Update to my pneumonia thread...I have asthma

[luvwinnie]

I have asthma, which I treat mainly with daily singulair. I have problems with the albuterol, it leaves me weak and shakey for *hours* after one puff, so they've got me on maxair for an as-needed inhaler instead. I should be using my flovent (daily inhaler) as well, but I'm really bad about keeping up with that

I was waiting for the dr. to ask if I had pets (your kitties reminded me of this). I would have said "YES, and I ALWAYS will so don't even go there!"

 

[arminnie]

I have asthma. Now that I know what an asthma attack is, I am positive that I've had it at least since I was a teenager.

I used to say things like "Every time I get a cold, the cough stays with me for months." I was hospitalized with pneumonia for two weeks and literally almost died about 20 years ago. Every respiratory therapist that came in said "How long have you had asthma?" I always said "I don't have asthma." Little did I know.

Every year I would get bronchitis and be SO sick - miss at least a week or two of work.

Finally I moved to another state and got a great doctor. The first time I said "I don't feel sick, but my lungs feel funny." I got referred to a pulmonary specialist who diagnosed it immediately.

My asthma is not allergy related. It was primarily exercised induced asthma for years. Now I have problems with acid reflux (GERD) and the acid will drip back into my lungs. I take Advair daily (very easy) and rarely need the rescue inhaler. I also take medicine for reflux.

I cannot believe that it took DECADES for my asthma to be diagnosed. And it is so easy to control now.

 

[minkydog]

Not asthma, but exercise-induced hypper-reactive airways. And I was a swimmer. Figure out how that one went. I got back in the pool last week without my inhalers handy... not such a good idea.

If, with the inhalers, the asthma doesn't improve, please ask them if you can have some type of test to check for lung cancer.

We have a very dear friend whose son as in our bridal part in December. She felt awful when she missed our wedding becuase she had "pneumonia" that just wouldn't go away and she wasn't permitted to fly to Disney. Fast forward. They have just now found she's in Stage IV lung cancer- a non-smoker whose never lived with or spent time with smokers. T

he whole situations just seems so unfair and so odd that they didn't catch this is December. They diagnosed her with 5 or 6 things and when she kept coming back in saying, "This isn't working... it's still the same or getting worse," is when they finally caught it. Now, I know better than anyone that doctors are human (both my parents are), but I still can't help but feel so incredibly sad and frustrated by the whole situation.

So sad. I know how frustrated you are--we just lost my dear, beautiful 46yo cousin Gigi to lung cancer. Never smoked a day. but the good news(really amazing news!) is she lived 3-1/2 yrs past her original prognosis And with decent quality of life!

Have hope