Author Archives: Jackie Aim

Health and social care teams

preview Description: A mature woman patient consulting a GP in the surgery consulting room.

The amount of time you spend face to face with individual health and social care professionals is very limited. A GP appointment lasts on average between 6 and 10 minutes.

So when you do see a health and social care professional go prepared. This will make the most of your time with the healthcare professional. You can explain your concerns and get your questions answered. This helps to build a relationship with your health and social care team. They have knowledge of your condition but you are the one who can tell them how it is affecting you and your daily life.

Every appointment should involve communication both ways. Never be afraid to ask questions or ask for more explanation if you are not sure. Take a note book or list so you can write down important instructions or names of new medicines. Sometimes a diagram or leaflet from your health or social care professional can help you to understand clearly. If you have an hearing, eye sight or memory problems you can ask someone to accompany you to your appointment.

For more information on health and social care teams see:

Moving on together: Managing your time with people who provide health and social care section [.pdf, 6.08MB], Moving on Together (MoT): A self-management workbook by NHS Ayrshire & Arran.
Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland factsheet: Making the most of a visit to your doctor [.pdf]
NHS Inform: It’s ok to ask, getting the most out of your healthcare appointments [.pdf]

Quotes from people living with asthma

“Ongoing friendship and mutual support from joining local groups “
“The way to keep moving forward is to talk to others living with same condition”
“Look on internet, but only at the good stuff, as lots of scary stuff out there!”
“In some situations you’re in, it can be hard not to become angry… what I really learnt was to be assertive and not aggressive.”
“The Advice Line nurses spoke to me in plain English and not gobbledegook!”
“The group helps me to feel confident and gives lots of time for me to speak, with people paying attention and wanting to hear what I have to say.”
“With self-management I have a better understanding of my condition and am able to cope with it in a more positive way.”

Sources of help outside the NHS

Women talking together over a cup of tea

Local libraries – often have a health section and information about local support groups in your area.
Local coffee mornings – a good way of meeting a mix of different people.
Local Authorities – what’s on in your area, leisure facilities, day or evening classes, services, clubs. They can also help with housing, if you need some extra help or care because of your condition, equipment to make daily tasks easier or community based therapists.
Benefits advisers – Citizens Advice can help you to check if you are entitled to benefits and help you to make a claim.
Voluntary agencies – to get help for you or to be a volunteer to help others at the same time as benefiting yourself.
Church or faith groups – you do not necessarily have to belong to a church or faith to go along and meet people. Some churches encourage people to help at food banks, run social clubs, pack charity Christmas boxes.
Community centres – usually host a number of groups such as over 60’s, young mums and toddlers, lunch clubs, walking group, exercise class.
Leisure centres – many now offer exercises for people with long term health conditions and help to get started from trained instructors.
Local singing or drama groups – singing may help your breathing control while you meet new people.
Help or advice lines – Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland free phone 0808 801 0899, British Lung Foundation 03000 030555, Asthma UK 0800 1216244

Communication

When you have a long term condition you may need help from different people at different times. Your family, your healthcare team, your friends. The kind of help you need can influence who you speak to.

To have more control over managing you condition you need to be able to explain to other people how your condition affects you.

This means being able to tell people what you need help with, including people who don’t understand what it is like to have COPD.

Good communication is a two way street. Listening actively to what is being said is important, and you should feel you have been listened to.

For more information on communication see:

Moving on together: Recognising and managing your communication style section [.pdf, 6.08MB]

Moving on Together (MoT): A self-management workbook by NHS Ayrshire & Arran.

Ways of coping during intimacy

Do prepare:	Times to avoid sexual activity:
Clear any chest secretions using your chest clearance technique. Use your bronchodilator inhaler or nebuliser prior to sexual activity. You use the same amount of oxygen during sex as you would during physical activity. Use breathing control as you would with any other activity and have rests as necessary. Choose a position that is less energetic and avoids pressure on the chest, for example, lying on your side during intercourse may be more comfortable and less tiring. Encourage your partner to assume a more active role.	Immediately after a heavy meal. After drinking alcohol. In an uncomfortable room temperature. When under emotional stress. After an asthma attack until you feel fully recovered.

