Asthma Support Group

Asthma is a disease of the human respiratory system where the airways narrow, often in response to a "trigger" such as exposure to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which respond to bronchodilators.

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Lungs & Respiration
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Cannot work, study or socialise..

anon171
anon171

I'm 18 living in Australia with severe asthma. I've been hospitalised 7 times in 2017 (twice in the ICU) and 2 times in 2018 (both ICU). I'm on a plethora of medication and have recently started Nucala injections in hope that I might finally achieve some control. 


I cannot work or study part-time or full-time because of how often I'm in hospital or having specialist appointments. I rarely get the opportunity to socialise anymore, and walking around shopping centres for a couple hours with friends is completely out of the question. 80% of the time during certain months and seasons, I'm housebound. And I can typically find myself room-bound if my parents are using products to clean the house. 


Despite my asthma clearly impacting my lifestyle, I don't qualify for any government benefits, not even a healthcare card. This is because I'm not a student, I'm not a job seeker and according to their guidelines, my condition doesn't interfere "enough" with my productivity to be eligible. 


I don't have any kind of income and I haven't since 2016 (when my asthma progressively became significantly worse). I'm completely dependent on my parents, and it is becoming a financial strain on my family to keep up with payments for my medications and treatments. 


I need a way where I can have some kind of income to I can assist on the financial burden, but I don't know what to do anymore.


I'm happy to take suggestions.

annettearizona
annettearizona
G'day mate :) I am very sorry to hear about your health etc. WHat about finding work via the internet? Or if you are wanting to persue your schooling-that can be done via the internet as well.
There are jobs online that businesses need assistance with. When I was little my asthma kept me out of PE etc etc..so I can understand somewhat you're going thru.Thankfully it seems I have outgrown it or it's dormat :)
anon171
anon171
Annettearizona, thank you for responding. I have been looking multiple times a day on job sites for things I may be capable of doing, even if it is something administrative like reception etc. Unfortunately in everything I've applied for so far, I haven't had an email back. It's quite difficult because all my work history is either in company promotions or childcare.
I've also been searching for online courses, even if I do them as a "bridge" for when I am capable of physically attending university. I'm searching through government funded courses at this time because I'm unable to even pay 1/5 of any course fee.
And unfortunately I couldn't even finish year 12 due to my lack of attendance because I was in hospital so often. So finding something I'm eligible to study is difficult as well.

I guess I will eventually find my way around it, whether it takes me 6 months or 6 years. My ambitions are to become a specialist midwife, so I'm lucky it's a career that I can start at any age.