I'm 27 and i never had asthma before, I was intubated twice in 1 wk I need someone to help me with my fear?

Question

I never had asthma before and it dosent run in the family ...why or what could have caused me to get this? AND back in march i was untubated twice in one week and its left me afraid, paranoid to leave and do normal things i use to do, I cry alot when i think about it, I feel like i can't do anything and its holding me back. I know they say to control it ..I use advair and i have one those breathin machines at home but I get afraid I might have a attack and i'll die and I don't have anyone to talk to about it or no one sees my fear in my family or spouse, my BF trys to help me and talk to me but he dosent have asthma so it's limited to where he can feel my fear ...I guess i just want someone to help me with this.

Thanks everyone for the support in answering my question ....I'll definetly do my best to control my asthma ..god bless!

Answer 1

I was told I had asthma when I was 12 but it got REALLY bad when I was about 22, and has gotten progressively worse since. I understand what you're going through because when I was 22 and had my first severe attack (ER visit and all) I was left paranoid and traumatized. I let the fear control my life for about a month. I barely ate, barely slept and cried constantly. My family tried to help, bought me a HEPA filter, I went to the doctors and got stronger medicine and inhalers, but still I was stuck in the fear. The doctors never explained anything to me and I felt like no one understood what I was going through. Just felt scared and alone and that I was going to die. I wouldn't even sleep because I felt like I would have an attack and die in my sleep.

Then one day, I realized that I had hit rock bottom because not only was I living in constant fear, I was neglecting my schoolwork and letting my grades drop. I had to make a choice then and there. Live in the fear or take control of the fear. So I opted for choice #2 because I realized I could NOT continue living like this. I actually ended up talking to the school psychologist and she told me that she's wasn't going to tell me to "Get over it." She was going to help me "deal with it." To be honest, I don't remember exactly what she said to me that helped - maybe it was just that. She said she'd help me "deal with it" -- but how do you deal with something you don't understand??

So, my mission to overcome the fear started there. I researched everything I could about asthma (and am still doing so 4 years later). When I went to the hospital again, I asked the doctor millions of questions so he could explain it to me. I kept an "asthma journal" to track when I was getting attacks, the symptoms I was experiencing, what my peak flow was (you should obtain a peak flow meter), etc. I even wrote about my experiences in personal memoirs as an outlet of expression.

For a while, that helped. Just being able to understand what was going on made it a tad bit less overwhelming. Not knowing what to do, not knowing what was going on, not knowing what was causing it -- all of that builds into the fear.

So your first step my friend is to tackle the "unknown" about asthma. Research, write, document, ask questions, find someone to talk to about your experiences so you feel as if you can sort through the fear and emotions. If you feel uncomfortable going to an actual psychologist/therapist, find an online community for asthmatics (I'm SURE there are tons) and share your experiences there. It helps just knowing you're not alone in this - and TRUST me you are not!

I can honestly say that 4 years after my first severe attack, I handle the fear much better than I used to. Of course, I still cry and get scared. But I rarely panic and have not visited that dark hole I was in during that first time. I am still expanding my knowledge and becoming VERY aware of my symptoms and experiences. You HAVE to be aware of what is going on within your body. Otherwise, you'll never escape that fear. Knowledge IS power in this instance. And TRUST me, it will help bring you out of the fear of dying.

Also - one breathing technique you might use is breathing from your diaphram. Asthmatics tend to breathe from their chest where their shoulders go up during each breath. Try to train yourself to use diaphram breathing during an attack and it will not only help calm you, it will minimize the panic. There's a book I own that is called "How to become a former asthmatic" and it explains the techniques and things you can do. Not sure if it cures you because I still have asthma. But it does give yet another way we can tackle the fear and start taking back our own lives.

Please take my suggestions because I don't want you to continue to live in fear. If you are educated about asthma and understand more, you can educate others about it too so they can start to understand it better and, essentially, how to HELP you better. Even just writing a story about what you are experiencing may allow others to have insight onto what is going on within your body. That happened with me. With my memoir - I showed my one friend and she came to a closer understanding of what goes on. When people understand more about it, they're more sensitive to the situation.

