an insight into my life with severe asthma, advocacy, awareness & research
And what does severe asthma look like? Does having severe asthma look like this? Is this what severe asthma looks like? In all the photos above I have severe asthma (some of them are a lot older than others). In the top photos it doesn't look like there is anything wrong with me but the… Continue reading What is severe asthma really??
"There is no reason for your wound not to heal or keep getting infections. You must know something more about it that you are not telling us.....we will not offer you any further intervention with your wound" These were the words I heard from a Dr in April last year on the 21st to be… Continue reading Psychological impact of medical gaslighting a year on
When it comes to my health I have a few security blankets one being my inhalers and the second my medic alert bracelet. When you live with a condition that can render you speechless it is a huge fear that I won't be able to tell anyone what is wrong with me if I need… Continue reading Medic Alert- my security blanket
Just now I feel like a swan in a pond. Everything looks ok on the outside but under the water it can be furiously paddling to stay a float. In January 2022 when I developed the urachal cyst never did I envision what has unfolded let alone still be battling 14 months later. I am… Continue reading Floundering a little
Today 10th October 2022 is World Mental Health Day. I was asked to give a brief talk during the event Living Well: Emotional Support Matters hosted by The Health and Social Care Alliance (Scotland). My talk was titled: Benefits of using your own experience to call for change. This blog post is roughly what I… Continue reading Mental Health Benefits From Using My Patient Voice
I am so excited, I cannot contain myself!! Yesterday a smoking ban on NHS hospital sites came into force. This new law means that no one on a NHS hospital site can smoke within 15m of a hospital building and cannot smoke under any overhangs of buildings either. This law is enforceable and people who… Continue reading Smoking Ban on NHS Hospital sites comes into force
Medical gaslighting is a term that I have seen around on social media quite a bit over the last year or so. I would read stories about patients experiences of poor medical care or incorrect assumptions made by medics which have been devastating for the patient and feel blessed that this has never happened to… Continue reading Medical Gaslighting
Normally I would be excited and shouting from the rooftops that there has been a segment dedicated to asthma on a very popular morning TV show. Not this time, quite the opposite. Everyone in the asthma field (patients, clinicians, pharmacists, industry, pharma as well as many more) has been left stunned and in utter disbelief… Continue reading Horrified watching incorrect asthma advice on daytime TV
On my social media I have recently been posting about the fear and anxiety I have been trying to deal with. I have discovered that I am not the only one who is having the same experience. This is reassuring as it says to me that my fear is justified but it is awful that… Continue reading Living with fear and anxiety
Clinicians showing vulnerability and learning from patients is so refreshing. This is my recent experience which I wanted to share as I hope it will allow patients to understand clinicians but also hope that any clinicians reading this will understand what is important to us as patients. My involvement in the Severe Heterogenous Asthma Research… Continue reading Patient Aims vs Clinician Aims when managing long term conditions
ANONYMOUS-ASTHMA 