Pureocd

I had asthma since I was 3 years-old, therefore I have become an expert on the subject by sheer experience. Asthma is a very complex and delicate condition to manage. It’s very much like walking on eggshells all the time. You never know when the next attack will come forth, and it can become quite depressing for sufferers and carers alike.

I still remember the look of helplessness in my mother’s eyes and her anguish at my unability to draw breath. I had a few bad years, with endless sleepless nights, many visits to the emergency rooms and a couple of let’s say very very close call. She was at the end of her rope. I believe that she could have done with some counselling and benefited from advicees on how to help me control my asthma. People too often concentrate on curing the attack and they forget that prevention is equally important if not more.

In any severe medical condition, carers are equally affected, and they need psychological council to help them through. It should be I believe a part of the patient treatment to offer parents help. A better carer makes a better cared for patient. Most people are in desperate need of guidance.

My parents tried everything, from moving apartment to seeing a witchdoctor. No seriously, I am not joking! I don’t think that people realise how dangerous asthma is, and to what length parents would go for to ease their children suffering.

It was debilitating, for I couldn’t play with my friends, I couldn’t attend school properly due to my hospital spells. It was a real handicapped. Besides, very few acknowledge the fact that asthma is life threatening. I have come across a lot of ignorant people when it comes to asthma, and many sadly were amongst my teachers. You would think that being in charge of my care and welfare a good part of the day they owed to keep a close eye on me. On the contrary they were mostly dismissive of my mother. She tried countless times to explain to my gym teacher that it was not a question of me being lazy or her being over protective but a matter of me, not being able to breathe if I put under physical strain.

They did not believe that my asthma was serious until they saw me drop on the floor. I have to admit that I wasn’t helping either. Like most children I wanted to do what my friends were doing, and I didn’t want to feel left out or singled out, therefore I many times pushed myself to the limit knowing fully well that I would have to pay the price later. I tried to hide my wheezing, I tried