Asthma

[Skylah]

If you could rate asthma from 1-10, I would categorize myself as a 8. My asthma start when I was 10. After having at least a half dozen doctors tell me that I would have this condition the rest of my life, I resigned myself to trying to keep it under control. Surprisingly, my twin is free from asthma. Numerous trips to the hospital emergency room where doctors tried to keep my airways from totally shutting down wore me out. I tried most of the things the doctors suggested but the condition never improved and the asthma was constantly out of control. There's a point to all this rambling. The medical profession claims there is no cure for asthma and that once diagnosed with asthma, you will always have it. Several years went by and the problem got increasingly worse. I went through the breathing tests. Then testing at an allergist reveled that I was allergic to almost everything, dust, trees, grasses, arachnids, molds, cat and dog dander. I was told that I could take allergy shots for 5 or more years, but that they probably would not help me because my asthma and allergies were probably environmentally caused. The years I have been on just about every type of medicine available: Theopoline, Theador, Proventil pills, Vancerill, Ventolin, Steroids, you name it and I probably have used it at one time or another! I do pretty good most of the time, but I do get occasional flare ups. About 2 years ago I had pneumonia, I thought that I was going to die! I was stupid and refused to go into the hospital, so I had to be admitted for over a week. I was out of work for almost 2 weeks, and it was another several weeks before I felt like I would get back to some type of normal stamina. I had to get a nebulizer machine to help me breath when I have trouble. I was joking with my doctor, when he asked me how I do it (breath) and I told him that it is sometimes very hard to and I sometimes feel as though I have the lungs of a 70 year old woman. He looked at me and with all sincerity in his voice he said, "Shareen, you do have the lungs of a 70 year old." With my Asthma I get by okay most of the time, I use my proventil inhaler (rescue inhaler), and I use my Azmacort inhaler. I have a very good doctor, he takes care of me, even when I don't take care of myself! I honestly feel terrible for children that have this disease. As an adult I can cope with it, but it hard on children. I hope that someday they will find a cure, or at least a treatment that will help everyone suffering from this terrible lung disease. Until then all we can do is stay aware of the latest treatments available.

I'm posting this because I feel some frustration when I consider all the people suffering needlessly from this life robbing disease. I have no real voice in this matter, but posting this may stimulate some thought..

[Therin]

If everyone would just stop smoking, Asthma would probably give up, roll over, and die.

That is really all I have to say at the moment. Congratulations to you, Skylah for quitting, but everyone really needs to stop. Eventually, I'll probably get arrested planting bombs in cigarrette factories. Anyone want to help?

[Razer]

count me in (pokes every major, minor, and other cigarette company...twice). I applaud you to Skylah. My oldest has asthma and I fear every time he's near cigarettes. If anyone has seen John Q (with Denzel Washington) you've seen the equivalent of a really bad asthma attack. My son had one like that playing baseball and that scene really shook me. TYook me two more tries to finally end up seeing the movie (months later after it came out on tape. I am even getting teary as I write this. Gotta go.

[Aiman]

I know how you get when you get asthma. You do need to take more care of yourself and listen to me more. Like you have found out, Im always right. But dont worry, Im here to take care of you always darling. So just listen to me and Ill take care of you

[Tobias]

hey lews, can i join you on ur excursion

My family never really had asthma, but we do occasionally need to use inhalers, because of the effect of my dad and his smoking around me and my bro. We dont have anymore problems, but still, asthma is a bad thing. It restricts people from experiencing some of the fun things in life. I hope that a cure comes soon

that is all

[Big_Panda]

My heart goes out to you, Skylah. I was diagnosed with asthma when I was very, young, around five, maybe six years old. Some of my earliest memories are going to a doctor's office for whatever reason.

For a few years I had to have biweekly allergy shots, but luckily my mother is a registered nurse so Ididn't have to go to the doctor's all the time. Still my family thought it was both funy and sad that I used to draw little bullseyes on my upper arm all the time.

I have around most of the same allergies you do (no animals, mold, pollen, or fresh cut grass), and I was on half the medications (alupent, proventil, abuterol, ventolin, vanceril) and I was on a nebulizer machine for half my high school life. I know how it feels to not be able to breathe, your heart pounding in your ears and genrally making things worse. I remember an emergency trip to the hosptial about 10 years back because I had stopped breathing in my sleep.

By the Grace of God, I've been without regular inhaler use for the past five to six years. I'm not sure what helped, but it could have been the fact I was treated for sleep apnea which had essentially stalled my endocrinal system for a few years.

I did find that if I was around a lot of foliage, I rarely got attacks. I was in New Jersey of all places, at my aunt's house which was in a forest. Not one attack the the whole visit. You mentioned that you can't be around trees or grass, but ask your doctor which plants are safe for you, and see if a few around the house doesn't make things easier.

Two cents, and not as much help as I hoped it would be, but just so's you know.

[Skylah]

My asthma is getting better now.. I have attacks lesser than before (average once or twice a month), before I used to have attack 2 or 3 times in a week. Actually I am still recovering from my asthma, flu and tonsil right now but I am glad I have so many people who care for me and I am feeling much better and good..

Quote:

I did find that if I was around a lot of foliage, I rarely got attacks. I was in New Jersey of all places, at my aunt's house which was in a forest. Not one attack the the whole visit.

Oh I find out that I did not get any attack when I was in Europe.. I have some relatives in England and I never get any attack when I went visiting couple of times and I also went backpacking throughout England, France, Scotland, Holland and Belgium and not a single attack in 2 ½ months, I guess it must be the weather.. Where I am staying now the weather is hot and humid.. I am allergy more to hot than cold.. I think I have to move to England or any EU country.. ahaks

TQ Aiman.. I know u care lots for me and u alwiz right whenever u worry bout me.. have to listen more to u.. luv ya

[kalika]

i hear ya. i hate having asthma, especially when it adds to my allergies. it restricts me even when i'm on medication. i can hardly exercise and can't go outside hardly at all. i even had notes to keep me out of gym class. i would go to classes and see kids complaining about having to run laps outside and be jealous that they were ABLE to push their bodies that far. it truly is a horrible, underestimated disease. (not to sound self-pitying or anything......)