Inspo from the AUK FB page! (I may or may not have literally just stolen the idea đđ )
What things have people done for you to help with your asthma? Big or small, close friends/family or stranger, it doesnât matter. Letâs share the love and positivity!
Stranger saw me struggling, gave up their seat at the bus stop and checked I didnât need anything (happy to miss bus and go get me drink or call ambo etc... I just needed a sit down đ ). Only embarrassment - I was 20, they looked mid 80âs đ .
Mine is during the summer when I was poorly I called the AUK helpline. I was crying down the phone as my GP wasnât taking my repeated asthma attacks seriously as my PF was good. The nurse I spoke to was amazing. First medic Iâd spoken to that took me seriously and actually listened.
My work are lovely and I will miss them when I leave in a few weeks to go freelance! My boss visited me in hospital once and brought chocs, and they are all so helpful when I have asthma at work (do we need to sort triggers, are you ok, do you need to go home, do you want to work from home tomorrow and see how it goes?)
A couple of weeks ago I had my 3rd ambulance from work - sometimes I know I'm not great but it catches me by surprise when I can make it into work and doesn't seem too bad but then oops. Everyone helps me with my stuff but doesn't fuss, and there's always someone who comes with me in the ambulance and carries my stuff. Then gets to watch all the fun times (you know you have a rep when they say things like 'oh Resus 3 again, weren't you in here last time too?) After the first time HR asked me what they could do to help including me sending them some basic info if I was happy to for them to pass on to the ambulance.
They also spring into action if there are triggers '(I TOLD them not to spray that stuff, do you need to be helped to the kitchen? Shall I help you set up your neb?').
I have heard so many bad workplace stories including from those who work for the NHS that I wanted to acknowledge how lucky I've been with mine. I have an exit interview before I go and I will be making sure they know this as much as I can.
These are all lovely stories!
My daughterâs GP practice has been - for the most part - extremely unhelpful and concerned about her breathing problems. But one wonderful doctor helped me a lot, when I needed it.
I had had to take my daughter in to A&E twice over one weekend last autumn, before she was told to use her Clenil inhaler regularly. She was only just two, and it was very scary for us both.
When she was discharged from hospital the second time, we werenât told to see the Asthma nurse (we saw a doctor who was unfamiliar with the right procedure) and I was instead told to take her to the GP on the Monday.
This was all new to me so I did as told. The GP said I should not take my daughter into A&E with breathing problems again and gave me no help at all.
Her breathing continued terribly - but as I was advised not to go to A&E, I went to the GP every single day that week, where I saw 5 GPs and each of these GPs gave me slightly contradictory advice. The first 4 didnât have a clue - which was not only bad for my daughter, it was bad for my confidence as a mother.. I knew something was wrong, but not what to do.
The fifth said âhavenât you heard about the salbutamol weaning regime? [no] She should not be breathing like this for a whole week, itâs not Ok. Iâm going to refer her to the Asthma clinic, to see a consultant. Put her on a twice daily Clenil regimeâ.
I bumped up my daughterâs salbutamol dose massively for a few days, started her on Clenil and eventually she recovered.
My daughter didnât get to see the breathing consultant for at least 3 months - admin problem with the referral - but this one doctor made all the difference in the world to me.
(Now that I know what I know - I canât believe that 4 out of 5 GPs gave my 2 y.o. daughter less than no help.)
This was meant to be a happy story! Because in the end it panned out well..
The friends I have made on this forum especially Emma Sue. You help me when I was down, answer my questions there has been many,made my smile. I hope I have been a good friend too.
What would you do next?
Amazing same day GP service!
do I start my rescue meds? 
Heatwave, asthma fine - day after asthma attack!
