Well, hell

[curgoth]

Having an asthma attack intense enough that even after 2 puffs on the inhaler I could breathe, coughing hard enough to drop me to my knees. Grabbed my coat and ran outside - if it's allergies from HVAC mold clean air will help.

ETA: definitely allergies. Went back inside to get my stuff, was wheezing before I got to my desk. A coworker carried my stuff out for me. Breathing got better once I got outside. Now sitting in my car letting breathing get back to normal before driving home. I hate when the air tries to kill me.

Comments

[corbet.livejournal.com]

Eek! Normally I'd suggest something caffeinated -- always helps with my asthma, but maybe not in your case. Hot beverage to help open up your lungs? Or allergy drugs, in case that's the trigger?

[curgoth]

Oddly enough, the one thing I have never tried for this? Benedryl, or any other allergy med. I should try that next time and see if it helps...

[misslynx.livejournal.com]

Benadryl is one of the old-school, drowsiness-inducing antihistamines. It's very effective, but will make you seriously groggy, especially in large doses - I got a mega injection of it once in a hospital ER when I first discovered my aspirin allergy the hard way, and I could barely sit upright in a chair afterwards. In normal over-the-counter doses it's not that bad, but it's still probably not the best choice if you're at work or otherwise need to be alert and attentive. I find Allegra better for that.

[curgoth]

Yeah - I take claritin daily, and keep allegra at home for back up. Neither are really strong enough for this sort of thing - they'll handle hay fever/ragweed more or less, the dust mold thing needs something stronger.

That said, I wouldn't want to take benadryl at work, since I can't drive myself home afterwards.

Maybe I should just take to carrying around my respirator mask. It'll also prevent swine flu!

[funos.livejournal.com]

FWIW, "Aerius" works really well. No apparent side-effects (it's only 5mg of *mumblemumble*).

[curgoth]

I'll make a note to add that to the portable pharmacy...