But it starts with you. Start building your own knowledge and become INCREDIBLY aware of what is going on within you. You don't have to let the fear control you. Control the fear by doing everything I said.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I got diagnosed with asthma 6 years ago and have been to the hospital several times since. One of the most important things to remember when you start having an asthma attack is that it's going to be ok. If you start to get scared and freak out you will just tighten up more and the attack will get worse. You could talk to your doctor and see if you might have some panic attacks secondary to your asthma and they might be able to perscribe you something like adavan for it. When you do go into an attack use your emergancy inhailer, sit down, put your arms over your head and try and control your breathing. At the time it seems difficult to be calm but if your not the situation will only escalate. And as for not being able to do the things you used to don't be afraid to go and live your life. My asthma is pretty severe yet I am on the U of M rowing team, which requires me to partake in intense workouts once to twice a day. The exercise will help your lungs to get stronger and in the long run help you to have less attacks!

Answer 4

You need close followup with a primary care doctor. Asthma is one manifestation of allergies, and can start at any age. People with a prior history of allergies are prone to developing asthma. You need to take advair daily (it's a steroid that will reduce inflammation in your lungs) and keep your rescue inhaler handy. As soon as you feel your chest tightening up, take a few puffs or give yourself a nebulizer treatment.

The best way to prevent an attack is to avoid your triggers (pollen, dust, etc...) and monitor your peak flows every morning.

If your asthma is severe, you'll need combination therapy with daily advair, nebulizer treatments (xopenex or albuterol), a rescue inhaler (albuterol HFA) and anti-allergy meds like singulair, claritin, benadryl, etc...

With a new diagnosis of asthma, it will take a lot of tweaking your meds before you get stable. After a few months, your doctor will work out the best dose for you and the disease will become completely manageable.

MOST IMPORTANT THING: Keep all of your appointments with your internist. Don't use the ER as your primary care clinic or you'll never get it under control. ER docs only manage the acute attacks for you. You don't need a support group, just more information about your disease.

Don't be scared about asthma, it's a completely manageable and very common disease. There are tons of GREAT drugs that will help you control it with minimal side effects.

Answer 5

Hi Angie,

I'm a nurse and I have had asthma for 12 years. I know that it is really scary when your lungs close up and you start panic. I have some pointers that might help you. And don't worry, I'm not going to tell you to calm down!

1) When you feel an attack coming on, get your inhaler, have a phone beside you, and sit somewhere comfortable.

2) When you sit down take your inhaler if you need it

3) Close your mouth. Every asthmatic tries to gasp for air. It doesn't work and it is one of the most ineffective ways of breathing.

4) Breath in through you nose. You have to do this slowly so it automatically calms you down. It will also make you relax your shoulders (which can really ache).

By doing these simple steps you should be able to control you asthma. If you have friends around when its happening sit on the floor with one of them behind you. You'll be able to feel their breathing and you will feel safe. My husband does this for me. I have never been admitted to hospital since following these steps.

Answer 6

I was diagnosed with asthma when I was older than you. I know it can be scary. The Advair worked very well for me and it will probably do the same for you.
You need to develop some confidence in your medications. Take a few short trips away from the house, maybe to a mall. Bring your rescue inhaler with you. As you develop confidence your fears will fade.
Asthma is an inconvenience not a death sentence

Answer 7

I had asthma attacks for a while. I know they can be scary. The worst part was the inhailer didn't seem to help much. About 6 months later, I found out that I wasn't having asthma attacks - they were panic attacks. I suggest you talk to a therapist or psychiatrist to see if this might be your problem as well. Panic attacks have the same symptoms as asthma attacks so it is hard to tell them apart.

Answer 8

My brother is an asthmatic and after ten years his asthma has shown no sign of improving. He has been to several doctors but they didn't help much.

If you want a proven, all-natural way to cure your asthma, without having to pay for useless medications with harmful side-effects, then this is the most important page you'll ever read.

Answer 9

Asthma can begin at any age; however, it's possible you had an allergic reaction to something. I'm sure you are frightened. I hope you're seeing a pulmonary specialist and that you discuss your fear with him/her. That would be a way to begin a support system to help you. Perhaps you could even find a support group to attend. God bless you. I will pray for you to find help.

Answer 10

My mom got off her asthma spray with the use of a supplement in powder form marketed thru MLM. You can write me at [e-mail] about it.