Bleu
"I hate asthma... nothing else."
Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that you are going through a rough patch. Asthma can truly be all encompassing. It can dictate where we go, what we can smell, and how we are able to move. Is there anything that brings you joy that you can focus on today? -Lauren (team member) So sorry your asthma is troublesome currently. Is it the possible mold you wrote about in your other post? Sending you fresh air and strength to get to the bottom of the issue. Keep your meds close. Thoughtfully, Rebecca (Team member) My problems for my asthma flare this time is cat allergy and mold "sensativity". I had allergy tests done with no allergy showing up a few years ago. Eventhough I get hayfever starting in August, I tested negative for anything. This summer, I found out I am allergic to cats. I had one almost all my adult life. Lol but, I volunteer to help a neighbor, who works out of town during the week, and check on his cat. 2-3 weeks into this and I am on the max I can take in allergy meds. Then the mold situation pops up. Now, I know why I keep getting little hive like rashes every once in a while. I love this cat, but can't handle this allergy and asthma flare up. My allergies have been bothering me since June. My chest constantly burns with this flare up. Maxed out on things to help (medecine). It would not be so bad if I did not have an all over body reaction. On the days my joints hurt the most, my lungs are painful. I am not full of mucus, but the lungs feel twitchy. Asthma symptoms seems to change from one flare to the next. I guess I am mostly tired from my feeling of not breathing properly. Kinda difficult to do when you feel like you're trying to push out of a corset! Lol What a challenging ordeal for you. Dealing with asthma and allergies can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you're juggling a few triggers all at once. It must be tough to love the cat and want to help your neighbor while also managing the impact it has on your health. Understandably, you're feeling tired and overwhelmed, given how your body is reacting. The burning in your chest and the discomfort in your lungs sounds absolutely uncomfortable and exhausting. Hoping you take the steps necessary to improve your health - whether seeing your specialist for a better treatment plan or making life changes. Take care of yourself. You’re not alone in this struggle! Rebecca (team member)
"Tired, but asthma is stable as spring pollenation has begun!"
Hi. Again. And thank you for the status update. I am curious: Have you been tested for allergies? John. community moderator. - Such good news especially now when seasons are changing. Resting when you need to and assuring you have your medications handy can help you navigate this period a little more comfortably. Have you found relief since posting? It's been a bit and am hopeful you are feeling better. Thoughtfully Rebecca (team member)
"Had my consult with Plastic surgeon. He needs to take off 8mm more on all sides. The margins seem to be clear, meaning it hasn't spread, just grown. I am feeling a little down. All these new afflictions in my health has my mind busy. Had a doc consult for this.
Coughing is no worse, nor better. Just little coughing fits that last maybe 5min,although better than it was at couple of hours of coughing fits. Still want to lose my mind when I cough too much and become incontinent. No one ever talks about this side of cough variant asthma. Taking a lot of time to self care to try and deal with all these overwhelming feelings."Hi Bleu, and thanks for sharing this update here with the community.
I hear you! I understand just how exasperating / frustrating / disappointing / embarrassing, the incontinence part of this can be. You may think no one talks about it and, it sure may seem that way. But, for those of us who are dealing with this for many years, it can be fairly common. We actually have some published material, right here on asthma.net, which focuses on this very topic. For your convenience, here is a link to that article: https://asthma.net/living/urinary-incontinence-coughing. You are definitely not alone there either!!
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)Damn! YOU are a fountain of knowledge! Thanks! Glad to hear about your clean margins, though I know taking more is frustrating! Keeping you safe is the most important thing. Re: the incontinence, have you ever considered pelvic floor physical therapy? I imagine the last thing you want to deal with right now is another doctor, and it can be a bit unconventional, but you may find that it really helps. Just something to think about. Hang in there! -Melissa, asthma.net team
Thanks Melissa! I do Kegel's already. I just cough so violently that too much strain is put on bladder. Unless they make a plug for the urethra, I have to go with it for time being.....You know, go with the flow.... *I can hear the groans from here!* hahaha So this doesn't plug the urethra, but I've seen this product advertised and I think it's super interesting. Basically a tampon with the goal of supporting the bladder muscles: https://www.poise.com/en-us/products/impressa/introduction
I love your punny sense of humor! It always makes a difference when you're dealing with the uncomfortable parts of life. 😀 -Melissa, asthma.net team
"New health conditions have been added to my medical portfolio.. I am going blind in my left eye. Something to do with the membrane behind the eye. I thought my hearing loss was getting worse. Just found out my brain is not processing auditory words. Theeen! I get diagnosed with melanoma cancer. When does the fun stop?"
Hi again, Bleu - my goodness! I am sorry to hear about these new diagnoses which you have candidly shared with us here. With all the conversations we've had with you, please know we will be here for support moving forward.
Have you been advised of the details/specifics of the new diseases? Are they treatable in your case?
Like you, I have received several new, and not such good, diagnoses myself over the past 4 years. For me, I have picked myself up, dusted myself off and am making my best efforts to tackle each one of them head on! I do rely heavily on my family and our combined experience managing illnesses over the many years. It's not easy, not easy at all - but I move ahead each day that I can.
What are you thinking? Is there anything further you are able to share with us at this time?
