Hi folks,
Sorry for not blogging for so long. With working full-time, writing, gardening and performing in ice skating Gala's, ( I'm not joking), there's not much time for anything else.
However, I was able to spend time with my lovely family last weekend in Stratford-Upon-Avon at the Premier Inn, Waterways. It was our annual get-together and as usual, we all had a great time. It's always reassuring that as soon as we meet up, we all start asking, 'Where are we going next year?' Long may it last. Life is so short, we all must make sure we manage to spend quality time with our loved ones, don't you think?
Now, one of my cousins has recently been diagnosed with adult-onset asthma. She told me about it briefly over the phone some time ago.
'Have a book,' I said. Her copy of 'Asthma-the-Essential Guide' soon fell through her letterbox.
I'd forgotten all about it until last Sunday, during our get-together, when she tried to give me a tenner for it. 'No, its a free copy,' I protested.
Well, we argued for a short while and she finally gave in. Then she told me how she had ended up in her local casualty department. She had had the terrifying experience of being unable to breathe properly and didn't know what to do. She was diagnosed with asthma and given an inhaler to relieve her symptoms. But was she given information? Well let's just say, it was sadly lacking. She wasn't advised to make an appointment at her surgery within 48 hours, as indicated in the N.I.C.E guidance. Actually, she wasn't told to make an appointment any time soon! My cousin's husband was so concerned about the lack of information and ongoing care, that he even suggested they book a private appointment with a respiratory consultant.
When my cousin received her copy of my book, she read it from cover to cover. Armed with a long list of questions about her rights to regular reviews, written self managment plans, and inhaler technique demonstrations...the list goes on, she made sure that she was given the information that she needed and deserved. I had to laugh when she described how she flashed my book under her pracice nurse's nose. Apart from feeling a little sorry for the unsuspecting nurse and a little bit guilty, I was delighted to hear that my cousin was given everything she asked for and more.
However, It alarmed me that my cousin was not advised by her casualty department to arrange an appointment at her local doctor's surgery. When she did visit her G.P, she wasn't really given any information that made any sense to her. If she hadn't had access to my book, and hadn't been assertive, would she have been left stranded, not knowing what to do? More worryingly, could she have ended up needing emergency treatment again, or worse?
Call me naive, but I was under the impression that is was the norm that practices would offer great advice, written information and regular follow-up. Our surgery does. We have two dedicated nurses who provide a full asthma service. In fact, we used to have three.
My book doesn't promise to give you a magic cure (there isn't one) but it will arm you with information and advice which will help you to better manage your condition, understand your triggers and have a better understanding of your treatment. If your symptoms become troublesome, my book will advise you on when to see your doctor or practice nurse. There is also a very useful chapter explaining how to recognise and manage an asthma attack.
If you have any feedback for me, I would be very happy to read it. Or, if you have any questions that need answering, fire away!
Cheers,
Cathx
