One thing that can trigger my severe asthma is anxiety. Viruses, air quality and smoke are the usual triggers, but anxiety can do it, too.
I had a colonoscopy yesterday and I know that when I go into a procedure/ operating room, I get anxious. So, I told them beforehand about this and about my asthma. I told the anaesthesiologist that in the past they have given me something for the anxiety before I went in the room. I reminded the nurse about it. I clearly explained what could happen with my asthma. When they started to take me into the room, I said no, the anaesthesiologist said she would give me something for the anxiety before I go in. The kind nurse went to check and came back and said that no, she said she’d do it in the room. Well, that started sparking the anxiety. My breathing increased. I tried to calm myself, but was quickly losing it by the time I was in the room. I told the anaesthesiologist she was going to do the anti- anxiety before. But, too late, asthma attack, bronchospasms (she called it panic attack). She gave the versed but I don’t think things went the way she expected. I woke up on a mask getting neb treatments, could hardly breathe. I was saying, “I can’t breathe”and coughing! The doctor said, “well you had bronchospasms (in the operating room- no kidding) but I’m sure you didn’t aspirate!” I was scared and upset. Things calmed down a little. They gave me a shot of IV prednisone, some oxygen, because my SATs went down and let me rest. My choice was - the doctors said, send me to the hospital or send home. I went home. Now I have to recover from flare and colonoscopy. Why won’t the doctors listen?? I told them exactly what to do! It was so frustrating! Sorry this is so long, Oh, when I reached my regular pulmo she had me up my pred for a few more days (I had just finished a taper) and also said that she is VERY happy that I am pursuing Bronchial Thermoplasty- that was good validation.
I am so tired of the doctors not listening! It was a horrible, scary experience.
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Shadowcat04
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That must have been horrible 😞. It's bad enough when doctors use anxiety to dismiss people's asthma, or are determined it's a trigger when it isn't, but when it really is for you and you've prepared for that (prepared yourself and them!) and they ignore it just ugh!
I hope you recover quickly from both issues - give yourself some TLC though. One issue is bad enough never mind both at the same time.
Yes, it was humiliating and so frustrating. Anxiety is not usually my trigger and it is embarrassing when it happens, so I worked very hard to not have it happened. I was crying and coughing and not breathing well in front of my gastro doctor that did the procedure. The rest of them I won’t see again- I’m very mad that I wasn’t listened to. But the gastro is my doctor and I have to face him again. Before the Versed took hold and while I was really losing it and going into the asthma attack, I noticed my gastro doctor was getting out of my line of site. I’m not even sure what happened once the Versed kicked in, no one told me. I just caught bits from the anaesthesiologist- she seemed eager to let me know that I did not aspirate. Not having my husband with me (due to COVID restrictions) was really a hamper. I needed an advocate.
Hi Shadowcat04. This is not only so maddening but very scary for you. It's incredibly frustrating when doctors don't listen to us the patient. We are the ones with this condition. I was told my asthma attack was anxiety because I have unusual presentation to medics. I ended up in resus with a pulse of 165 because that's my presentation fast pulse no wheeze SOB .
You put everything in place which was ignored. Maybe write a letter of unofficial complaint of how you felt and eventually what happened. All preventable.
BB. Your presentation sounds so like mine, except I do sometimes do have a very quiet wheeze which I “feel” more than hear. That’s the only way I can describe it.
JC same. I can hear a wheeze sometimes mid chest but no one else can. So frustrating. Loved the early days of the puffing wheezing chesty patient...good old classic text book asthmatic!!! Now I just get the look of really😳
Shame so many of us, yet they still try to put the square peg in a round hole. I even have a booklet I take my symptoms, my triggers, my treatment that helps. Em let's not listen or read. I will keep on and on though, because it helps.
Preaching to the choir. I think we've all been down this road and it's infuriating. Good luck and have a restful weekend, at least. As you know, eventually it'll sort itself out... sometimes in spite of the "professionals"*.
I have been there years ago, I thought I was going mad shaking etc so in end I had to go on anti depressants as I had no life and now any big events like taking my teeth out or pipes into any spare orifice I take some diazepan to help relax me, what helps me the best was learning tia chi, I just switch off from where I am and do my meditation and it helps me so much. I could write for ages but time is short at moment, but your normal it’s just learning how to relax in the situation. Going with somebody that makes you feel happy and safe helps. Talk to a understanding doctor helps. Take care.