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)69i57j0l3.7703j0j4&client
What am I thinking? Hmmm... at times, I think I am glad it's me with these probs and not my baby sis. She has kids who could NOT do without her during times like this. I am also glad it is me out of my family who got this because I am strong enough to not "break" down to this plethora of horrible news.
That being said, I am feeling very overwhelmed. I keep thinking "what god or deity did I piss off" for this.
The eye situtation is going to be a watch and wait approach as it is too early for any treatment. The watch and wait is horrible as my vision is not good.
My ear, not sure what's that all about. My ENT can only see me around Dec 6th. I don't even know if or when the other ear comes in to play. I was not given a diagnosis name yet. Just a verbal you're "brain is not processing correctly", is what I was told by audiologist, referring me back to my ENT.
Now my Melanoma was cut out the same day I saw the Dermotologist. She took one look and I knew, just knew it was not good. She told me she could not let me leave without cutting it out. The wait to see her again would be too long. Plus, my thinking for better part of last 6-8 months that "it was just a mole on my leg" was worrisome to her. With my eyesight going in the shitter, I could not see it properly to appreciate the gravity. Pathology back. It's a Melanoma. I have to see a olastic surgeon to remove more skin in the area as a precaution. It was .53 millimeters deep. So in the good zone as far as Melanoma is concerned. Above a full millimeter depth, and chemo would have been in the picture. So, it is a toss up on being good news.
I am circling the brim of hard times ahead depending what the next step to remove more skin brings me. If pathology detects cells in this extra cut out portion, it won't be good.
So far, I know the things that are going wrong, but not, except melannoma, what can be done if anything.
Been feeling sad and overwhelmed past 24 hours. Reality seems to be sinking in. I think I was in shock, as this all happened whithin last 2 weeks.
I thought my asthma was bad, until this.
Tks for your response Leon. It means a lot right now.Hi again, Bleu - it's my pleasure! Thank YOU for your continued candor with us here, we appreciate it! If communicating this with the community here is good for you, in terms of relief and some catharsis, well, keep sharing!
The fact the melanoma was caught now and you will be getting whatever further treatment is necessary - that is good. You may be aware of a procedure known as the MOHS surgery, which sometimes is used to treat melanomas. Generally speaking, depending on the melanoma, this can be a successful procedure for many.
As for the other diagnoses - it's understandable how nerve racking it can be to watch and wait. It sounds like it would be to your benefit for both the ophthalmologist and the ENT doctors to collaborate on your care. You should not be in the middle as the patient. Perhaps that can be suggested to the two of them. I do know when my (many) doctors confer, I wind up doing much better. Sadly, it does not always happen spontaneously and I, often times, have to become an even better self advocate in this situation. That generally works out, too!
Warm regards,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)Hi Leon, MOH's as I understand it, is out of the question. But as I say, never say never! I heard something along the line of skin grafts in my stupor. However, I could be wrong and misunderstood. MOH'S would certainly be easier than excision. I had a friend who had MOH's on the side of his temple, driver's side temple. Lol He ended up losing quite a large "patch" after going to follow ups. It was neat in a sic kind of way.
The suggestion to have my ENT and Ophtalmologist collaborate is one I was thinking about. If all this is caused by some neurological thing, my Neurosurgeon will be in the mix too. It was hinted at the radiation treatment I received might have caused microscopic scarring. To what extent, we keep finding out as we go. All the "side effects/complications" from the radiation treatment are rare things. I have been "a first" for many docs the past 2 yrs. (Pardon the pun).
I am still coughing, but not the paroxismal coughing like before. Just enough to irritate my throat and superbly annoy me. But, all this extra stress, in my opinion, is keeping my asthma on the brink of a flare. I had to decrease my Symbicort due to recurring oral thrush.
I am apprehensive on how all this news and treatments might play on my asthma. There has been a lot of self care in the past 7 days!
I felt like I had neglected this community for the past 2 weeks. I needed to touch base. As well, the comorbidities poll was a welcome sight. Lol If you guys have any questions, ask away. If I have an answer, I will respond. Well, I will respond to let you know that I have no answer too. Right now, I am trying keep in contact with people instead of depressing out.Hi Bleu - thanks for giving some (new) consideration to the MOHS procedure. This is probably something you will at least want to mention to your physician. The two of you can determine how the melanoma will be treated moving forward.
Naturally, we are pleased to have you re-engaging with the community. However, whenever it becomes necessary for your to focus on your own situation and care at home, that should be the path you follow.
We are always here whenever you need to connect. I think you know you are always welcome in our online community. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please let me or any other moderator / team member know.
Warmest regards,
Leon (site moderator asthma.net)Sending you a big hug, All of that is SO much to deal with and I'm glad we can be here for you to listen and hopefully make you feel a little lighter. Feel free to post here as much or as little as you'd like. We will always be glad to have you even if you just stop in sometimes to say hello. Re: the melanoma, you may be interested in knowing we have a sister site, www.SkinCancer.net, for people facing similar concerns and diagnoses. They may be a great source of support and wisdom as you try to figure out next steps. Up to you, of course. Just know there are lots of people to share the load with. We've all got your back! -Melissa, asthma.net team