Imagine my surprise when as an adult, I was diagnosed with Asthma. It was very alarming.
About 15 years ago, I took a hike in the Mt. Rainier area to Spray Falls. Being the active person that I am I didn't understand why I was short of breath when traversing up the mountain and had to keep stopping. I think it was the longest hike I ever did. Somehow I eventually made it to the top and was able to take a ton of pictures. To this day Spray Falls is one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen. Sadly, I haven't been back yet!
Weeks after my hiking trip, I was still experiencing shortness of breath. Why was this happening suddenly? It made no sense! I was a little scared.
My allergist advised me that I had asthma. How could I have asthma? I'm an adult. How could this be? Why was this happening to me?
I was sent home with a preventive inhaler for daily use and an emergency inhaler to use during an attack. Even though I had the preventive inhaler, I refused to use it. I was still in denial that I needed it. I happened to be out on the trail one day with my husband and experienced a severe asthma attack. For some reason I had the preventive inhaler with me and not the emergency inhaler. Of course, the preventive one doesn't work during an attack. I managed to survive.
I took that episode very seriously and started using my preventive inhaler twice daily. I felt better but my voice disappeared. I didn't really care about my voice at that point. I was grateful that I could breath.
After using the higher dosage for a while, I was able to switch to a lower daily dosage. After doing that for a while, I felt like my asthma was gone forever and stopped using my meds. I was so happy that I was cured and could go on with normal life. After about a week, my asthma returned with a vengeance and the attacks got the best of me. I was spending the nights in hotels and hanging out in movie theatres and malls just so I could have some air. I didn't have air conditioning at my condo. This could not continue. I had to do something.
I started using the inhaler again and have been using it for years on a daily basis. Actually now I am down to a puff every other day. When the flare ups occur, I go back to taking 2 puffs per day. There are emergency puffers and preventive puffers stashed around the house and in the cars. I never know when I'm going to have an attack.
Panic is the worst thing that anyone can do during an asthma attack because it makes the condition worse. Here are some helpful hints that I learned along the way that I'm happy to share.
1. Don't panic, go to a designated quite place (mine was my bedroom) and puff, lie down, and RELAX.
2. Jump in the shower and breathe in the steam to open your lungs, or get a vaporizer for your bedroom and turn it on.
3. Outside COLD air can set off an attack. Don't go outside.
4. Drink hot water every day. You will make your lungs happy. Cold water can make you tight.
5. Don't EVER STOP using your daily inhaler "cold turkey". Talk to your doctor before making any changes.
6. Don't overeat! You might feel pressure on your lungs.
7. Stash emergency inhalers in your bedroom, family room, purse, and in your cars. Take them with you when you go anywhere.
8. Put hardwood floors into your house.
9. During pollen season, keep your windows closed. Install air conditioning if you can afford to.
10. HEPA filter vacuum cleaners are a great way to remove the dust. Other vacuums might redistribute the dust throughout your house.
Do not hesitate to contact your doctor if you experience breathing problems or think you might have asthma.
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