A new chapter in my asthma journey, embracing good health.

I am embarking on a new chapter in my asthma journey, I am enjoying a stint of feeling well more often.

I think one of the hardest things to deal with as an asthmatic is the episodic nature of everything! There was a time not that long ago, where I was really trying to chalk up the good days because I was rolling from what seemed to be one exacerbation, to another. What I have found is that you can sometimes be caught off guard when your good days are starting to outnumber your bad days. The ying and the yang balance in severe asthma is delicate. I have been so thankful that I have had a mostly good year. Of course, I have had my usual exacerbations and an August that just seemed to give all the nutty asthma symptoms. I always want to break up with prednisone ( I am sorry but daily use just bites). so that is nothing new. What is new is embracing the stretch of good health, maximizing my ability exercise and perhaps for the first time in the last six years, generally feeling more hopeful about asthma.

I had breakfast with an acquaintance this week and they asked me what it is was like to live with severe asthma and what did I hope for the future. I am never quite sure of the future, I am really embracing the good that can come, that there are things in development towards better treatment and possibly cures... Seriously, there are people working on cures!

I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to receive a Biologic and have experienced symptom improvements and bouts of good health. I am currently in a clinical trial and I'm not sure if I am receiving placebo or the real thing in this trial. It has provided me with better breathing days and the opportunity to think less about my asthma. (I am not sure if this is a case for Biologics and I should state now that this is my experience of late and not a recommendation for Biologic. Please speak with your care team about what will work best for you.)

It is a strange feeling like somehow my identity is/was immensely wrapped up in being an asthmatic and not a person. Asthma does have the ability to be ultimately consuming. Appointments, medication, schedules, symptoms, exacerbations... etc. I think rising to the occasion and knowing that you can get through bad stretches, can give you a bit of pep in your step.

In the spirit of embracing this good stretch, I am reembarking on an item on my bucket list. One day/someday I will do Mt. Fuji (Japan) a cycling trip, while I am not quite at that training level yet, I have started adding more miles to my weekly totals.

Usually, the reality check approaches when there are those pesky symptoms that crop back up but if I have learned anything with living severe asthma is that the outlook has to be positive. There are always symptoms to tackle, having a solid action plan and good communication with your doctor will assist with this.