A Basket of GoodiesHaving a chronic illness, like asthma, there are a few items that I reach for on a regular basis. I am not the best at keeping track of some of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
I Got a PortI have been toying with the idea of getting a port for a few years. If you do not know what a port is, it is an implanted device that...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Latest Pulmonary Function TestsThe last visit I had with my pulmonologist, aka The Good Doctor, he ordered pulmonary function tests, or PFTs. If you have asthma, you have probably done them before. They...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Asthma ProdromeAside from asthma, I have struggled with severe migraines since I was a teenager. They are debilitating to the point that I sometimes have to be admitted to the hospital...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Wildfires and Air QualityOver the last few weeks, the east coast of the United States has been dealing with wildfire smoke blowing down from Canada. The air quality index has been high (the...Reactions0reactionsComments8 comments
How Asthma Has Affected My Body ImageGrowing up, I fit the mold of a quintessential American child. I was healthy, thin, and athletic. I was a competitive swimmer, gymnast, and did ballet. My health was fairly...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
My Current Treatment Regimen for Severe AsthmaI developed asthma when I was about 16 years old, following a few rounds of severe sinus infections. What started as occasional shortness of breath evolved into more severe asthma...Reactions0reactionsComments25 comments
A Fluid Asthma Action PlanI did not develop asthma until I was in my late teens. I was kind of diagnosed as an afterthought. I had been dealing with multiple chest infections and slowly...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
More Than Asthma - Chronic Illness BurnoutA few months ago I wrote an article about asthma burnout - tiring of the day-in and day-out of caring for this chronic disease. I have many other chronic illnesses...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Talking Candidly with My Pulmonologist About My Mental HealthMental health is a topic that has gotten a lot of attention over the last few years. Many celebrities have disclosed their struggles with depression, addiction, and other struggles, and...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Rotating Injectable MedicationsOver the last few years, I have been prescribed some different injectable medicines. I have never been afraid of needles, they just do not really bother me, so giving myself...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Blood Sugar Issues with SteroidsIt is no secret that steroids can wreak havoc on our bodies. I have been on and off of them for years. Sometimes my tapers drag on for months because...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
What I Wish My Doctors Knew About AsthmaTreating someone with an asthma diagnosis can be very convoluted, and even the best doctors do not always completely understand it, unless they are, perhaps, a pulmonologist. But not even...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Common Variable Immune Deficiency and AsthmaShortly before Christmas, I started feeling a sore throat coming on. I was at my mom’s house a few hours away from where I live. There are not many good...Reactions0reactionsComments13 comments
Asthma BurnoutThere are many days when I am just tired of being an asthmatic. I am tired of taking medication for it every day. I am tired of worrying if I...Reactions0reactionsComments23 comments
How I Use My Smart Home System to Help My AsthmaI love technology. I always have. Nowadays there are more and more smart home systems and options available to make high-tech living easy and accessible. I have slowly been building...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
A Welcome ReprieveI have pretty severe asthma. To the point that it is hard not to think about it on a daily basis. I always have some sort of cough and get...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
"Fast is Slow, Slow is Fast"I learned how to sew well over twenty years ago. I took a sewing class as part of the home-ec rotation when I was in middle school. I still have...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments
Changing My Asthma Action PlanMy pulmonologist, aka The Good Doctor, and I came up with an asthma action plan many years ago. It’s fairly straightforward— if there’s an uptick in my symptoms and I...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
My Hospital Go-BagIf you have any kind of chronic illness, you know that your symptoms can turn on a dime. You can be fine one minute and on your way to the...Reactions0reactionsComments6 comments