It’s Just Allergies… Isn’t It?
No, for me it was never allergies. As a kid, it was croup that evolved into bronchitis and then a sinus infection. At one point, even COVID-19. As I sit and write this I'm trying not to hack up a lung from the yearly sinus infection. Over the past several days my life has become zero sugar Sprite and crackers for nausea, the nebulizer and rescue inhaler, a Z-Pak and Mucinex plus the occasional cough syrup, saline spray, and hot showers.
I want so badly to eat the pint of ice cream I bought, especially since my throat hurts and keeps drying out, but as bad as my asthma and sinuses are my body says no. I have to be careful blowing my nose because I've had 2 nosebleeds. I have to take cough syrup if I leave the house because otherwise I'll be coughing up gunk at inconvenient times.
And yet I can handle it because this happens to me every spring. I can call my allergist and ask for the Z-Pak. I can ask my mother for Mucinex. I can dig out the rescue inhaler and the nebulizer. I may feel miserable but I know I'll get better because I did it before.
As we get older we have to listen to our bodies when we feel bad due to asthma because Mother Nature will most likely throw us for a loop. It's about how we handle the setbacks.
Thanks for sharing this story, Kelsey. I'm sorry that you're feeling so lousy! I'm sure that many people in the community will be nodding along when they read your post. I had pretty bad allergies when I was a kid and it seems like I could never just get the sniffles. So many times I would get a stuffy nose and it would turn into a full-blown sinus infection or a throat infection or both. It doesn't happen as much now that I'm an adult, but it still seems like I get sicker than my husband does.
It sounds like you know all the right things to do to take good care of yourself when you're struggling. You have a good attitude about it too. Do you think maybe some fruit sorbet or a popsicle would satisfy your sweet tooth without making you feel worse?
Hang in there and get some good rest! Thinking about you. -Melissa, team memberthe amazing thing is that even I felt terrible I passed my lung function test with flying colors, 95% despite needing the rescue inhaler halfway through (as always) on Tuesday. I'm doing something right. And it's funny, my dog was scared of the nebulizer, the cat kept sitting by me as I used it (albeit glaring at the machine) as I nebulized. 
Haha, animals are so funny! I'm glad you had company while you nebulized! Thanks again for being an active member of this community. All the best, Lauren (Team member)
