Getting Asthma at 65

By rosiek

2 min read

I am now 70. I was diagnosed with asthma in April 2015. What a learning curve this has been for me and my husband, family, and friends. Not only that, asthma has caused life changes and has upended our life in so many ways. I can no longer live in my home city of 49 years.

The climate is too cold, it is also too dusty and there is too much pollen.

Daily, I have to monitor the air quality. If there is particulate pollution, I need to stay inside and use the air conditioner.

Activities I used to enjoy have dropped away

I cannot make plans and commitments as I never know how unwell I will be. I have found it easier to not plan, just be spontaneous and do things when I can.

I have to try to manage triggers: weather changes, cold air, smoke, dust, mold, exercise, strong odors, exhaust fumes, etc.

I have had to learn all about Type 2 asthma, inhalers, medications, asthma plans, impact of steroids.

I'm experiencing new life changes and asthma symptoms

Constant high doses of steroids have caused huge weight gain and Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and terrible mood disruption. I have relievers everywhere. In my swimming bag, in my handbag, in the car, beside my chair, in my bedroom. I have a nebulizer set up and ready to go. I carry a portable nebulizer. I gave been caught out in the middle of nowhere having an extreme asthma flare. I have learnt that constant coughing makes it impossible to use a spacer.

My asthma is very severe. My specialist said "you are one of the unlucky ones. Your asthma is with you everyday."

Yeah! It is with me every day. I have lost count of the number of times that I have been admitted to hospital, or traveled in an ambulance.

At least the local hospital knows me now! I no longer have to go through "I am not sure that this is asthma! Could be a panic attack! I cannot hear a wheeze."

Finding hope

It is weird, that I felt quite excited when my doctor told me, "Rosie, that funny noise you are asking me about, that is a wheeze." I was excited because so often doctors in Emergency have dismissed me because there has been no wheeze. Well, now I have one! Not really great as it indicates that my asthma is getting more debilitating.
I keep documents with me explaining what happens when my asthma flares.

I am about to see one of the top asthma specialists in Australia. He uses injections even for Type 2 asthma (Non-eosinophilic asthma) that are targeted to the markers in your bloodstream.

This has given me some hope. So often I am told, "There is nothing more we can do for you".

Having some hope again is quite wonderful.

Share your experience with us

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Asthma.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

Leon Lebowitz, RRT Moderator & Contributor
Hi again, RosieK, and thanks for posting your story here on our <a href='https://asthma.net' target='_blank'>asthma.net</a> website. Your story is well written and full of interesting details as well. You have touched on almost every single aspect of asthma, the illness, symptoms, triggers and management that we focus here on the website. I'm hopeful others in the community will read your story and identify with many of the very issues you have shared. Most important of all is the 'hope' you speak about. Hope is so important to the management of this condition. If you don't mind, please keep us posted as to the progress you make when you this top physician. We appreciate your candor with the community. Wishing you well! Warmly, Leon (site moderator)
Lynida Jo Harper, MPA, BSRT, RRT, AE-C Moderator
Hi Rosie - Thank you so much for sharing your story with us; you've been through a lot it sounds like. A new diagnosis surely can upend ones life and that of our family. I'm so glad you've found this community. I hope you'll find it supportive and educational. Please let us know what happens after you visit the specialist; I'm very excited for you! Best, Lyn (site moderator)
davo Member
Hi,season greetings to all peace to all.my dr took me off Pulmicort,I had to insist that it IS causing abdominal swelling,making it hard for me to bend over or do any jobs seems to be causing lungs to be cramped,I'm also getting body jerks most days when relaxing also sharp cramp like pains,he has put me on flixotide inhaler hopefully it will be an improvement for me otherwise I will stop the cortasteroid s an stick with my ventolin ,IV only been on these new cortasteroid s for 2 mths but my stomach is very bloated, hopefully will be able to stop them without side effects only being 2 mths..all the best everyone please any info appreciated.
1. John Bottrell, RRT Moderator & Contributor
 Hi. Davo. Season greetings to you to. Thanks for sharing your asthma experience with the community. What you explain is one example of why it's so nice to have so many treatment options for asthma. Fixotide (futicasone) is another good asthma medicine. We certainly hopes it works better for you. Do keep us posted. All the best. John. <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer ugc'>copd.net</a> Site Moderator.
trevjohnny Member
Hi. I'm not sure whether it's different in the US but in the UK, non-eosinophilic severe asthma (which I have) is a form of non-type 2 asthma, not type 2.
1. lauren.mullin Moderator
 <inline-mention username="trevjohnny" user-id="3058139"/> Hi there, thanks for clarifying the differences between countries. How long have you had Eosinophilic sever asthma? Are you well controlled? Hope all is well. -Lauren (team member)
trevjohnny Member
Hi. Thanks for your reply. I've had NON eosinophilic asthma for around 9 years. For most of that time I've been on dual inhalers and montelukast, as well as salbutamol. It's not very well controlled. This month, I've been to hospital 3 times and am currently waiting for another urgent referral appointment with the local severe asthma clinic. We're currently going through a period of quite hot weather and that plays havoc with my breathing. My asthma doesn't respond well to inhaled steroids and that's the main problem. It also doesn't have specific triggers and appears from nowhere, without warning! 
1. trevjohnny Member
 <inline-mention username="John Bottrell, RRT" user-id="3021172"/> I don't actually know which subgroup it is. No doubt, I'll find out when I see them at the clinic. It's somewhere I've been several times but my asthma did seem to settle for a period, so they discharged me, adding that I could see them at any time in the future. Thanks for your reassurance. 
2. John Bottrell, RRT Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="trevjohnny" user-id="3058139"/> Thank you for the update. That's great that the asthma clinic is willing to see you again. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say about your asthma -- and what they decide may be good treatment options for you. I have spent quite a bit of time at asthma clinics (or similar places) for much of my life, so I definitely know what you are going through. I actually did some research on severe asthma a while back and wrote several articles on this topic -- and so did some of our fellow asthmatics. If you want to check them out just put "severe asthma" in the search engine to the upper left of this page. Also, you may find this (<a href='https://asthma.net/living/subgroups-the-4-types-of-airway-inflammation' target='_blank'>https://asthma.net/living/subgroups-the-4-types-of-airway-inflammation</a>) article helpful, as it explains the different types of inflammation, from "eosinophilic" to "non-eosinophilic." What do you think? John. community moderator.