Asthma attack???

Ronni1123 · October 2014

I had a mild asthma attack tonight. By mild, I mean my heart was racing, my chest was tight, I couldn't get enough air and my throat was hurting. I sat on the floor, rocking back and forth and took deep breaths until I felt like I could somewhat breathe again. I was afraid I'd have to go to the ER. I haven't had issues with asthma since highschool (5 years). So I don't have an inhaler.
My doctor is well aware that I have asthma.. I'm wondering why she didn't give me an inhaler? Can they do that?
Do any of you ladies have asthma? How do you handle it at home?
I was deep cleaning the apartment today. The chemicals I was cleaning with probably didn't help.

Thank you! (My doctor is closed on weekends. As soon as Monday rolls around, I'm calling.)

lirpaloof77 · October 2014

You should definitely always have a rescue inhaler (albuterol). Often times asthma can worsen in pregnancy. I know mine has. If you can't breathe, baby can't breathe. If you have another flare up, go to ER or urgent care. Otherwise, get an appt on Monday with your PCP.

Yaz14 · October 2014

I'm sorry that must have been very scary! I haven't had an actual asthma attack since I was 12 but I have always carried an inhaler (Salbutamol) on me just in case. I get wheezy so my doctor says to use it whenever I feel I need to. My pregnancy has made me feel quite asthmatic so I end up using my inhaler about once a day. It's completely safe during pregnancy. I'm sure your doctor would not deny you a basic asthma inhaler.

lneice0160 · October 2014

I keep a smaller rescue inhaler in my purse at all times, for normal days I have a regular one I keep in the cabinet of our bathroom sink...(if I'm having a bad attack I can normally make it to the bathroom but sometimes I have to sit and then I panic worse if I can't reach my inhaler)
I was the same way I didn't have problems from my asthma for a couple years after high school then bam! I started having asthma attacks..if your Dr already knows you have asthma then it shouldn't be a problem to get an inhaler. My Dr waited until I asked about it.

Edited: at home before I started keeping an inhaler I had to just lean against a wall or sit Indian style leaned over and just keep saying to myself you're ok, breathe in through your nose and out your mouth...it would take about 5-6 minutes to fully calm down but the breathing part really works:)

Ronni1123 · October 2014

Thanks everyone!! I'll keep this in mind. My breathing has been labored for weeks now. So, I didn't think anything of it tonight until I had the attack.
It's been unusually hot outside and I didn't drink enough water.

Thanks for your support and advice!

MPKbaby237 · October 2014

I have bad asthma. And yes, you can take your inhaler. To not breathe is worse than any effects of the medicine. Albuterol/ xoponex as a rescue inhaler is fine. If you find that your asthma worsens during pregnancy, despite switching cleaning agents, you may need to start a preventive inhaler during pregnancy. Again, this is safe and a better route than relying on a rescue inhaler, under doctors care.
Feel better! I know how scary it is when you can't get immediate relief. Advice: take it easy today while your body still heals from the shock.

Stephmichellep · October 2014

My OB was able to prescribe me a refill for my rescue inhaler. It's been years since I've had to get one and it saved me a trip to my new PCP! It sounds like asthma can be a little different for everybody. For me it's that I can breathe in, just not out through my mouth. It usually takes me a few seconds of just gasping air before it clicks what's happening. I can breathe through my nose though so I try and sit calmly and breathe slowly in and out through my nose until it calms down (if I can't get to my inhaler for some reason). That just works for me, like I said I'm sure everybody is different. I'm sorry you had an attack though, they can be really scary.

amandamarie2 · October 2014

I would definitely ask your dr. about getting a new inhaler. I have very mild asthma, almost exclusively sport induced or high altitude hiking, but MW still wants me to have my inhaler since pregnancy can change asthma triggers/symptoms.

KellyA724 · October 2014

Prior to getting pregnant, my asthma was well controlled. I only had to use an inhaler every few months, and I only had one attack a year (every year in March, for some reason). My asthma has been terrible since getting pregnant - I ended up in the ER for the first time in about 25 years because of it. Rescue inhaler and nebulizer treatments weren't working. Now the shortness of breath comes and goes, but it's not as bad as it was early on. No joke, I was getting short of breath while doing NOTHING - just sitting on the couch watching TV.

I definitely agree with others - make sure you have a rescue inhaler. While I was hoping to stay relatively medicine-free during pregnancy, it just didn't work. Getting oxygen to the baby outweighs the risks of the inhalers (per my doctor). I also use a maintenance inhaler (Pulmicort) daily to cut back on the need for albuterol.

mayfateleadyou · October 2014

I have asthma, and I know everyone's attacks are different, but what you are discribing is a panic attack to me. Those are the symptoms I have when I get one of those. (Which I've only ha two my whole life) So either way, I would definitely talk to a doctor.

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