- Joined
- Jun 28, 2010
- Messages
- 1,952
I have asked for Smoke and Prayers before, but for those that I care about. Today, I humbly ask for myself. There are many here and elsewhere that have endured so much more than I, and over a longer period of time than what I have been trying to overcome. Because of that, I didn't feel it right or comfortable to ask. But I find myself still at a struggle that has had it's ups and downs, and will have a long and slow recovery process. Because of that, I humbly ask for myself.
Asthma has been in my life since I was born. I always hoped I would outgrow it but never did. It was much worse when I was younger and over the past few years had gotten to the point where I would only need my inhaler a few times each year. In November 2012 I did reach a point where my troubled breathing was not relieved by my inhaler. I visit to my doctor had me complete a quick breathing treatment and receive a cortisone shot. It worked.
This past December I felt a "revisit" of that situation, though with more trouble breathing which left me wheezing and short of breath, and coughing. I went back to my doctor, had x-rays of my chest completed (came out ok), received the same treatment and relief did not come. I missed time at work despite attempting to go back. I followed up with my doctor shortly after who prescribed me an antibiotic and different inhaler. Relief did not come. I went back again shortly thereafter, received another breathing treatment, cortisone shot, refill of the antibiotic, a 2nd different inhaler, prescription for a nebulizer and albuterol, and a referral to a pulmonologist.
Because of the time of year, the pulmonologist could not see me until late January. I tried to get in sooner and explained how bad I was feeling but they could not get me fit in. So I continued missing work, staying on my course of treatment, and resting until then. Surprisingly, early January I felt a much improved change in my breathing and thought the medications were finally working. I was able to return to work 4 full days. Unfortunately, by the last day my symptoms (Shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest pains, lightheaded, trouble sleeping, low energy level, migraines) had returned and were in full force by that evening. Constant short movements (work related), minimal walking, or talking in a normal conversation had me sucking for air. Over the next week I ended up in ER twice. All I received was long breathing treatments (about an hour or so), IV feeds (with a steroid fed through it as well), additional x-rays (came out okay again), and blood work. I was there both times about 6-7 hours but never admitted overnight. The second time almost kept me but released me to see my pulmonologist the next day. Both ER visits, I felt a little improved relief after the long breathing treatments but they were short lived my symptoms usually returned within 30 minutes. This was explained upon my second visit. The only reason why I had not returned immediately after was new prescriptions of medications and antibiotics were given to me and I felt they might need time to work.
The pulmonologist visit had me being evaluated and completing a series of lung function tests and began treating me for a respiratory infection. I received 2 additional antibiotics, a 3rd different inhaler, and other medications (including starting probiotics). Kept out of work for a week until re-evaluation. When I returned, the pulmonologist noted improvement in the way my breathing sounded, though physically, I did not feel much better. I was kept out another week to continue treatment and rest. Upon returning, the pulmonologist noted more improvement, and I felt better than I did at the previous visit. At this time he wanted to send me for labwork to test for allergens. After receiving the results and being checked over the pulmonologist noted my breathing had worsened from the previous visit. I was given a cortisone shot, and then sent to an allergist for further evaluation and to assist in the pulmonologist's treatment.
At the allergist, my breathing had worsened to the "level" I was at when I first visited the pulmonologist. I had to complete a couple of additional lung function tests. I was given a breathing treatment and a different short term nebulizer treatment. The next day I returned to receive a long lasting cortisone shot. The allergist explained that all of the previous cortisone/steroid (via IV) shots I received were only short term acting. I was told they didn't give my lungs the needed window to allow the medications and antibiotics I had been taking enough time to do what they needed to do. Asked me back for a follow-up in two days and said I should be feeling much better by then. Went back and was showing no improvement. The allergist was confused, stated I should be showing improvement. Started thinking it might be heart related. He checked my pulse in both arms to see if there was any differences. He also requested my x-rays (first primary care pyshician visit in December, as well as the ones taken at both ER visits). Everything checked out. The allergist then consulted with the pulmonologist by phone while I waited in the room. When he returned he explained they were ordering up an Arterial Blood Gasses test. I then left to have that completed at a near by diagnostics lab and returned to await the results. When the allergist returned to my room he said he again consulted with the pulmonologist and they both agreed it to be acute severe asthma. In short it is when asthma does not respond to standard medications and steroids. He said it's kind of rare and one of only a few cases he was personally seen. I was placed on a larger dose of an antibiotic that I was taking and told to follow up with the pulmonologist the following week. If the extra dose of antibiotics did not work I would then have to be admitted for stay and treatment in the hospital.
