Breathing...

So--my mom told me today that, yet again, the valley where she lives in UT (Salt Lake Valley) is ENCRUSTED with nasty, horrible, literally chewable air!!!

UGH!!! I HATED that when I lived there. HATED!

Recently I was talking to a wonderful co-worker. She was describing to me how her husband had a respiratory infection. He also has asthma. And how hard it was for her to understand what it is like for him--cause she's never "not been able to breathe".

She admitted to probably not being patient enough with him.

I've been pondering this.

I was diagnosed "officially" with asthma when I was 17.

But--I'd probably had it since I was about 18 months old.

That winter was the first winter that I spent at least January with the "crud".

Which I had basically EVERY January until I moved away from UT.

I used to think it was just cause I was susceptible to germs. Ya--having asthma and living in the horrible, encrusted, practically chewable air of UT that seems to occur especially in December and January DOES NOT HELP!!!

I have learned since diagnosis--and especially since getting lung damage because of an asthma medication that gave me a 2 year infection in the mid-2000's--that there were literally times in my life I should have been in the hospital.

I've spent most of my life fighting to stay away from bronchitis.

I've literally (now) gone to the doctor, thinking I just had a "weird" cough--and left with the diagnosis of atypical pnuemonia (that would have turned into typical pneumonia if I had not caught it so early).

I've had plurisy for years.

So--let me see if I can describe for all of those not in the "know" what it is like to not be able to breathe:

You know those commercials where they talk about asthma--and show the fish out of water--ya--kind of like that.

But--how would you know if you've never experienced it?

I've literally walked into rooms--or outside from warm air to cold--and it's like my bronchial tubes all of a sudden don't know how to work.

Sometimes I have wheezing. Unfortunately, that's typically what people think of as "asthma"--

But ashtma is NOT ALWAYS WHEEZING!!!

Luckily--I was able to see a wonderful asthma/allergy specialist in UT--who taught me some of the symptoms/side effects of asthma that are typically not connected.

Things like high susceptibility to every upper chest respiratory infection known to man.

Getting the hic-ups a lot.

Getting a major side-ache EVERYtime you run, or sprint, or do major physical activities (this is a sign cause the muscles are not getting enough oxygen--thus they cause pain)

Sometimes asthma hurts.

Sometimes ashtma DOES NOT HURT!!!

Sometimes an asthma attack is set off. Typically, mine are connected to illness or allergies--or other things that "set it off" (second hand smoke is a big one)

But sometimes--you can just be walking a long--and you can get one.

Some people can "exercise" through their asthma.

Some cannot (I would typically be one of those).

Remember: asthma is inflamation of the bronchials. NOT the lower lungs--NOT the esophogus. NOT mucus (although mucus makes the inflammation worse if it's already there).

Being oxygen deprived is not fun.Luckily, most of the time--now that I live outside of UT--I don't experience quite as often as I did in UT. The high elevation didn't help (which I did not recognize until after I moved away from it!) It can lead to lowered "brain" functioning (I've experienced this--it's not fun). It can lead to nausea (typically this is when I've been having an asthma attack--coughing a lot--not fun). It can lead to heavy chest, chest pain (typically from coughing too much or very strongly), and lowered problem solving (cause you're more worried about breathing).

It can lead to higher level of fatigue--which is no fun--especially if you're a typically energetic person.

Just going from warm inside air to cold outside air can set it off (which NO ONE ever seems to understand!)

So--what is my point: well, a--that people who don't know what it feels like to not be able to breath--or have not experienced "really bad" asthma (and lung damage like I have)--please don't assume you know what it's like--cause you don't.

b. Breathing is DANG important!!! It's amazing how quick you learn that when you are having problems doing it.

c. Please don't assume you know how to treat asthma--or that there is a way to "cure" it or "work your way out of it". Doing breathing exercises, playing an instrument, and so forth does nothing for asthma. They don't "strengthen" your lungs. When people say this I can totally see that they HAVE NO CONCEPT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING!!!! Asthma is all about inflamation--not "strength"!!! Even the strongest muscle in the world can become inflamed, and have problems--need treatement!!!

I've had people tell me crap like "well you should just walk it off". Kay--one of the worst things I can do when I'm having an asthma attack--is increase the amount of oxygen I have to take in!!! "Running" it off does not work.

d. Finally--please recognize that every person who has asthma is an individual, and their "illness" is VERY individual. Mine is more "serious" than most. But--I have other friends who have it worse than me. I also have some whose problems are pretty benign. So, just cause you think it "worked for you"--doesn't mean it will work for others.

And finally--the last thing I want to say--is that breathing is important enough that if you or your child are not breathing well--PLEASE SEEK OUT A GOOD ASTHMA DOCTOR (ALLERGY DOCTOR)--AND SEE THEM OFTEN!!!! AND DO WHAT THEY SAY THE BEST YOU CAN!!!

If there is anything that drives me the most nuts (and yes, I even have family members who fall into this club) are those whom know they have asthma--but live in "denial" land about it--and never get the treatment they truly need--never actually know or feel what it means to have their asthma "under control". It's a beautiful feeling--but "denying" it just cause you want to live in "denial" land is stupid! Asthma is dangerous enough it should not be messed with!

And--having asthma under control--means that you don't have to take your emergency inhaler more than once a week (less than that is better). So those taking it 10 plus times a day DO NOT HAVE THEIR ASTHMA UNDER CONTROL!!! This could be just because their asthma has gotten worse--so I'm not suggesting judging here. But--others just don't seek help. And that drives me a little nutty!

So--take a deep breath--and be thankful you can!