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Hey Rick! Nice site!
Funny thing is I generally don't worry about having my Ventolin on me. I generally do, but I'm not neurotic about it. What I am neurotic about is Seretide. Whenever I go somewhere overnight, I feel the need to check at least three times to make sure my Seretide is on me. My asthma is generally under very good control and I'm terrified of missing a dose or two or more and letting my asthma get out of control again.
Very funny, yet not so funny - you really have a gift in your use of prose.
I only have anxiety about the location of my inhaler when I'm wheezing or coughing and it's not there. I don't even look usually unless I've tried some breathing techniques, and I can usually breathe through most episodes to some extent (ok, in the middle of the night it might mean sitting there, unable to speak or move, waiting for that magical 5:20am time when things always get better - not the ideal scenario, but then it's the nebulizer that I need, inhalers are pretty much useless at that point).
But I do have a funny story about inhaler anxiety - I made a mistake and ran 1/2 a mile up to the school a couple of weeks ago as I was late for cafeteria duty. I really pushed myself and I"m out of running-shape thanks to 9 months with a broken foot. So I got there and I was wheezing loudly, etc. but I managed to catch my breath and survive for about 20 minutes until the really bad coughing spell hit. I ran upstairs to the nurse in between shifts of serving lunch and said in an urgent voice, "I need Anna's inhaler!" The poor nurse almost had a heart attack, worrying about poor Anna, the student. I had neglected to introduce myself and I was in no position to talk at the moment - she got the hint when I tore it out of the box and used it. "Oh - it's for you - are you all right?" Too funny, but I couldn't cough all over the kiddo's lunches for the rest of the day! Definitely not cool...
I, too, have them stashed in the car, on the piano, in my waistpack, in my purse, in my flute bag, in my teaching bag, etc. But every once in a while I get in trouble and I'm just out of luck.
If one drove a car or a truck for a living, "key anxiety" would not be out of place. Or in my profession, "where's my flute - do I have my music? - do I know where the performance is - am I properly dressed? -do I have my glasses?" anxiety is appropriate. So what's so wrong with a little inhaler anxiety? For anyone who has experienced life-threatening asthma episodes, I would think it would be a bit unusual to not experience a bit of it every once in a while. But of course that's one of your points, and it sounds so much better the way that you state it!
Issy
You are DEFINATELY not the only one that has bronchodilator anxiety! I have it also! I was diagnosed with severe asthma in 1975 and have had more severe asthma attacks than I care to admiit. I have been close to death more than once and do not ever want to experience that again! I am just like you in wanting to know for sure where my ProAir Inhaler is at all times! I have been told I sleep with one in my hand as well! My doctor writes my prescription for 2 inhalers a month and I fight with my drug store each and every month if he doesn't write out the directions exactly so that I can have 2 puffs every 4 hours a day for 30 days which puts me over the amout that is in one inhaler for each month so that I can have two working each month. It is, as you say, my lifeline. I don't end up using that amount each day if I have one readily available, but if I don't have it available, I will have to use more! They say that it is not a good thing to over-use our inhalers, but I think the alternative would work out to be much more severe for us! Take care of your asthma and know that you are not alone in this matter.
Sue
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Had to laugh at this, I could have written this article, so describes me. I wasn't diagnosed as asthmatic until my early 30's. in my 60's now and still have to know where my inhaler is.