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Staying calm when asthma is severe?

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Posted 10/11/2006 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
I'm looking for suggestions on how to stay calm during a major asthma flare-up.  My asthma has been out of control since Friday when I had the worst attack I've ever had, and it's still scaring me.  My doctor considered hospitalizing me today, but since my oxygen level was excellent and the pulmonary function test wasn't too bad, he's going to try to treat me as an out patient, thank goodness!!  I'm on Singulair, Asmanex, Foradil, Medrol, Albuterol in the nebulizer and albuterol rescue inhaler. 

I know I'd do a lot better if I could just relax, but that's so hard for me to do.  When I feel my chest getting tight and breathing is difficult, I tense up even more, making everything much worse.  Then I panic imagining being rushed to the hospital and I'm determined not to do that! I am still trying to work, so can't just sit all day and listen to relaxing music as I did over the weekend.  I keep telling myself, "no stress...no stress..." but what else can I do?

Posted 10/11/2006 6:09 AM (GMT 0)
I have asthma too, and for me, the thing that give me the biggest chance for a attack, is STRESS!!!
there are many things to do, but for a 1st thing, i want to assure you, that this will not last forever,
ive had paranoia like that before, and it eventually fades, so soon it will not be as intense,
i would recommend seeing a phycologist, you may have a pain/anxiety problem, and that is hard to take care of alone,
but in the end, its all about you and controlling your mind, which at sometimes may seem nearly impossible, i know
when i first got asthma, i was literally taking my emergency inhailor every day for months
but i slowly, eventually started to mellow out, that and the awsome asthma specialist that really calmed me down, is a big help
i think you really need to tell your doctor how you feel, and if you truly feel like its that much of a bother, then ask your doctor for some kind of sedative for times you feel yourself starting to freak out,
i think that if hes feeling you need to be hospitalised, its time to take some time off work, and get your health in order, its not going to get better untill you really work on it
i also know there are some medications that you can take daily that are anti-anxiety pills, that may help as well, but that is for sure your doctors responsability to bring that up in the first place, so if he hasent already
YOU SHOULD!! its your stress factor after all, and im glad your coming on here and taking some responsability for bettering you health. but i really think, if you took a week or 2 off, took bubble baths all day, took some sedatives, and just really mellowed out, it would help alot, it helped me, so trust me, dont try to do everything, if its killing you, good luck, and let us know what you end up doing
tc
Posted 10/11/2006 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
Do you have someone you could call just to talk to, like a friend or relative or a pastor at church that could help..
Listening to some music, reading a book.
Do you like drinking tea some have a calming effect.
These are just some suggestions of course.
Have you been to the chat rooms here the Anxiety one is pretty good.
Hope you'll feel better soon
Hugs
Posted 10/12/2006 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I am new. I have asthma also. I have been dealing with worsening of asthma for the last 2 weeks along with sinus trouble. Stress for me can bring on an asthma episode. I saw my doctor today about my flare up. Put on predisone. Now I feel more calm that my asthma is going to get under control soon. I think you should take some time off work also. Take time to relax. Thanks.
Posted 10/13/2006 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I went back to my doctor today, and it turns out that I have three things going on: asthma, swelling around my vocal cords, and a croupy thing that's going around with the kids. (I'm an elementary school teacher, so I'm exposed to everything!) With all three of these issues, no wonder I'm having trouble breathing!

Since I haven't gotten any better since Tuesday, he originally thought I should go into the hospital, but then he reconsidered because he'd rather me not be admitted over the weekend, when there are more part time staffers. So I'm taking off work tomorrow and he wants me to stay in one room with the cold air humidifier going as close to 24/7 as I can. It does seem to be helping some. I go back to see him on Monday afternoon, and if I'm not better by then I will go to the hospital for a couple days for sterioid IV's and more breathing treatments. I'm just hoping and praying it doesn't come to that--I don't like hospitals!!!!

I'm doing a bit better at staying calm. I did talk to my minister yesterday, which helped a lot. I've been drinking lots of tea and just bought a new kind today on the way to the doctor. I've been listening to relaxing music and focusing on remaining stress free, praying and meditating as much as I can. I love to read, and I've read about 10 books over the last week. I'm also staying with my parents until I'm over this, so I don't have to worry about taking care of things at my house for now. The only time I have a problem with anxiety is when my asthma flares up, otherwise I'm absolutely fine. In fact, I'm known at work for remaining calm when everyone else seems to be losing it!! :D

I didn't know there were chat rooms on the site, I'll try to figure out how to get there--thanks! :)
Posted 10/13/2006 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
To get to the chat rooms:

Go to the very top of the whole page here, see in the thick blue line, with white bold font words that says:
FORUMS & CHAT , click on that, then look right below where it says Search Archieves with a space to type stuff (its on the top of the page as well), well right below search archieves, on a similar to the thick blue line at the very top, is another, on the very far right it says: Home | Calendar | Chat | Search | Members | Helpin, again, white bold letters, click on CHAT
then itll pop up a page, where you sighn in with your usual name you use to use the forums, write it ion there, and select a chat page to go to, you will see which ones most are on
good luck, if you still cant figure it out, just ask
Posted 10/14/2006 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
So, how's everything going Brandichi? Have you found the chat rooms? lots of good people on the chat rooms.........
Have you been able to find a calming situation that works for you?
Keep us posted and take care.
I really hope you don't have to go to the hospital.
Do you read the comics in the newspaper one of my favorite strips is "MUTTS" I really like the cute black cat. I'll buy a mutts book for when I go to the hospital on Monday for my spinal proceedures . It 'll help keep me calm at the hospital.
God bless and hugs to you.
Posted 10/14/2006 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hello! It is scary when your asthma is flaring. mine is starting to improve now that I have been on predisone for 3 days. Still coughing though. I have terrible sinus disease so I know that doesn't help any. Hang in there. Hopefully, you won't have to go into the hospital. The things we have to deal with my having asthma. Take care.
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