The last couple of weeks I have been sick. I could not breathe properly. It came out of nowhere, it was similar to an asthma attack but the last one I had, was when I was five, so I can’t say I remember how it feels like. But there was something familiar to having half empty lungs and I succeeded in remaining calm and focussed on my breathing. The first time. These attacks came more and more often, and I was starting to get worried. I had planned a trip to Vienna, so I decided to get an inhaler just in case. One of those old school shitty things I used to have a few years ago.
Long story short: after a week I had to cut my trip short and head back home. I was starting to get afraid and I could not focus on anything else, meaning no fun for me or my friends. I should have gone to the hospital, but I felt stupid going there for such a stupid thing like not being able to breathe now and then.
On a Saturday I finally called the Covid hotline to check the symptoms but the lady on the phone ws not sure, so instead of doing a test, she told me to go to the doctor on Monday.
I barely made it through Sunday. I remember not being able to do anything. The lack of oxygen was causing head aches and I was tired all the time. It got so bad that I had to lie on the floor. I could not breathe, my stomach hurt, and my head felt like it was gong to explode. As I was lying there, I still felt like it was not bad enough to call an ambulance, but I knew I had to do something. I wanted to go to the hospital, but I was too weak and tired and sleepy to take the bus. I did not want to bother anyone, so I stayed there on the rug, sobbing. My nerves had given up to panic, but my ego was not willing to do anything about it.
No idea how much time passed until I felt better.
The next day I went to the doctor and was angry at the piece of paper on the door, telling me, the doctor had decided to go on holiday. It suggested four other doctors, one of which I already knew. I walked there just to see it was closed Opens at 3pm it said. The next doctor, another twenty minutes’ walk while not being able to breathe properly. As I got there, there it was: the next piece of paper
Appointments only.
No exceptions.
I called the number on there and after a long and excruciating discussion I was able to make an appointment an hour later. Not knowing what to do I went back to the city centre and got some breakfast, drank coffee and waited.
A friend of mine one told me time spent on your health is not waisted. But after I went to my appointment, I beg the difference. The doctor took my blood and told me to get to the lung doctor. Duh.
Back at home I called the long doctor. Wait, let me correct that: I called ALL the lung doctors in the city. Nobody would give me an appointment. Earliest date in three to four months. And I was really hoping to solve the problem a little bit sooner than that. I know what you are thinking “and then you went to the hospital” but no I did not. I waited without taking an appointment.
A few days passed until I remembered something my lung doctor back at home told me a long time ago. It was something like “most lung problems are caused by the stomach”. After a thorough google research, I kept using my inhaler, I stopped drinking black coffee in the morning without eating anything and started watching what types of food make your stomach sour. My breathing got better in a matter of days. I guess nowadays having a doctor title can be replaced by google and a half decent brain. A few days later I got a call from one of the lung doctors. She was amazing. Apparently, asthma is not something that goes away. Ever. She did a lot of test and prescribed a different inhaler. Since then I feel like a new person. It is like I have not breathe properly in the last twenty years or so. I am more awake and active, and sports are more fun.
The moral of the story is: go to the hospital if you must. Better save then sorry. Especially in these hard times it is difficult to know if you are supposed to go or not, but the doctors will tell you. Also, I know the health care system here is better than in most other countries but still there is a lot to be improved.
Aromatic deception 