My asthma CANNOT get under control, it
kicked off sometime in 2003 ish and
started out as minor pains/sensations and
tickling in my upper back and frontal, and
progressed to more irritating/allergic
sensations which made me take
singulair/allegra and have an albuterol
inhaler handy just in case around 2004.
It seemed to be okay for about two years,
and then BAM. 2006-2007-2008 it kept
getting worse and worse and worse, and I
started having all out attacks. I moved
alot, so that may have something to do
with it, and I've also unfortunately had
many chest infections and gotten sick
alot, so perhaps I never recovered
completely or my lungs became weaker.
In any case I've tried it all. Air
purifiers, no carpets, clean allergy free
sheets, healthy allergy free food, keeping
healthy, exercizing, and the medications.
Allerga didn't work for me too well, it
stimulated me beyond belief, perhaps
there's a non stimulant version? Claritin
also didn't work. Advair was very so/so
didn't seem to help much.
I'm now on Singulair/Zyrtec DAILY,
Symbicort twice a day, nasonex spray,
atrovent inhaler, and I have
xopenex/albuterol/and prendisone pills for
emergencies.
And guess what? Sometimes I take ALL of
that in one day, some meds more than once,
INCLUDING caffeine, and my tightness,
allergy sensations, and symptoms are STILL
there.
They aren't as BAD and life threatning,
obviously, they're a bit settled down, but
they're still very present.
The meds seem to make the asthma symtpoms
go down to about 70% ish instead of 100%,
but that's that.
I guess this means I have it bad, but it
comes and goes.
I feel VERY depressed over this, it took
its toll on me emotionally and obviously
physically, and I've turned agoraphobic.
i'm afraid to leave my safety zone which
is my home or a hospital parking lot
because I've had asthma strike me out of
nowhere while I was driving or far away
from my safety net which had me panic
severely which made it even worse.
Even though I have my emergency
medication, that doesn't make it all go
away, and it doesn't make the fear stop.
I need advice big time!
Thanks guys. Really.
By the way, want to know something very
very sad? I hate to admit it, but the
hospital ER parking lot is my safety zone,
and I'm practically there every week
sitting in my car, taking my meds and
waiting for my symptoms to go away. That's
how bad it is, and that's how much of a
wreck I am over it.
My life is honestly stopped currently over
this condition, and I personally feel like
it shouldn't.
I don't know why my meds aren't working
very well or why the 4-5 doctors I've seen
so far haven't been able to get it under
control.
|
Galaxy
Supporter
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 514 Location: U.K,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Anxiety? Posted: 02-10-08 16:57pm
Anxiety can exacerbate asthma, you know.
Perhaps you need to think along those
lines, too. I have stress-related asthma
(although many other things also kick it
off, such as cold air, viruses and
exercise). When I become stressed or
upset my breathing becomes erratic and I
end up with my lungs in spasm.
You may need to address the anxieties in
your life. I know asthma is a major one -
you also mention you are agoraphobic.
Perhaps you could try some cognitive
behavioural therapy to change your
reaction from panic to control when you
feel the start of an attack.
