But I didn't panic.

March 12, 2011

I walked out to go to the store up the street. I started to feel

funny. And couldn't find my inhaler. I didn't panic and somehow talked

myself out of an attack. Does this happen to anyone else?

March 12, 2011

You did the right thing Steve, DON'T PANIC! I have been in similar situations where I forgot my inhaler at home and I started feeling short of breath. I did not panic and stayed in one spot until my symptoms ease down and I could catch my breath . Panicking will only aggravate your asthma more! Thanks for sharing! Shane http://www.asthmasymptoms86.com From: Steve

To: asthma Sent: Sat, 12 March, 2011 23:31:15Subject: But I didn't panic.

I walked out to go to the store up the street. I started to feel

funny. And couldn't find my inhaler. I didn't panic and somehow talked

myself out of an attack. Does this happen to anyone else?

March 13, 2011

Hi all I just got on the list. Just reading up, trying to get some info.

Steve...

I have done similar, during hockey. I feel myself getting attack-y, but I relax, breathe, and usually I can avoid having a full blown attack. I still cough, though.

I haven't needed my inhaler in years, and I've NEVER had an attack while playing...no it's not expired, I *do* check.

So I left it in my purse at my friend's house just down the street from the rink. In the first 2 min of the game, I had an allergy attack, sneezing my head off. It was funny. Then, I started to cough. No biggie, I often cough after that much sneezing, it never amounts to anything. The coughing got worse.

I started to have an attack, but I tried to relax & breathe thru it. It rapidly went downhill. I was bracing on my pads, coughing hard almost continuously. I stopped talking as I needed my air. I started to get a headache....and I must have lost oxygen to my brain, because I kept playing. I was losing badly and I didn't want to seem like a pansy "Oh, I can't breathe" I'm already a *girl*...great reasoning huh!!!!!!!

At the end of the game, I was down to one word at a time, panting hard, little coughs because not enough air to cough hard, and continuously braced. Thank God someone found an inhaler and someone else went to call the medics (I declined). I didn't die (obviously) but I wasn't great, for days. I used albuterol & pulmicort nebs for a week. Now I'm back to normal.I work in EMS for Pete's sake and my crews found out and were mad, saying I was about 3 min from crashing.

Now. I've just moved, I haven't found a new doc, I've never had a specific asthma doc because I've never NEEDED one, and I don't even have steroids (I stole my son's he has tons 'cause he's a RAD kid).

I read up and found out that NOW I'm going to be more at risk for those sorts of things...what do you all recommend I do?

To: asthma Sent: Sat, March 12, 2011 4:31:15 PMSubject: But I didn't panic.

I walked out to go to the store up the street. I started to feel funny. And couldn't find my inhaler. I didn't panic and somehow talked myself out of an attack. Does this happen to anyone else?

March 13, 2011

I have done it with my chest pain that I get from stress, but not with my asthma as yet. Sometimes it works, although I think that's because it is not a full blown attack quite yet. I will try it next time with my asthma, even if I am holding on to my inhaler to see if it works.To: asthma Sent: Sat, March 12, 2011 11:07:19 PMSubject: Re: But I didn't panic.

You did the right thing Steve, DON'T PANIC! I have been in similar situations where I forgot my inhaler at home and I started feeling short of breath. I did not panic and stayed in one spot until my symptoms ease down and I could catch my breath . Panicking will only aggravate your asthma more! Thanks for sharing! Shane http://www.asthmasymptoms86.com From: Steve

To: asthma Sent: Sat, 12 March, 2011 23:31:15Subject: But I didn't panic.

I walked out to go to the store up the street. I started to feel

funny. And couldn't find my inhaler. I didn't panic and somehow talked

myself out of an attack. Does this happen to anyone else?

March 14, 2011

Hi Steve. Have you talked to your doctor about Vocal Cord Dysfunction? In my experience, you can not talk yourself out of an asthma flare, but you can talk yourself out of a VCD flare. The symptoms are almost identical and impossible to tell apart if you have not been trained to do so. Just a thought.MadelineTo:

asthma Sent: Sat, March 12, 2011 6:31:15 PMSubject: But I didn't panic.

I walked out to go to the store up the street. I started to feel

funny. And couldn't find my inhaler. I didn't panic and somehow talked

myself out of an attack. Does this happen to anyone else?

March 14, 2011

Hi Kay. It sounds like you are on the right track. Awareness and preparedness are the keys to control. I would automatically use my inhaler before beginning hockey practice or a game. It will open your airways from the start and prevent many flares. Also, if you don't have an electronic peak flow meter, get one. They are affordable. I have a microlife meter purchased from amazon. It is much more sensitive and accurate than the plastic manual ones. It measures peak flow and FEV. Take your readings morning and evening for several weeks to develop a trend of "normal" for you. Then use your meter any time you are short of breath. In the beginning I relied on the hard numbers from my meter. It really takes the

guesswork out of determining the condition of inflammation. Also, do not wait. Use that inhaler. It is better to use it when not necessary than wait until it is really critical.MadelineTo: asthma Sent: Sun, March 13, 2011 9:23:09 AMSubject: Re: But I didn't panic.