Asthma Treatment Changes and Self-Compassion
We have all been there: Just when I thought my asthma was under control, I need a little bit of help. But, this time, I’m not going to be too hard on myself. My goal for 2022 is to show myself more self-compassion in all facets of life. Why should I exclude changes to my chronic condition?
My asthma flare began with a cold virus
In November, my husband and I babysat our nephews. In the last 2 years, we have kept a low profile of how often we expose ourselves to germs. Of course, children are notorious for bringing home all sorts of nasty cold viruses from school. Well, our immune systems took a hit, and, viola! We came down with a nasty cold.
Naturally, I panicked. I know I am not alone when I say that people who have lived with asthma their whole life know to steer clear of people who are sneezing and coughing. Why? Colds have a tendency to wiggle their way into our lungs. Then, the fun begins!
As my symptoms progressed, and I struggled to breathe at bedtime, I made a doctor's appointment with my primary care provider. I did what we all do: I imparted my wisdom about what I have tried to self-treat and what I believed was the best next course of action to a woman who went to school for medicine. They always love that, don't they? To my surprise, she took it with grace. She said, "I love my asthma patients. They are always so self-aware." Yes, she did – really. That was refreshing. She put me on a Medrol dose pack, a steroid inhaler, and was about to put me on an antibiotic. But, I started feeling better.
Other asthma triggers: a new cat
Of course, once I started to feel the slightest bit better, I decided I wanted a second cat. I know what you are thinking. How could I adopt a second cat when I am allergic to them and live with asthma? Heavily medicated is how.
I adjusted to my first cat who I adopted in 2011. Why could I not handle another? We have a house now, not an apartment. There was plenty of room for it to not bother me.
The thing is, any little bit of extra dander is far more powerful than you could imagine.
Just a refresher: I came down with a cold in early November. We adopted a second cat in early December. I noticed that a week or so into having the new kitto in our home, I was still reaching for my rescue inhaler more than I would like to admit. So, after just a few days of giving up on the steroid inhaler routine, I went right back on it.
I knew that I would have to come clean and admit I needed a little bit of extra help when it came time for my annual appointment with my asthma and allergy specialist.
Annual asthma and allergy appointment
I have previously written about my annual asthma and allergy appointment going really well. I even went as far as to compare the feeling of it going well to being a superhero. This year, it still went well, but I had to add a steroid inhaler to my regular routine. I live in the Northeast United States, where the change of seasons can be tricky. My specialist believes it would benefit me between the first freeze and up to or soon after the start of spring allergy season. Even though I grew up with severe asthma, it is much milder these days. But, I could use some reinforcements during the bitter cold months winter brings. And of course, the second cat did not help.
I have typically only been prescribed a steroid inhaler when I have a cold virus I cannot shake or during peak pollen seasons. Living with allergies and asthma means a constant push and pull to control the two. And as everyone else who deals with this knows, when one is out of control, the other follows the same beat.
Trying not to be hard on myself
I can sit here and write how funny this all is and how silly my decisions were, but I refuse to be too hard on myself about my choices. I'm doing fairly well now, and I think with time, I will only improve. I am not the kid on the nebulizer machine 4 times a day anymore, so I refuse to act like it. Once again, I have asthma, but it does not have me.
Disclaimer: Please talk with your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication, or adopting a new feline friend. I did not.
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