More Than Asthma - Chronic Illness BurnoutA few months ago I wrote an article about asthma burnout - tiring of the day-in and day-out of caring for this chronic disease. I have many other chronic illnesses...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Having a Breathing Condition Can Knock One’s ConfidenceI always find it incredible when people I meet can tell I have asthma. Quite naturally, I always think that when I am out on a social occasion or at...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Does Self-Care Look Like to Our Community Members?Everyone deserves time and space to take care of themselves. Self-care is important, especially for those living with chronic conditions such as asthma. Over the last 3 weeks, more than...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Talking Candidly with My Pulmonologist About My Mental HealthMental health is a topic that has gotten a lot of attention over the last few years. Many celebrities have disclosed their struggles with depression, addiction, and other struggles, and...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Forward Planning and Anticipation for the Warmer SeasonMy asthma has not been great for ages, and I really need to book an appointment to see my doctor. We have experienced a very long winter here in the...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Shhhh! Don’t Tell Anyone I Have Cats!Four years ago I bought a new home. I made sure the home I purchased was asthma- and allergy-proof. It has all-wood floors and air conditioning. No dogs. No cats...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
All the Allergy Tests: For Asthma and BeyondBack in September, my asthma specialist and I decided it was time to do allergy tests again. It had been 10 or 12 years since my last tests were done...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
More Than My AsthmaI have written several posts over the past few years regarding my asthma comorbidities...and how the list seems to keep growing. Over the past few months, I have finally started...Reactions0reactionsComments10 comments
Have I Got Eosinophilic Asthma?I have always considered myself a chronic asthmatic. My lungs have been under strain since I was a baby. I grew up sleeping in oxygen tents, using nebulizers, and all...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
The Parallels of Severe Asthma and (Apparently) Chronic PainFor more than a year and a half, I have had what is apparently, as I have been told, chronic pelvic pain. Just like shortness of breath—or dyspnea, the subjective...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Rotating Injectable MedicationsOver the last few years, I have been prescribed some different injectable medicines. I have never been afraid of needles, they just do not really bother me, so giving myself...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Do Asthma Triggers Change Over Time?As a teenager, I got together with a bunch of fellow asthmatic teenagers. This was back in 1985, during my stay at an asthma hospital. I was a patient there...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Asthma Awareness Month 2023: More Than My AsthmaMay is Asthma Awareness Month 2023! We know that living with asthma and managing symptoms can be exhausting, especially when contending with other health conditions at the same time. Our...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What We Put Up With to Have a PetYears ago, the neighbor’s cats decided to move in with us. Tabby and Siamese figured out that we were suckers. We made the mistake of leaving the front door open...Reactions0reactionsComments2 comments
Paying to BreatheOne of our community members commented: “What frustrates me the most is paying to breathe.” And I have to say I agree with this. It is very frustrating when you...Reactions0reactionsComments24 comments
Finding a Support Person for Doctor AppointmentsPeople with chronic health conditions, like asthma, often face complex treatment plans and multiple doctor visits. Brain fog, fatigue, and problems concentrating can be frequent side effects too. That is...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Experience With Allergy Shots for AsthmaAs a kid, I endured at least 5 years of allergy shots. I started when I was 10 years old in 1980. Every Tuesday, Mom drove me to my doctor’s...Reactions0reactionsComments19 comments
Doing Hard Things: Patient MotivationI was recently surprised by a question that I was asked: “What motivates you as a patient?" It happened during a routine follow-up and I have to admit that for...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Preventing Re-Infection From an IllnessI wrote an article about how I am afraid of getting sick. Because when I get sick, my body is like “I got you! Let’s Go Big or Go Home!"...Reactions0reactionsComments5 comments
Sometimes You Just Have to Stop and Enjoy What You HaveYou would be amazed if you could see my workstation this morning. I am sitting on a bench at Stearn’s Park in Ludington, Michigan. The lake is very calm this...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments