Navigating a Surprise Asthma Attack While Driving
Well, it's only been 20 years since my 3 kids and I were diagnosed with asthma, but asthma still surprises me. Sigh.
Those of us who have had asthma for a long time know what to do. Usually, we know what our asthma triggers are and how to avoid them.
Preventing asthma attacks
We know how important it is to use our controller inhaler every day to help our cranky lungs. Many of us have ensured our homes are allergy- and asthma-friendly.
We try to carefully control our allergies because different allergies can trigger an asthma attack for those of us with allergic asthma.
But then there are those times when you have NO idea what triggered an asthma attack. And sometimes an asthma attack can happen at a really bad time, like experiencing an asthma attack while driving to work on a very large, busy road, while driving fast. Yikes! And to make matters worse, you are blocked in by cars on all sides, with nowhere to pull over.
That's what happened to me yesterday.
Having an asthma attack while driving
And the scary thing is, I have no idea what triggered my asthma attack. I was driving to my office when I started getting a slight twitch or tickle in my throat. I don't know how the rest of you feel when you have an asthma attack, but that is usually my first symptom.
I tried a drink of water, but that didn't work. Rats! Then the cough started. I knew this was turning into a frightening little asthma attack. Luckily, I always keep my purse on the passenger seat, so it was easy to reach for my inhaler and spacer.
I prefer using my inhaler with a spacer because I am very uncoordinated. In fact, I can't chew gum and walk at the same time! It's also easier for me to find my inhaler in my purse when it's attached to my spacer. Inhalers are so small that they will often fall to the bottom of a purse, backpack, or sports bag. Ever try to find a pack of gum at the bottom of your purse? It's always at the bottom! The same thing happens with an inhaler.
Bad timing for an asthma attack
I don't recommend this, but I had to use my inhaler while I was driving.* I didn't have a choice.
*Let me be clear. If you can safely pull over to the side of the road or take a side street to stop and use your inhaler, do it!
Sometimes it can be dangerous to sit on the side of the road in your car. When I taught my kids to drive, I told them, "Where your eyes go, the car goes." If people glance at a car on the side of the road, they can drift over and accidentally hit the parked car. It happens.
Okay, enough #MomAdvice!
Back to my commute. I pulled into the parking garage and breathed a sigh of relief. I was a little stressed, so I decided to belly breathe to calm down. It's hard not to panic when you have an asthma attack, especially an asthma attack while driving. Belly breathing will usually help me calm down while my rescue inhaler kicks in.
I made it into my office and sank into my chair with a "phew!" That's something I don't want to happen again.
What caused my asthma attack while driving?
I still have no idea what triggered that asthma attack. It surprised me because I take the same route to work each day. I don't know what I drove past (perhaps someone mowing their lawn?). Was pollen pulled into my car with the air conditioning?
No matter how long you have had asthma, it can still surprise you!
Does anyone else feel surprised by their asthma? Or can't figure out what triggered an asthma attack?
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