Respiratory Patients - Take Precautions

This is just a reminder to respiratory patients to take precautions during this wicked heat and humidity.  I let it get me tonight even though I waited until about 7:00 p.m. to get out.  I went to Wal-Mart, which I detest any way, but they have a good selection of those Kashi meals that I like.  I don't think their air conditioning was working, it was so hot and humid in there.  I did have an asthma attack.

I was able to make it to the car to use my portable nebulizer and called for a friend to come and get me.  I don't leave home without my nebulizer, my bottle of water and my cell phone.  I shouldn't have even been out.

Everyone please be careful.

I use the OMRON that you will see in the link. This is the second one of these I have had.  I had the first one for a couple of years and broke a piece off of it.  I got ripped off and paid around $300 for the first one.  I bought the one I am using now from my local pharmacy and paid around $90 for it.  I have found a link for you that is even cheaper.  They also sell parts, so it was good for me to try to find it for you because I could use a new container for the medicine for mine.

This machine takes less time than my older one did and it is quieter.  I highly recommend it and it is also very light weight.  It is very efficient and dependable.

http://hmint.com/Pages/Nebulizer_nec21.htm

Good luck!

Carla

Ceebee,

First of all, I am so sorry about all the recent losses in your family, too many for one family at one time.

I'm glad you got your nebulizer.  It definitely sounds like you need a new doctor to treat your asthma.  When an asthma patient is bad enough to need a nebulizer, they are going to need Prednisone from time to time, just my personal opinion.  I am treated by my allergist who was already treating me for allergies before the asthma came on.  I see her once a month for my Xolair injection.  When I saw her this past Thursday for my Xolair injection, I had gotten really sick during the night.  She treats it aggressively and I can't believe how good I felt by yesterday. Ketek is an antibiotic that works great for my lung infections. I'm tapering off Prednisone now. She also knows that I know when I have bronchitis or when I have an infection and is willing to order what I need over the phone without me having to come in.  She knows that by this time, I know when it's time for me to come in and let her to listen to my chest.

I feel very fortunate to have a great doctor who will treat my asthma attacks that get out of my control in her office.  She will work with me for three or four hours or whatever it takes to save me from having to go to the ER. I don't know of another doctor in this city who will do that. My worst attacks have always been in the day time, which is unusual.  I haven't had an attack that bad since I stopped working last August.  Not only was I working in an "environmentally sick" building, but people just aren't nice when you have to miss work because you're sick.  We all know what stress does to asthma.

From everything I read, asthma patients treated by allergists seem to do better.  Do you have an allergist in your area?  If not, at best you need a new primary care physician.

Sorry to ramble.

You and your family are in my prayers,

Carla

Ceebee,

As severe as my asthma is, which it has to be for me to be on Xolair, I have never spent a day in the hospital for asthma.  The one ER visit I had, they did try to keep me, but after they had me under control, I begged and convinced them that I would be o.k. at home. 

You definitely need a new doctor to treat your asthma.  If you are spending time in the hospital for asthma, I would suggest that you talk to your doctor about Xolair injections.  It does cost about $10,000.00 per year, but insurance companies are learning that it is cheaper to pay than several hospital stays for severe asthma patients.

I hope you like your new nebulizer and that you can find the right care.  If you have a teaching hospital near you, that would be a good start.

Take care!

Carla