tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423880838207203660.post4696900885162872280..comments2024-01-10T09:56:49.324-05:00Comments on Respiratory Therapy Cave: A long agonizing, miserable night with asthmaRick Freahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01132949384071592216noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423880838207203660.post-19497946096044280822007-12-17T13:39:00.000-05:002007-12-17T13:39:00.000-05:00Other than the counter, there really is no set way...Other than the counter, there really is no set way to determine how much is left in an MDI. Some people say to put it in water, and the higher it floats the emptier it is. I never found that to work though. In fact, some experts now frown on teaching this method.<BR/><BR/>Usually what I do is shake it by my ear, the fuller it is the less the fluid inside you will hear. If you shake it and it's really light and the fluid inside makes a tinkling sound, then you know it's pretty close to empty. Also, you can hit it with your fingernail, and it will sound more hollow as it gets emptier.<BR/><BR/>I could do this pretty easy when I was a kid, pretty much without even thinking. But it's probably not as easy as I might make it seem, especially if you don't go through a lot of inhalers, or work with a lot of patients with them.Rick Freahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01132949384071592216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423880838207203660.post-54179712041324125312007-12-17T13:10:00.000-05:002007-12-17T13:10:00.000-05:00My advice on the MDI is to not gamble and have ano...My advice on the MDI is to not gamble and have another inhaler on standby in case you need it. You sure don't want to go without it. <BR/><BR/>The good news for you is that most new albuterol inhalers have a counter. However, the generic brands still don't.Rick Freahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01132949384071592216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423880838207203660.post-5562847862594535922007-12-17T13:07:00.000-05:002007-12-17T13:07:00.000-05:00I'm glad you asked this. I've had this discussion...I'm glad you asked this. I've had this discussion with other asthmatics before, and we all tend to agree. <BR/><BR/>There really is no simple answer, but I think when we are really sick, stressed or tired we tend to see problems that aren't really there. That might have been the issue with me when I was a kid. It sounds stupid in retrospect, but I know I did it once as an adult once too. <BR/><BR/>Not only that, but we tend to downplay to ourselves how bad we really are. For example, I knew how bad I was in this story, but when I got in the car with my parents I still didn't tell them. I convinced myself I wasn't "that bad."<BR/><BR/>In my opinion, I think when people are sick they don't want to make the decision of what to do. They want other people to say, "Hey, you are sick, you need to go to the hospital." <BR/><BR/>That's why I think it's so very important to know the signs that someone is short-of-breath. If your 3 YO has asthma, you should always be vigilant of these signs.Rick Freahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01132949384071592216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7423880838207203660.post-9037491655512105262007-12-17T10:27:00.000-05:002007-12-17T10:27:00.000-05:00Can you comment on why you thought your mom would ...Can you comment on why you thought your mom would be mad at your difficulty breathing? I have a 3yo with asthma, and I would feel terrible if he thought I was mad at him for something like that. <BR/><BR/>Also, any tips on figuring out how much is left in an MDI? His flovent has a handy dandy counter on the back of it (counts down number of puffs 'till empty) but I have lost count on the Albuterol. Don't want to just run out and get another $30 inhaler, but also don't want to be caught without the meds he needs. Thanks!<BR/><BR/>Love the blog-I'm a nurse, and love to hear things from a coworker's POV.<BR/><BR/>-lpnmonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com