asthma

[fms]

ive jus been told by the quack that ive got asthma,
and im a bit p1553d off cause i am a retained firefighter undoubtably this will affect my carrer in the fireservice
is asthma a lifelong condition or something that comes an goes??

[barb1314]

Hi...all I can tell you is that my husband was diagnosed last year at the age of 46...he had to use an inhaler twice a day in order to help him breathe better.He has never smoked although I do.(Trying not to smoke around him) He is very fit...going to the gym 3 times a week together with lots of running and a very active job.Anyway...in January this year we lost our beloved dog after 17 years and since then he has never had to use his inhaler....so it seems he was affected by her hair. I guess everyone gets asthma from different sources so maybe that's something you need to look into.Hope it all works out for you...good luck.

[China Doll]

Life long honey but there are different levels of severity. I know one person who has to take inhalers and things everyday and thanks to their hayfever they are still averaging an attack once a week at the moment.

I have asthma and rarely if ever have an attack or feel the need to use my inhaler so it does depend on the person.

Can you speak to your Occupational Health department and see what they say?

[Lore]

Hiya fms, sorry to hear you have asthma..
I guess it depends on how bad you have it. I was told 14 years ago that I had it but it went away again after a few months.
then roughly 3 years ago it came back for a visit, I still have to use an inhaler but for the amount of times I need it, it seems pretty daft saying I've got asthma.
winter months trigger it for me but only if I'm run down or suffering a cold.

[redcrx]

Im sorry to hear you have asthma but as others have said there are varying degrees.
This time of year when we have high pollen counts, pollutants in the air and thundery hot weather the asthma diagnoses increase.
I have had asthma since i was 13. It comes and goes and can be bad but i have never been hospitalised and have only needed doctors treatment by nebuliser three times.
I have a preventative inhaler and an inhaler to use for attacks.
This week i have found my asthma is very bad because of the weather conditions.
you may find that the weather is the cause of yours and that it will soon disappear or that you will have few attacks.
cont.....

[redcrx]

cont..

My boyfriend is a retained firefighter in Suffolk and so i know how important this must be for you. I would suggest getting your GP to write a letter about your diagnosis and his opinion of wether it will affect your work. Im sure that BA equipment can still be used by an asthma sufferer who has the condition under control. It may just be that by monitoring your lung capacity and taking a preventative medication (if its required) means that you can continue in the fire service.
Millions of people have asthma and it is so varying that it is impossible to say if it is chronic (permanent) or a short term thing.
Speak to the officer in charge of retained fire fighters at your station and see what they suggest as well. It may mean that you have to retake your physical but Im sure they can advise.

[fms]

thnx for yr answers guys im gonna get a referal from my companys health care scheme by a specialist and see exactly what im dealing with

[redcrx]

fms.
What exactly made you go to GP? Have you been suffering a while or was it a cold, hayfever etc?

[fms]

i came bac from cornwall camping/surfin holiday with what i thought was a chest infection

[redcrx]

so it came on suddenly recently then? It may just be a short term thing then if youve never suffered from chest infections before.
Id say not to worry, speak to the officer at station and ask what they suggest you do until your diagnosis is confirmed and medication sorted if required. I would guess that there are probably fire fighters out there that have asthma.
I shall ask my boyfriend later if he knows what suffolk service would do in such a case.

[fms]

cheers red keep me posted and ill have a word with the sub

[redcrx]

best of luck fms. Which service are you with? Have you been a retained firefighter long? my boyfriend and his sister have been with our station for 2 years now and they love it.

[fms]

im at my local village station and have been for 6 years its normally pretty quiet but recently it been manic as im sure yr b/f knows thnx again red its a bit annoying when something you really enjoy could potentially be taken away even if i go down the CFS route

[fms]

sorry red im in suffolk aswell bit of a coincidence

[redcrx]

lol, what a coincidence.
Been some big calls these last few weeks havent there? Very very busy. We are in haverhill and had a pretty big one in the town centre last week.

[redcrx]

Have just spoken to boyfriend.
The rules are that you have to tell your line manager of any medical condition that could impair your work.
He suggests that you seek further advice from your union rep.

[fms]

yeah i know its been so busy but its much better that way some nights i get home from work and then go on shouts til 3 in the morning jus when you get bac to the station you have to go out again its a real adrenaline rush thats y it would be a shame to have to giv it up

[redcrx]

boyfriend has asked where you are based. Can you say or would you prefer to keep it to yourself? He may know you already.

[fms]

oooh i dont know its a small village that might be a bit of a give away

[redcrx]

lol. theres a few just round near us. wickhambrook, clare, long melford etc etc

[fms]

im nearer to ipswich if that helps