Asthma

[Megpia4]

Hello all,

Ive never thought that asthma would be such a dreaded thing. It gets worse and worse everyday. Im glad Ive finally realised that its not an everyday thing to have to take two inhalers, strong antihistamines, nasal spray just to get through the day.

Ive been trying to find a cause to raise money towards and I think Im going to choose Asthma UK!!

My name is Megan and I have had asthma since I was 4... it wont go away but its controlled.

Thanks Meg!

[hilary39]

It's so hard to be on so much medication all the time. I empathize! I take Symbicort 400, Spiriva, Zyrtec, and nosespray every day and still have a lot of symptoms. I just started Xolair but have had some wonky side effects so I'm not sure it's the right fit for me (which is a bummer since it really helps some people.) I know how hard it is! It's great you want to raise money and attention to the issue-

[d2read]

Hi, Meg,

It is hard to be on so much medicine, but I’m grateful we have it (I know it makes me sounds really old), but I remember when I was a child and there was virtually NOTHING to give me to help! Doctors told my mother when I was born not to get attached bec I wouldn’t live until Christmas (pst! I’m still here! My birthday is Saturday and that was 63 Christmases ago!).

Everything about asthma is hard. It’s complicated, it can keep changing on you, it can frustrate you by making meds stop working - inevitably just when you are planning a holiday, or have exams at school. It’s never convenient.

Some of the things I’ve learned that will make the biggest difference, though, may also be the hardest - controlling your triggers, and making sure you are aware as you are developing NEW ones (yes, they will change). I had to accept the fact that I could no longer own a beloved pet - even with allergy shots and pills, it needed a new home. I needed to save and replace mattress/box springs, carpet, needed to buy a large top-quality dehumidifier, keep all my books behind doors or inside plastic bins to reduce dust etc.

I had a tendency to focus on aspects of drugs (extremely important), but largely ignore the aspects of triggers as I grew up and had my own career and home. I had to accommodate my husband’s preferences/needs etc (well, until we divorced😊). Explaining to teachers, then bosses about removing triggers was always tough, whether my mother was doing it, or I was as an adult.

Now, because I have the most severe form of asthma with e-asthma, HES, (and now eosinophil-caused damage to my lungs) and on top of everything else take Xolair and Fasenra.

But guess what?

Since last June’s first Fasenra - zero eos! Xolair, over 7 years, vastly reduced allergies (I only take Zyrtec during the worst pollen periods) - and havent had an allergic asthma attack since spring 2018! Which means my quality of life is improving dramatically - a little bit, every single day!

All this long message can be summed up by saying - don’t give up. Most of us have to rotate the antihistamines/asthma drugs/inhalers we use. Start being ruthless about eliminating triggers - maybe friends and family can help. And get all those friends and family to help you with raising money and awareness!

Hang in there!

Debbie

[IChoose]

Mine started at 4 too. I'm 55 and getting worse with age. But, like you, I'm alive, likely due to big pharma.