Blue- Breeze, my first hospitalization was based on stats like yours O2 was okay (like it almost always is), SOB, a little wheeze, very high heart rate. In hospital for 10 days. My lower lobes were worst.
Thank you for the support and ideas everyone. I am still dealing with it because I haven’t recovered from the flare yet. My flares don’t just go away, they linger. So, I still have SOB, coughing and a general feel of not feeling well (some nausea and feeling warm- no real fever). Meds, prednisone, procedure recovery, who knows? I’m trying to get past my anger and frustration with the doctor, but it’s taking some time. Especially because I’ve had a few other procedures at this same surgery center and they’ve always respected my wishes of the anti- anxiety med before going in, and that was before the severe asthma (this is a new diagnosis for me, just over the last two years). I had done my research about bronchospasms or aspiration in surgery from asthma and connected the dots to my anxiety about going under for surgery. My head keeps replaying the wake up with the mask on my face in recovery with me clawing are my chest, doctors and nurses around and me trying to say it’s hard to breathe. I’m going to figure out the best way to give feedback.
Before the surgery, my gastro came in and said, “Beth, colonoscopy, yep! Anxiety? Haha!” And then he left. That was our consult. I’ve known him awhile, but that didn’t lend itself to me sharing anything with him! I thought I was good since the anaesthesiologist had agreed to take care of it.
Thanks for listening, again. Writing it to people who understand really helps.
Flares don't just go away. So be kind to yourself. I had nightmares for weeks the way I was treated so I had to put pen to paper after speaking to my GP first. I helped. Of course us severe ones (new for me too) always seem to have to shout harder when we can't!
I had a well known Respiratory professor tell me I didn't have asthma it was all in my head -until the results of tests came back when he said"oh this is serious".
I asked him if he knew what he was doing having caused us so much anxiety and stress for what was in his words life threatening asthma.
He had a temper tantrum with me and I never went back.
He was supposedly brilliant in his field but with the people skills of a brick wall.
I now have an amazing respiratory team ,so hang on in there you will find medics who are excellant.
I am so sorry to hear of your horrible experience. How frustrating and humiliating and also, unnecessary. IMO, they should have given you something to take at home before coming to the hospital so that you could be more relaxed and prepared for any procedure.
Stress is one of my major triggers so I really do feel for you. I also have severe asthma and understand how difficult it is to get certain healthcare professionals to take on board that people with severe asthma are kind of the best and most knowledgable about their condition. And that old chestnut about you having a "panic attack"!!!! Agh!
Can you speak to you asthma team to get some liaison with the colonoscopy dept? Or even your GP? So that you can have something at home to take before you get to hospital? I always have diazepam ready to take prior to any kind of hospital /medical procedure.
Blue Breeze, thanks. Yes, I do need to be a little more patient with this flare and relax and rest until it’s better. I’m trying. I have one more week until I am back to teaching- distance, but still 8 hours a day (and if spring is any indicator, prepping will take much more because it’s new and I want it to be perfect and amazing for kids). Starting Monday (before work starts, I have something every day that is unpaid getting ready for school. Breathe and rest when I can, will be my best plan, I think.
Nine lives, I had the same problem getting identified. They wanted to say that I had VCD, anxiety disorder (well, I do have PTSD that is controlled with therapy and meds), chronic cough, yet pred kept curing the flares, albuterol worked and then I ended up in the hospital- oops, she has Severe Asthma! I had a wrist surgery 10 years ago where the “top surgeon” left my stitches in my wrist for 6 weeks! When I went in to have them out they had grown into my skin and tissue. I screamed and cried. They got the doctor and he said, I’m sure that doesn’t hurt and left. They wouldn’t numb it or help me, just yanked stitches out from under my skin. He’d been on vacation while stitches that should have stayed in only 7-10 days stayed in. Doctors aren’t perfect. Thank goodness for physical therapists, they saved me.
Joan- Public, thanks that is a good idea. I will talk that over with one of my doctors. I’m sure any of them would help. Like I said, it has never been a probem before. Because of the wrist surgeon’s anaesthesiologist,I have had surgery anxiety for years. The last surgeries I had were female in nature and at the same place as last Wednesday and they gave me a shot in the hallway that calmed me, wheeled me in, I got in position, they used the Versed and no problem.
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