Blog Posts

aka Personal Independence Payment (the new DLA) This is my experience and my perspective on the application process which may not be what everyone experiences. The time finally came to apply for PIP. That benefit that you read and hear of so many horror stories about. The benefit that so many people seem to want… Continue reading PIP- Step 1

One thing I know I am not alone with is having the ability to say No to something despite desperately wanting to do whatever it is but knowing you just shouldn't because it will have a detrimental effect on your breathing. One part of me finds it easy to say No. But its only easy… Continue reading Its ok to say No, sometimes its just too hard!

For readers from outside the UK 999 is our emergency number and 111 is what we call NHS 24 where you call and get triaged my a call handler, speak to a nurse and then see a GP at an out of hours clinic if needed! Recently I have seen a lot questions regarding asthma,… Continue reading 999 or 111- when to get help.

One thing over the years of having tricky asthma I have found that support groups and online groups have been invaluable to me. Brittle asthma is very uncommon and not everyone has it so not many people really understand what its like to live with day to day, not knowing how your going to be… Continue reading Support Groups and Friends

I briefly mentioned this in my previous post but it has preyed on my mind. During my last admission I had a bit of a rough patch where if I am honest I was terrified to the point my youngest brother came in to see me and help me sort things out. I just kept… Continue reading The Ventilator is in ICU

I try not to live in the past but its hard when you come across photos like the above. Excuse the dodgy hair which looks like I have just stuck my fingers in a socket. I had not but just run in one of the long distance running races during a school sports day. A… Continue reading Trying not to live in the past.

It is gut wrenching when you read in the news all these medical advances in a variety of different conditions such as advancements in type 1 diabetes management, new techniques for donor nephrectomies in kidney transplants. better understanding treatment of HIV but then you see that since NRAD (National Review of Asthma Deaths) nothing has… Continue reading Sorry state of affairs in Asthma management

During this last admission to hospital I had an extra thing to contend with and this was allergic reactions. I have a severe aspirin allergy which tips over and causes me to be very allergic to salicylic acid which is in everything, from food, to toothpaste, to moisturiser. I follow a fairly strict diet excluding… Continue reading Atopy

I have a couple of posts lined up to be published after the past few weeks discussing my most recent hospital admission but this post I need to get down and off my chest before it eats me up and hampers my recovery. I know that there will be people who read  this post and… Continue reading Disgusted, disappointed and angry.