To be frightened of this?

[Waterywater]

Asthma. Just that really!

it’s become a lot worse recently and after several bad episodes I’m on a stronger inhaler now and its controlling it nicely and I feel a lot better since starting it. But I still feel so scared about it. My asthma never used to be particularly bad- I was only ever slightly wheezy. Now I have episodes (attacks?) where i absolutely cannot breath properly and it’s as if I’m being squeezed and cannot get enough air in. It was so frightening the first time it happened and I’m terrified of it happening again. I’m using my new inhaler as I’m supposed to and I’m using a spacer and taking it seriously, and it’s definitely helping and I feel much better, but I’m still so frightened that one day I won’t be able to breath again or that I’ll have another attack.

how do other people deal with this? Does it get easier with time? I suppose deep down I’m also worried it will continue to get worse but surely it can’t do that and it’ll always be controlled by some type of inhaler?

TIA 😢

I don't have any answers for you, just my sympathies. It must be absolutely horrible to struggle to breathe, I can't bear to imagine it. I'm sorry you're dealing with this.

Are you panicking and feeling worse because of this? If so some breathing work could definitely help. Have you discussed it with the asthma nurse or your GP?

It sounds really scared so I hope you can sort it out.

So sorry your attacks have got worse. I was very asthmatic as a child up to early early 30s. Then they seem to dissipate, now they are a distant memory but not so distant that I don't hyperventilate when I recall them. I still remember that awful feeling you described of your lungs being squeezed plus the smell similar to burning that came with it. Its awful and wouldn't wish it on anyone. Do you know what might be making it worse? its been very cold lately, or maybe dust at home?
Have you always had asthma or is it a new thing? can you try and observe when you feel one coming on what you were last doing or where you were?

Hello severe brittle asthmatic here and I go down quickly .. have two asthmatic children too

You get used to it

I keep all my inhalers topped up and rescue prednisolone (but only cos I'd be in hospital 14 times a year in ambulance otherwise)
Make sure you have an areochamber

Make sure you have enough Ventolin blue inhaler

Take your preventer steroid inhaler religiously and double ot when you are more wheezy / talk to Gp

Get an asthma plan

Really you are early doors in this asthma lark

I take fostair religiously throughout the day as per my asthma plan worked out by the nurse at my GP practice. Fostair has helped me to feel more comfortable about my asthma. I feel I need to use my ventolin less but still always have an extra one at home in case I run out. Basically controlling my asthma with regular inhaler puffs makes me feel much better about things. If I have a cold, though, like i do at the moment, the wheeziness comes back and I have to up my doses if fostair.