephone). I confess that I've continued to do my own grocery shop twice a week plus pick up my meds from Boots throughout lockdown, blatant stubbornness - can't stand giving up my independence.
I too read comments on covid and vaccine articles (the comments wind me up) and I realise that science and scientists are not really appreciated, viewed with unhealthy suspicion and have a secret agenda, allegedly. Critical thinking needs to be taught more rigorously.
I confess to loving this asthma forum, the fantastic fellow sufferers of this bloody awful disease and everyone's willingness to share their experiences to help a stranger. You guys rock. Merry Christmas! ๐ค๐๐ฅฐ
Ha yes I too keep doing my own shopping, post office, pharmacy etc for the same reason. I had some very rude responses out loud to shielding email/text yesterday.
I would definitely not appreciate being controlled on Ventolin! I do my own thing but I have to, my lot at the hosp are pretty hopeless ('do you think the nebs/inhalers could be placebo?' Err no I don't given they significantly improve both peak flow and symptoms, I just need them more often. Do you have any useful advice or are you just going to pretend this isn't happening?)
I discovered my new asthma nurse is asthmatic and have freely shared my theories about my asthma and she's listening! She gets it, but she's still bound by the asthma treatment guidelines. I use Ventolin about once a day as I get a dip around 4pm. I've found taking extra Fostair makes things worse over time and I believe that I can only tolerate so much long acting bronchodilator, hence my reluctance to return to MART. We need to discover our own thing and fight our corner - one size doesn't fit all!
Glad yours gets it and works with you! So far my GP surgery have I think just quietly not applied those guidelines thankfully. They are useful up to a point but often not, for me. I can have days with no Ventolin then need a lot. They have never actually done asthma reviews at the surgery though want to now. I confess I can't be bothered - will either be tick-box or they'll try to interfere. My hosp ones officially manage it though as I said are not hugely useful - I have met many lovely and helpful ANs but sadly never on my team, or then they leave (what is it about me lol?)
Them being asthmatic seems to be either really helpful or the opposite - have had a lovely asthmatic nurse on the ward who got it, but a consultant who never shut up about her own asthma and how it meant she understood when she didn't. I felt like she thought having asthma meant she didn't need to bother keeping up with any of the advances, following any science or appreciating others present differently.
I admit that the hospital respiratory team nurses are good too and they are better at the whole communication thing than many consultants. I've had my fair share of consultant appointments that were a disappointment. But hey how, we plough on. ๐
Ha me too still go to boots collect scripts and do food shops it helps to still feel in control therefore good for over all wellbeing. 1st lockdown did it by the book for first few months but couldn't take being stuck indoors - literally felt like I was being punished (I know it sounds silly) so decided to find a balance while minimizing risk.
I confess to never taking my PF as I see it a pointless exercise given it rarely changes despite being asked to every time I speak to the doc/ nurse. Doing stuff I know will trigger my asthma because I developed a โ f**k it attitudeโ after shielding 2.0.
Oh my, do spacers need washing ? ๐ I confess to having what I call โF***offy Daysโ, when my asthma is going downhill and I do impossible shattering tasks (gardening or putting up xmas lights outside!) as I need to rebel against feeling ill and the worsening of symptoms ๐ I confess to joining this group only recently and each day quietly reading the posts without comment... and I will say, you have all been an amazing comfort to me ๐ This asthma exacerbation has been the worst Iโve experienced (am on 3rd lot of pred - sleep who needs it?) and this group has dragged me through the days - I am grateful and in awe of your support and knowledge ๐คฉ๐คฉ๐คฉ Merry Xmas x
Welcome! Glad you're finding it helpful - I definitely think it helps to know others have experienced similar. From your username I suspect you don't have the easiest time always with medics...
I also have those days where I just want to ignore it. Or if I have been told everything is fine when it's not I will feel like a fraud and a wimp who just needs to get on with it.
Me too had complete melt down few months ago re feeling a fraud thanks to consultant. This forum is amazing for support and knowledge just knowing were not alone and not imagining symptoms is a comfort! Welcome btw ๐ yea pred insomnia- sleeps over rated.
This has really cheered me up.. my confessions....
wash spacer..... yeah last time i did that was........
Even though I knew I was in big trouble with my asthma I decided to ignore everyone (friends, asthma nurse, gp, cons) till it went completely to pot and now it won't go back to normal....ooopsy
My final confession is that I have done the complete opposite to the advice around healthy eating and being constantly starving while on steriod tablets and have eaten exactly what I want (chocolate buttons and cheese sandwiches) whenever I want...
The spacer thing ๐ I think itโs supposed to be washed every week but I maybe wash it every 4-5 weeks! And then when I wash it I get all motivated like ยซ ok I do it every Saturday from now on! ยป ... nope! Loll
My confession, (not asthma related though) is cracking open the Christmas chocolates too early (mid November ๐), oh and the other day realising my computer mouse wasnโt working because I was actually trying to use my tangle teezer!! ๐Happy Christmas everyone, stay safe and well but have some fun
On the chocolate confessions front. I confess to stockpiling Easter eggs and still having some left. I also confess to eating a whole egg in a sitting ๐๐
I confess to not washing my spacer. I also confess to not telling my asthma team about a flare that I had until about a month after it happened. In my defence this was a mild flare and I managed it myself at home.
I also confess to eating everything I could lay my hands on while on steroids.
Where to start... I confess to being an ostrich and you guys verbally making me see sense and leave work to go to a+e where they kept me for 5 days! Thank you!
I confess to giving up with doing my pf since that consultant made me feel a fraud like I'm punishing him or something...
I confess I don't use ventolin enough some days an lots other days to avoid escalation... oh an always forget to do pf after ventolin to check reversibility ๐ฑ
I confess I downplay my symptoms as I've got used to them so don't always realise or it's the ostrich in me...
I confess I quite like being in the ๐ฆ club ๐.
I confess I don't know whether to hate my lungs or feel sorry for them?!๐คทโโ๏ธ
Hope you all have the healthiest xmas you can and let's hope by spring things are looking brighter for us all ๐
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Neb Machine in Greece
New to biologics - don't feel particularly well.
staying in a hotel with asthma: first intl trip in 2020
do I start my rescue meds? 
