Asthma bothersome - any forums out there?

Gingham_Ribbon · 29 July 2005 at 7:46PM

I don't want to make a big deal out of it. I'm doing fine, but sometimes my asthma gets me down. Like today when I'm stuck in bed after an attack that called my husband home from work.

It'd be useful to me to talk to other sufferers. I have loads of support from the hospital and my GP. They have a great asthma nurse there too and they sorted me out quickly this morning with a nebuliser. The hospital are seeing me on Wednesday and I attend a regular clinic there. I'm getting all the help available and it's first rate but it makes me a bit blue I suppose.

Does anyone know of an online chat forum where people can share their experiences? My asthma isn't really bad but it's difficult to manage sometimes and I'm sure people with worse asthma have learned some really useful coping strategies.

I know this isn't a money saving thing but I know there's a lot of experience out there so perhaps someone could point me in the right direction?

Thank you!

Ted_Hutchinson · 29 July 2005 at 8:56PM

Asthma support is alive (or just about)

You may find one of the general medical forums such as Netdoctor - Asthma would be best as although the forum isn't strictly monitored there are doctors about and I expect anything that brought the site into disrepute would be soon removed.

You may find this interesting and helpful Eating right for Asthma
Other readers will know I keep a watch on the new research into the beneficial effects of Omega 3 fatty acids (fish/flax/hemp oil) It acts as an anti-inflamatory agent and there is a lot of interest in it's role in asthma. [size=+1]Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids in asthma- and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.[/size] is the latest but there are plenty of other similar papers supporting the increased use of Omega 3 oils specifically for asthma but as there are benefits for both prevention and treatment in many other conditions that ensuring you follow the dietry advice above really will help. It may also be worth using ZIPVIT Omega Juice which is lowcost source of high omega strength omega 3 efa's. Be careful with buying fish oil supplements they are not all equal and if you are aiming for a target consumption of 3g a day (2tsps of Omega Juice) you might find you need something like 20 capsules a day from other suppliers You will need to add the EPA/DHA totals to work out the Omega 3 content.

Unfortunately one of my other favourite dietry changes I often suggest, Green Tea, may actually induce asthma attacks so for you this may be something not to try whatever it's other beneficial effects.

Gingham_Ribbon · 29 July 2005 at 9:47PM

Thanks. I think the first one will be helpful. I don't need to speak to another doc. Just people who've been there!

Cheers for the warning about the green tea.

Ted_Hutchinson · 29 July 2005 at 9:56PM

Gingham_Ribbon wrote:

Thanks. I think the first one will be helpful. I don't need to speak to another doc. Just people who've been there!

Just had a closer look at the Netdoctor one and it's even more dead than the first, certainly no sign of any doctors.
How about alt.support.asthma this is relatively active.

Savvy_Sue · 30 July 2005 at 7:23PM

Has anyone suggested you get in touch with the National Asthma Campaign? Don't know if there's any online support but there is a telephone advice line, and you may get ideas through that as well as through the Asthma nurse.

There's also Allergy UK: if you think there are allergies involved then they might be helpful. Again, don't know what online support there is. We were getting their magazine when it first came out, probably because we're members of the National Eczema Society, and I found it a bit OTT for our needs.

DH's asthma is triggered by pets but was only scary when I asked him to lift a rug and vacuum under it. I'd never really seen him wheeze properly before, we had to call the doctor out who read him the riot act for not having an inhaler. Then he asked how long it was since he'd had an attack, and DH wheezed out that it ... was ... about ... seven ... teen ... years. At which point the GP was slightly mollified.

Gingham_Ribbon · 30 July 2005 at 10:39PM

I have big problems with dust too. You must have been really worried. My husband has it too. It was very bad when he was little but he is rarely bothered by it now. I try to encourage him to keep an inhaler with him but he dismisses it as unnecessary. I think I'll show him your post!

I'll contact the national asthma campaign thanks.

Asthma bothersome - any forums out there?

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free