I’m a fiction writer with a main character (teen girl living in US) with asthma. The main things I’d like to know is what certain things feel like, so I’d appreciate any information from someone who has personal experience with asthma.

Would she be on a daily preventive medicine? How often and what time(s) of day would she take it, and would that be on a full or empty stomach? Are there side effects?

She has a rescue inhaler. At what point would she use it? How many times would she pump it? What are the immediate effects of using the inhaler? Does it have a taste? What’s that like? Does the taste linger, or is it pretty much while she’s getting the med? Does it have any side effects? How long does it take to stop an attack? Are there circumstances under which it doesn’t work? When would she decide to call for medical help?

How does it feel when an attack comes on? Are there early early signs (the way I can sometimes tell I’m about to get a migraine before the aura because I suddenly find it hard to read the computer screen)? What are the first symptoms? What are the sensations that lead to a full-blown attack? What are the feelings of an attack that’s subsiding? After it’s over, how do you feel? Do you rest or go on with your day?

Or, to say it shorter and sweeter, please describe an asthma attack.

Thanks a lot for your help!
- Illyria