“Ricky…I can't breathe! It feels like I'm breathing through a straw!”
Each breath I breathed felt like I was trying way too hard. I immediately thought of my Mother, and how her breathing was right before she passed away.
I took two puffs of my rescue inhaler… NOTHING. It wasn't helping!
I was wheezing, my chest was tight, my throat felt like it was closing up on me. I was terrified. I was in denial.
I knew I was having an asthma attack, but I didn't think it was that bad. I called my doctor….
“Get Ricky to take you to the hospital NOW, do not wait!”
I thought… maybe if I lie down I will feel better. I actually felt worse.
“Let's go!” I said to Ricky.
Ricky and I got the kids together, and we headed to the VA Emergency Room.
By the time I walked through the thick humidity to the front desk, I could barely breathe!
Before they could get the armband on me, they were taking me into a room to get my vitals. The Doctors and Nurses swarmed in, and before I knew it I was getting a breathing treatment, a shot of steroids, and Ativan to calm down the nerves.
“Whoa!” About 45 minutes later I felt so much better, but most importantly I could breathe.
The nurse came in and told me that if I didn't come in when I did, I would have ended up coming in on a stretcher in an Ambulance because I was getting worse by the minute.
THANK GOD is about all I can say.
I was diagnosed with Asthma as an adult. I've had attacks before, but never to that extent. They've always been with uncontrollable coughing, never one as bad as this one.
I learned that I must always LISTEN to my body. Earlier today I had an attack, but I told myself that I'd be ok. Tonight my body gave me another warning sign that I could NOT ignore! When your body talks, you've got to listen.
Take care of body and your body will take care of you.
Be blessed,