Do prepare:

Times to avoid sexual activity:

Clear any chest secretions using your chest clearance technique.
Use your bronchodilator inhaler or nebuliser prior to sexual activity.
You use the same amount of oxygen during sex as you would during physical activity.
Use breathing control as you would with any other activity and have rests as necessary.
Choose a position that is less energetic and avoids pressure on the chest, for example, lying on your side during intercourse may be more comfortable and less tiring.
Encourage your partner to assume a more active role.

Immediately after a heavy meal.
After drinking alcohol.
In an uncomfortable room temperature.
When under emotional stress.
After an asthma attack until you feel fully recovered.

Where do you get help and support?

This picture shows all the people, services and important signposts to support your self management. Think about yourself driving or walking along the road and all of these signs that you might see. It may surprise you to see just how much support there is when you begin to be supported in living with a disease such as COPD.

Think about all the people around you who can help.

Formal help. Ask yourself who would or could help you if you have a problem because of your COPD? This includes services run by the NHS, Local Authority, voluntary organisations and other independent support groups.

Informal help. Ask yourself who you would ask for help? Who would you go to if you feel you need cheered up or someone to go out with you for a coffee? This includes the large variety of support around us – family, friends and within our communities.
Road to self management diagram

View text alternative

Left hand side signs – “formalised support”	Right hand side signs – “informal support”
GP Specialist nurse Pulmonary rehab service Medication Dietician Money/debt advice Health Information material Stop smoking services	Friends and family Hobbies and interests Walking group Faith groups Pets Neighbours Internet based support and information Community groups

Intimate relationships

Couple hugging

Some people with asthma may have concerns about the condition affecting sexual relationships and intimacy.

Asthma does not diminish your ability to have an intimate relationship but problems with lack of energy, coughing and breathlessness may affect your stamina and interest in sex. You may even avoid sexual intimacy because you are scared you may cough or get breathless. Anxiety can also have an affect on your sex drive.

Talking to your partner about how you feel and any worries you may have will make it easier for you both to deal with the situation before it becomes a problem.

Be comfortable with each other again by kissing and touching without necessarily expecting intercourse.

Being open and considering each others needs goes a long way towards a warm and loving relationship.

Planning ahead and using ways of coping will give you the confidence to keep sexually active if this is what you and your partner want.

Support from others with asthma

The people who know most about coping day to day with asthma are others with the condition.

Support groups can be a great source of help, support and advice. Often other people can give you practical tips which have worked for them.

If you do not think a support group is for you there are alternatives. Your health and social care professionals can put you in contact with a variety of resources such as:

On line blogs or chat rooms.
Individuals who have agreed to allow their email to be passed on as a contact.
Advice lines.
Befriending schemes.
Volunteers who may be able to help and support you when you need them.
Exercise based groups in local leisure facilities.
Social get together for a coffee.

Work mates

Group of female work colleagues chatting

If you are still working your work mates are another possible source of help. Some may have similar experience of a long term condition but others may not understand what it is like for you when you are unwell.

If you have asthma make sure you tell someone at work what to do if you have an attack and can’t communicate because of breathlessness. Keep your inhalers with you. Keep at copy of your asthma action plan at work. (For more information please see the section on Asthma action plan.) It may be useful if you have a medical alert bracelet such as medic alert. This gives basic information about you which can be used to tell a paramedic about your asthma if you are too breathless to speak. If you are not allowed to wear jewellery at work you could carry an asthma alert card in your wallet or bag.

You may have experienced resentment from work colleagues if you have had time off due to your asthma, especially if they have been covering your work as well as their own. This is not your fault.

If your asthma is having an impact on your work, discuss ways to make your working day easier to cope with. For example is your working environment adding to your problems by being too hot/ too cold/too stuffy? Should you be using protective clothing?

Consider your work mates sensitivity. Some colleagues may find it off putting when you have a productive cough. Try to go to a place away from others where you can clear your chest and throat. Always wash your hands after coughing up sputum and use disposable tissues.

If you think you are being harassed or unfairly treated at work because of your asthma get advice from your human resources, occupational health or union representative if you have one. Report to your manager and discuss options. See Gov.uk – Workplace bullying and harassment for more information.