This is a warning blog post for any of you who have chronic health issues or recurring health problems.
I was diagnosed with the Asthma Triad nearly 40 years ago after my last baby was born, a result of a chemical change caused by pregnancy. it involves mild asthma, polyps, and a fatal allergy to aspirin. (I wear my Medic Alert bracelet 24/7!)
Several years ago I had polyps removed from all my sinus cavities. However, my asthma has been under control for years and years…….and that is when I became complacent, thinking perhaps I was “cured.”
Over the last year or two, I have been very lax about taking my inhaler. Sometimes I only did one puff a day and on other days I forgot it completely. Since my longtime doctor retired last year, I did not even take time to find a new allergy doc.
Then last week happened. I began to have symptoms on Wednesday, but I was leaving Thursday through Sunday for a big conference in Washington, DC. Luckily, I found a PA who gave me some medicine but didn’t seem too worried about my flying, so I went ahead and left.
I just got worse and worse and could not sleep for 4 nights because of all the coughing and the difficulty breathing – really scary (almost thought I needed to go to the emergency room.) When I got home late Sunday night, I realized I was in trouble – it was the worst asthma attack I have EVER had.
I got in to a new doctor Monday early afternoon and nearly expired in their waiting room (or at least that was what they were afraid of ;-). She did a double breathing treatment, put me on high doses of Prednisone, and sent me for a chest X-ray. Now I am left with feeling rotten, hyper, and with a lowered immune system….. and very concerned since I am leaving for Japan for 2 ½ weeks in just 11 days!
My message to you is to be SMART and CONSISTENT in any medication you might need to take. I realize I have been to Iceland, twice to several countries in Europe, and on 5 US trips since March, so I suspect I just ran my immunity down to nothing and allowed the asthma to take over. However, HAD I TAKEN MY MEDICATION CONSISTENTLY, I doubt if this would have happened.
I am now pledging that I will never again be complacent about my health, and I hope you won’t either!
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