Terrifying Asthma Attacks

I had had a couple of bad breathing months, but my doctor couldn't locate the problem. I had started using an nebulizer and my energy level was very low. The evening of January 4, 2002, was a very cold one where I was living. Around 4:00 a.m. I woke up and couldn't breathe at all. Tried to get to my car to drive to an emergency room, but didn't have the strength to open the car door. I felt myself passing out and called out to my roommate, who uncharacteristically was there that night. She called 911. I made it back to the house and waited for the ambulance while sitting down with my head down so I could try to catch a breath. Fire trucks and an ambulance arrived; I was taken to the nearest hospital and spent 5 days there getting my oxygen levels back up to normal. I was diagnosed with an unnamed pulmonary virus. The new drug at that time was guaifenesin, now found in Mucinex. It was like a miracle! Really responded well to it and didn't have to use a nebulizer when I returned home after 5 days.

We were in Germany visiting the Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum in Rüdesheim when I had my worst asthma attack ever. The building's origin is set to be around 1292. During our tour, I started wheezing and feeling a lot of discomfort in my lungs. Making noise, people in the tour group turned to look at me. I smiled, showed my inhaler to let folks know all was well and used it. It became clear to me that things were escalating quickly, so I used it again. Things continued to get worse. Coughing, gasping, wheezing... totally out of control. I was getting dizzy and started to panic a bit. I used the inhaler one more time before full on panic set in. I was making a scene in my attempts to stop coughing, wheezing and was now gasping for air. I tried to leave, but the door was locked behind and in front of us. I motioned to the tour guide, but she was in full display mode. Finally, I went to a window and started pulling on it. The distraction was too much and the tour guide finally unlocked the door to let me out. I flew outside and sat on the concrete finally feeling air coming back into my lungs. Quite dizzy and weak, I just sat there for an extended amount of time. Finally my lungs relaxed and I could breath normally again. Terribly frightening that the emergency inhaler didn't work in an emergency. All I can figure is that the museum might have had extensive dust or other chemical (ancient deteriorating paint?). Anyway, I was fine after getting out of the building. Never had an attack like that again (thank goodness!!)

Hi all, I read the previous posts with empathy and would like to add my quick story so as to emphasise how incredibly quickly an asthma attack can come on. We have been going through one of the hottest summers for decades this year and I live on the coast so the humidity has been up in the 80 and 90% most days. A few weeks ago was a bit late for my morning half hour spin class at our local gym. I had used my maintenance med earlier but didnt have time to warm up and also used my bronchodilator inhaler too late before starting the class. I made it through the class with a bit of coughing and my chest feeling a bit tight and used my inhaler a couple more times and afterwards just sat quietly for about 15 mins in the coolness of the A/C at the gym. The heat was scorching when I left, got into my car which was also very hot from being parked in the sun to drive into town to pick up a couple of supplies before heading home, a distance of about 2 km. In that short space of time about 5 mins, I went from fairly comfortable to gasping for breath, my chest heaving and started to panic a bit even while knowing I must try and remain calm and breath slowly. Thankfully my doctors rooms are in the same street so I parked, and went straight in where I was put on oxygen for about 20 mins and given some emergency meds. The moral of my story is do not take short cuts with using your meds and do not under estimate the effect of the natural or manmade environment you are in, because even when you know your triggers, there might just be another factor or combination of factors which may set off an asthma attack very very quickly.

Thank you for your replies Leon and Mellisa, to answer your question Mellisa, i have my cell phone on me all the time to call for help if need be. I also live in a small town where I know a lot of people and in the event of not being able to drive, I can nearly always find someone to make a call or take me to the doctor. i am also surprised and encouraged to find how even most strangers, even those who dont know much about asthma, are very willing to help if given some direction.