Today has been one of those days where it feels like there is no air. You are left gasping for breath just moving a few meters and even sitting still feels like you are trying to breathe through a pillow. It is horrible and unrelenting. Not only is there no air and very humid the pollen count is through the roof, pollution is high- just about everything thrown in that an asthmatic does not want to see in the weather report.
I feel like I have clock watched all day willing the hours to go by until it is night and there might be some relief as the sun goes down.
But what do you do on days like this?? What can you do to take your mind off the effort that breathing brings when even eating and drinking is an effort.
Today I have just made sure I have everything within my reach, nebulisers, tv remote, phone, water. Trying to limit the activity and not making any movements that can be avoided. It is tough as you always think you have everything to hadn’t and then you don’t.
I have been lucky today that I can watch the lacrosse European Championships as it is being streamed live which has passed the time very well. I have found I have been dozing on and off too. I am still so grateful that I have my electric bed so I can prop myself up, and relax easing my chest sightly. I am also super fortunate to have a Dyson Cool Air Fan with filter which has been life saving today and on previous warm days. I have had it on pretty much permanently when I am in as it does offer a lot of relief and is not just blowing warm air around. It is actually cold air it blows out!!
When the weather is this hot and muggy I find eating a huge difficulty. I have no appetite and anything substantial that I do eat I find myself feeling like I am choking as I just can’t breathe properly. This is not isolated to when the weather is like it is but also when I am unwell with a chest infection or in hospital post acute exacerbation. I have found my solution to this though!!!
Strawberry Yazoo is my go to drink. Whenever I am not great this is what I like to have. It has all the pick me ups you need but also does provide you with some nutritional benefits too- although you should not use them as a meal replacement I do find that when my breathing is bad these are the best things. I also always have a fridge and freezer full of fruit pre cut or ave berries etc so I have eat them easily and they are not too bulky, the freezer always also has ice pops, ice cream, ice lollies because you just need them to cool down but also nebulising a lot dries my mouth out and makes everything feel funny so the coldness is really nice on my mouth too.
A lot of people have been messaging me today with their tips and tricks for the hot weather. These include:
- Bowl of ice in front of a fan
- cold showers or bath
- driving in the car with the air con on
- a cold towel on the back of your neck
Others have also suggested going to hospital but I just think that would be as bad except they could give me IV mediation to make my lungs happier but it will still be airless and really hot in the wards- in fact probably even hotter than it is in my flat and then you add in lying on a plastic mattress. I think I will stay put unless things do get very difficult and I am getting close to my limit of what I am allowed to do at home. One friend did say hospital wouldn’t be that bad because ICU has air con!!! I would hope that I would not need ICU (even if air con seems like a nice idea)!
Any other ideas people have for staying cool and making the lungs feel a bit happier please share!!
ANONYMOUS-ASTHMA 