I’m asthmatic, and I’m very self-conscious about using my inhaler where other people can see me. (I’m naturally awkward and very shy, so that’s why.)
Are there any other asthmatic people out there who are shy about using their inhaler in front of other people? Or do you not care about who sees you?
My asthma has become a bit more than that in recent years but no, I have never had a problem using an inhaler in front of people, it is far less embarrassing than letting things progress into a full attack and dying, that screws up everyone’s day.
I live in Australia so there may well be stigmas about asthma elsewhere I don’t know about but here nobody has ever blinked an eye and I have never thought to worry about it.
On balance, between small embarrassment and death, I’ll choose embarrassment every time.
The older I get though, the less it bothers me.
I think this is a big part of it for me as well. When I was younger, I was a little self conscious about using my inhaler in public but the older I got the less I cared. Now I don’t even think twice about it. The hospital is no fun whatsoever.
Yes, I always feel self-conscious if I have to use it and I try to go where I have privacy if I have to take a puff.