watervole: (Default)
Judith Proctor ([personal profile] watervole) wrote2011-01-01 11:01 am

Flowers from Barclays - the sequel

This has been a bad winter for asthma - I've had to take four short courses of steroids so far (which is far worse than my average one course per winter).  Sometimes I can identify the trigger (eg. flu), sometimes, I can't.  I had a bad attack on Boxing Day bank holiday which remains of unknown cause (I think the bath bombs I bought Entorien were part of it, but not the whole story as she was very sensible and restored them to their double layer of plastic bags as soon as she realised what I'd given her).

Today, I think I've had a narrow escape.  As soon as I came downstairs I started wheezing.  (I'd escaped the New Year fireworks by making sure all the windows were closed overnight).  The flowers from Barclays were in the kitchen and were starting to open out.

My next door neighbour has just been presented with a large bunch of lilies and dahlias and is very happy with them!

[identity profile] vjezkova.livejournal.com 2011-01-01 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I must agree, this winter is worse for me too. Nevertheless it is nothing in comparison with you and your problems. I am still happy with Ventolin, only I sometimes wake up at night wheezing but one dose works nicely for me. Again - sometimes it happens, sometimes not and I have no cue why.
Also laughing too hard leaves me wheezing and coughing.Normally I am a giggler... it has been very rare recently but I am still the same person:-)
So far, the only perfume that has made me sneeze but not wheeze, is my lady boss“ sweet and heavy one.
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[identity profile] watervole.livejournal.com 2011-01-01 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Laughing a lot can trigger asthma for me too.

If you wake up at night, check that you've recently washed duvets and bedding. Also, vacuum your mattress when you change the bed. It may be dust in the bedroom that is the problem.

[identity profile] vjezkova.livejournal.com 2011-01-01 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
You are right - and I know the rules. But these are very weird, one day yes and two days no, no matter how much I use a vacuum cleaner. I use a special "duvet" made of pure sheep wool, my daughter bought this and a pillow in a special producer, it is anti-allergic. But I suspect that I miss sleeping with my balcony door open, or at least a window open. I never have a heating on. Unfortunately opening anything is out od the question in severe freezing these days.
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[identity profile] watervole.livejournal.com 2011-01-01 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Open windows definitely help, but as you say - not at this time of year!

Do you have a preventer inhaler?

[identity profile] vjezkova.livejournal.com 2011-01-01 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
No, to tell the truth, I have never considered my problems serious and still I think of it like about unpleasant seasonal trouble. You have asthma with all the terrible symptoms though and I feel for you and I admire your self-control, stamina and determination.
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[identity profile] watervole.livejournal.com 2011-01-02 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
If asthma causes you to wake at night, then a simple steroid inhaler at a low dose should cure the problem entirely. You'd only need to use it in the winter in all likelihood.

My asthma is acutally fairly mild, it's a problem simply because I can't use preventer inhalers.

My son can use them and his asthma is controlled perfectly with just one puff a day.