Asmtha Attack?!
Question: Asmtha Attack!?
When you have an attack should you go to urgent care or the emergency room!? I'm 22 and was only diagnosed a couple months ago and had a bad attack yesterday!. I went to an urgent care/walk-in clinic and it was bad!. I got into a room right away, but they wouldn't give me any oxygen, even though I asked!. They gave me a breathing treatment but it didn't work AT ALL, so then they gave me a steroid shot and another breathing treatment, which finally started to work!. But I got super dizzy and passed out becuase they wouldn't prop up the head of the exam table and I can't breathe laying down!. I ended up being there for 2 1/2 hrs before I could leave and I was still really dizzy and shakey, my boyfriend had to carry me out!. My question is is this typical of urgent care facilities and should I have gone to an ER!? Or was this just a really crappy place and just avoid it from now on!? I think I would've been better off going to an ER, at least I would have had a bed and some oxygen!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
The ER would probably be better!. I can't understand why they wouldn't elevate your upper body if you were having trouble breathing!. I'm an RN and I had that drilled in my head a million times!. Give oxygen, raise the head of the bed, and give nebulizer treatments or IV steroids is what we usually do for a bad attack like that!. A respiratory therapist would know more, but it sounds like very poor treatment to me!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
The reason they did not give you oxygen is likely because your sat level was 95 % or above which is easily tested with an oximeter that they put on your finger!. Hypoxia means you are low in oxygen, sat levels below 95% on room air!. To give you oxygen when you do not need it can cause Hyperoxia and this can be very dangerous and a lot of people do not know that; too much oxygen can destroy cells in any part of the body including the brain!.
The best treatment for asthma is a combo bronchodialator/corticosteroid!.!.!.one to open up airways and one to reduce inflammation!.!.!.
Asthma medications themselves can cause anxiety and anxiety can worsen shortness of breath, so sometimes a mild sedative is given as well OR there are meds they can put in the aeresol that RELAX a reactive airway!.
I don't know that you received crappy treatment; but I do think that they could have done a better job teaching you about this disorder so that you understand what is happening, what helps and have an action plan!. It would have been good for them to refer you to an asthma clinic!. There you would learn about air flow meters so that you can monitor your asthma and know when you are headed to an asthma crisis!. The best treatment for asthma is prevention!. Meds that prevent a crisis attack, knowing your triggers, and what to do in a crisis!. Some asthmatics to get them over a respiratory infection may rent an aerosol machine to use at home until they are over a crisis, with the doctor prescribing special medication for the machine!.
Maybe you can get your family doctor to hook you up with the local asthma clinic; it is well worth it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
The best treatment for asthma is a combo bronchodialator/corticosteroid!.!.!.one to open up airways and one to reduce inflammation!.!.!.
Asthma medications themselves can cause anxiety and anxiety can worsen shortness of breath, so sometimes a mild sedative is given as well OR there are meds they can put in the aeresol that RELAX a reactive airway!.
I don't know that you received crappy treatment; but I do think that they could have done a better job teaching you about this disorder so that you understand what is happening, what helps and have an action plan!. It would have been good for them to refer you to an asthma clinic!. There you would learn about air flow meters so that you can monitor your asthma and know when you are headed to an asthma crisis!. The best treatment for asthma is prevention!. Meds that prevent a crisis attack, knowing your triggers, and what to do in a crisis!. Some asthmatics to get them over a respiratory infection may rent an aerosol machine to use at home until they are over a crisis, with the doctor prescribing special medication for the machine!.
Maybe you can get your family doctor to hook you up with the local asthma clinic; it is well worth it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I would say go to the ER next time!. Asthma attacks are nothing to fool around with!. I don't want to freak you out but seriously you could die from asthma if your airways really just shut down!. Although they sound like they were appropriate in their treatment to some degree, if you passed out from lack of oxygen then you should have been transferred to an ER!. Having 2 back to back breathing treatments could have made you very shaky and feel light headed also!. I still think they should have erred on the side of caution and sent you to ER!.
Avoid them next time and go to the ER!! Hope your feeling better today!!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Avoid them next time and go to the ER!! Hope your feeling better today!!Www@Answer-Health@Com