My Asthma Struggle
I was diagnosed with asthma around 2-3 years old after having bronchitis. I’ve been prescribed almost every type of inhaler and on and off nebulizer. Now in my late 30’s, my asthma is still moderate but has progressed with severe additional symptoms and conditions. I now have a hard painful dry chronic cough (pertussis or paxzysmal) and I get short breath and wheezing even at rest without exertion and even if not allergy season whereas in years past that wasn’t the case. I got pneumonia quite a bit over the past years but the last time I didn’t heal as quick in the antibiotics as I should’ve and the cough developed and stayed. This is all in spite of asthma treatments. I cannot get any firm of disability. This is just one of my health issues but I’m tired of being criticized and judged by others who do not have asthma or who have a different type or a different condition that may not be asthma. I’m so depressed. My quality of life is very low. I have contemplated suicide. I need to treat sometimes twice or more a day due to symptoms/ flare ups not due to exertion. I use to be active and only needed my regular inhaler once before any activity or weather change or in the morning and take my rescue inhaler afterwards if I had an attack. At the time, I took MAXAIR AUTOHALER (chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). If you have any suggestions advice or connections to any assistance, please be kind and positive.
My inhaler is Fluticasine Propionate and Salmeterol inhalation powder done twice a day. It helps to open the airways, and to cough up these hard yellow chunks of mucus which hurt in my chest. (Problem began in my late 50’s, but I was diagnosed with asthma later in life). It usually takes time which can be up to a day. I have a dry cough or cough up white mucus before and after the the yellow hard clumps which get stuck. Today I did yard work with a mask, but I was coughing during the day. I couldn’t go to sleep because of it, but I feel so relieved and could breathe better when two hard clumps finally came out. A doctor who had asthma himself recommended the inhaler when I went to insta care because of asthma induced bronchitis. I drink warm water to soothe my throat. I once had pneumonia for three months. I empathize with your struggle. I have several other conditions (bladder pain which wakes me up at night, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, constant headaches for 23 years, and chronic lower back pain since a severe fall injury at age 12). Be patient with yourself, and share your feelings with the friends and family members who can empathize with you. I have had some friends and family members who are not understanding because they don’t have serious health problems. I avoid sharing with people who aren’t able to empathize. You can still have life experiences which have meaning and growth even though your physical health is not as good as it was previously. You can also seek counseling which can help you cope with your depression, and document your psychological difficulties in order to apply for financial assistance or disability in the future.
