Asthma

There was a bit of intrest about my asthma and a few questions, so I thought I would try and write about my experience with it. And then answer the questions. This will probably be a very long post!

I was diagnosed with asthma when I was 3 yrs. old, 1969. Back then they were still learning about asthma and what caused it. At that time they told my Mother it was brought on because I was jealous of my new baby brother. At age 4 my right lung collapsed and that was my first long hospital stay with it. When I would have problems they would usually argue about if it was asthma or pneumonia. Sometimes when my Mom took me in they would say she was over reacting. Other times they got on her for not bringing me sooner. My Mom had Asthma too ( not as bad) and because of our health the Navy gave my Dad a medical transfer from South Carolina to sunny California. We lived in California for 7 years and during that time I was only hospitalized once. There were a few trips to the ER, but we pretty much took care of it with an inhaler. The time I was hospilized they thought maybe I was jealous of my Aunt and the time she was spending with my Mom. They had recently moved to our area. Both in SC and CA I was tested for allergies, which showed nothing. They even had me talk to a phycologist for a few visits. He told my Mom I was fine and to stop coming. Anyway Doctors still had a lot to learn about asthma and what went on with it. In alot of ways it is unpredictable.

Because of asthma I was restricted in my play for fear of an attack. Later a study came out where they were trying to give asthmatics more independence and to learn how to care for themselves. They encouraged activity and taught kids what to do. After reading about it my Mom started letting me do more things. At that time we were also told not to give asthmatics milk or ice cream. They said it caused more phlegm. I remember being heartbroken one time because I couldn't have some of my Moms homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream. When I was in the hospital the one time in CA Mom let me have some after I came home. YUM!!! It is still one of my favorites!

After leaving CA, we moved to Oregon for 6 months and then to Idaho for 3 years. In both of these places my asthma was pretty calm. We even thought I had maybe grown out of it. There would be some problems if I had a cold though.

In 1982 we moved to Oklahoma and boy did things change!!! I was allergic to many things there and was in the ER about 3 times a week and hospitalized 15 times in the 4 year period we lived there. Surprisingly during my senior year of HS it was pretty well controlled with all the medication I was on. My meds were carried in a mini taclke box and I was teased by teachers that I was spacey. After I was perscribed my own nebulizer to have at home the ER trips were cut down. I had the attack I talked about previously in April 86. That was the last time I was hospitalized in OK. We moved back to Idaho in July 86.

After returning to Idaho I was hospitalized two more times. This time there were toxic levels of theophylline in my system because I was getting better. I still had some problems though and because my parents room was upstairs from me they rigged up an alarm system so I could call for help. I went on to move to Washington and lived with my Aunt while I attended college to become a Medical Assistant. My Aunt was a nurse and when I was in trouble I just had to call out for her. My aunt was good friends with my Doctor and they would discuss what to do with me. He allowed me to have epinephrine shots at home if I needed them and taught me how to give them to myself if my aunt was not around. If the attack was too bad he told my aunt when to put me on prednisone.

Not long after moving to Washington I read an article about how hormone fluctuation affects asthma ( this is true for me- everytime I was in the hospital it was around my cycle) and that birth control pills seemed to help. I talked with my Mom about it and we went to get some for me. The doctor had read studies about that also, but I think the nurses thought I wanted them for other reasons. They did help and by the time I met and married my husband things were better. He has only seen one or two really bad attacks and a lot of little ones.

When it was time to think about having babies I needed to make a change. I really wanted to breast feed and could not on my current medications. The current trend was to try and put asthmatics on a variety of inhalers. Steriod inhalers to prevent inflammation and a rescue inhaler. My doctor sent me to an asthma and allergy specialist and they weaned me off theophylline and put me on inhalers and I was able to have my babies and nurse them. Things were definately much better, but when ever I got a cold it would got right to my chest and cause problems and I would have to go on antibiotics.

At the beginning of my third pregnancy I was attending college, to get prerequisites done for a nursing program, and working one day a week. I caught a cold and it went to my chest. I had stopped my steroid inhaler because I was PG. I wanted to get through the frist trimester with out taking it. I went to the doctor and she gave me antibiotics and wanted to put me on prednisone. I told her no that I thought I would be OK on the antobiotic alone. I wasn't! The next morning my husband took me to the ER. I was hardly pushing any air. I ended up in the hospital and on LOTS of prednisone. The first time in 10 yrs. This episode in some ways was more scary than all I had been through previously. I think it was because I was pregnant. I learned my lesson about the preventative treatment of asthma and have been a much better patient since. I had always tried to be tough and brave. Because I was pregnant and afraid for my baby, I asked the nurses to bring me a doppler. I was 9 weeks along and I laid in the bed using the doppler until I heard my babys heart beat. It was amazing that I found it, and it was a great reassurance for me! I had a nurse listen for proof!

After that hospital stay I was put on a new inhaler treatment that had come out. Flovent ( a steroid inhaler) and Seravent ( a long acting albuterol inhaler) This worked very well and after having James I even started trying to jog. Unheard of for me ever! When James was about 1 yr. old Singulair came out and my doctor added that to my regimen. Singulair changed my life! I could do things I had never done before without asthma interferring. I have been on it since and have even been able to go off Flovent and Seravent (4 yrs. ago). That is my asthma story "in a nut shell". Now I will try and answer the questions.

I was asked if there were a way to measure the impact on my life. I don't know, but it has had a huge impact! My life revolved around it. Especially in Oklahoma. How many decisions were influenced by it! Many! I could not go into certian stores (books, craft) exaust would bother it. Tabacco smoke. My uncle , where I lived while in college in WA, smoked a pipe with cherry tabacco. I loved the smell, but could not go around him while he was smoking it. I would have to stay in my room and he smoked it almost every night. I worked for my brother, in his cleaning business, while in college, and had to give that up. I could never clean an oven. There were some times of intimacy with my husband where I would have to stop and take a shot of epinephrine. That sure cools things off! He was so patient! I could go on and on!

How many memorable life experiences revolved around it? Lots! My poor mother has spent every major holiday with me in the ER or hospital. Including her anniversayy and birthday. I was admitted once on Christmas day. Planning for my babies. I even got to where I would do extra prepration before intimatcy. I never went anywhere without an inhaler. It was almost like a friend.There was one in every car , every jacket, in my purse . When I swam there was one on the edge of the pool. When I started trying to exercise there was one right there with me. I was afraid without it. A nebulizer went with us on any long drive or trip. Luckily as a medical assistant I could get sample inhalers for free to put in all those places. Now I have only one or two and they usually expire and I have to throw them away. We don't have to bring the nebulizer for me when we go on trips. I can run, exercise, anything!

How has it shaped my personality? I think I am pretty "tough". If I can get through that I can get through anything! It also puts into perspective what is really important. I am compassionate to those with breathing difficulties. Growing up I would try and hide my asthma problems so I would not be a "bother". In some cases if I had asked for help sooner it would not have been as bad. I would feel like a burden sometimes. I was fearful of asthma at times but I also looked at asthma as a enemy and did not want to give into it. I think I was a fighter and at times I would fight it too long.

There were several times I should have died, but I think God protected me until modern medicen could figure asthma out better. My daughter now has asthma and I am thankful I know what to do. I am not afraid of it anymore! I am confident that I can take care of her and that she will never experience the things I did.

Well I think I am done!