Followed up with the pulmonologist and I was showing improvement. Was told to try going back to work the following week and see how I feel, with a follow up in 4 weeks. I attempted to go back to work but only made 3 days out of the week, and they were not full days. Despite being on light and restricted duty, the small and minimal movements I made in my work were enough to trigger my symptoms. I continued to do my treatments and take all of my medications while resting. The following week I was able to work my full schedule (still restricted, light duty). This week I missed 2.5 days due to symptoms and a visit to my primary care physician. The other night I woke up wheezing, and I just finished the short term nebulizer treatment two days ago. Since then I have noticed my chest is getting tighter more often. Whether that means that my lung function is going to revert I don't know, and I really hope not. Over the next two weeks I have 4 different appointments with my pulmonologist, primary care physician, and 2 new specialists that I have not seen.
I cannot say how much I hate feeling like this, hate having to go to the doctors multiple times, hate having to take all the medications I have had to while spacing them all out with enough time, hate all the money I have spent in co-pays, medications, and everything that my insurance will not cover. The long term antibiotic(s) use has also caused several issues that I am dealing with currently as well.
If and when I am able to get well enough, the pulmonologist wants me to undergo a bronchial thermoplasty. And while I would welcome any positive effects I would receive from that, I am very much not looking forward to extended antibiotic use during treatment and recovery period (9-12+ week process). I would just like to feel like my old self again. To breathe normal and do normal things that many, including myself, take for granted. To not have to deal with the side effects that I have, which some in return have required additional antibiotics. To be able to continue all of the training I had been doing with my dog and take him for walks again. To not feel confined to the house. To hang out with my friends. To go back to bike riding, which I like to do throughout the year. To go back to work full time without restrictions. To go back to school, which had been my plan this semester. To not feel tired and drained from this process. To feel alive.
Asthma has been in my life since I was born. I always hoped I would outgrow it but never did. It was much worse when I was younger and over the past few years had gotten to the point where I would only need my inhaler a few times each year. In November 2012 I did reach a point where my troubled breathing was not relieved by my inhaler. I visit to my doctor had me complete a quick breathing treatment and receive a cortisone shot. It worked.
This past December I felt a "revisit" of that situation, though with more trouble breathing which left me wheezing and short of breath, and coughing. I went back to my doctor, had x-rays of my chest completed (came out ok), received the same treatment and relief did not come. I missed time at work despite attempting to go back. I followed up with my doctor shortly after who prescribed me an antibiotic and different inhaler. Relief did not come. I went back again shortly thereafter, received another breathing treatment, cortisone shot, refill of the antibiotic, a 2nd different inhaler, prescription for a nebulizer and albuterol, and a referral to a pulmonologist.
Because of the time of year, the pulmonologist could not see me until late January. I tried to get in sooner and explained how bad I was feeling but they could not get me fit in. So I continued missing work, staying on my course of treatment, and resting until then. Surprisingly, early January I felt a much improved change in my breathing and thought the medications were finally working. I was able to return to work 4 full days. Unfortunately, by the last day my symptoms (Shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest pains, lightheaded, trouble sleeping, low energy level, migraines) had returned and were in full force by that evening. Constant short movements (work related), minimal walking, or talking in a normal conversation had me sucking for air. Over the next week I ended up in ER twice. All I received was long breathing treatments (about an hour or so), IV feeds (with a steroid fed through it as well), additional x-rays (came out okay again), and blood work. I was there both times about 6-7 hours but never admitted overnight. The second time almost kept me but released me to see my pulmonologist the next day. Both ER visits, I felt a little improved relief after the long breathing treatments but they were short lived my symptoms usually returned within 30 minutes. This was explained upon my second visit. The only reason why I had not returned immediately after was new prescriptions of medications and antibiotics were given to me and I felt they might need time to work.
The pulmonologist visit had me being evaluated and completing a series of lung function tests and began treating me for a respiratory infection. I received 2 additional antibiotics, a 3rd different inhaler, and other medications (including starting probiotics). Kept out of work for a week until re-evaluation. When I returned, the pulmonologist noted improvement in the way my breathing sounded, though physically, I did not feel much better. I was kept out another week to continue treatment and rest. Upon returning, the pulmonologist noted more improvement, and I felt better than I did at the previous visit. At this time he wanted to send me for labwork to test for allergens. After receiving the results and being checked over the pulmonologist noted my breathing had worsened from the previous visit. I was given a cortisone shot, and then sent to an allergist for further evaluation and to assist in the pulmonologist's treatment.
At the allergist, my breathing had worsened to the "level" I was at when I first visited the pulmonologist. I had to complete a couple of additional lung function tests. I was given a breathing treatment and a different short term nebulizer treatment. The next day I returned to receive a long lasting cortisone shot. The allergist explained that all of the previous cortisone/steroid (via IV) shots I received were only short term acting. I was told they didn't give my lungs the needed window to allow the medications and antibiotics I had been taking enough time to do what they needed to do. Asked me back for a follow-up in two days and said I should be feeling much better by then. Went back and was showing no improvement. The allergist was confused, stated I should be showing improvement. Started thinking it might be heart related. He checked my pulse in both arms to see if there was any differences. He also requested my x-rays (first primary care pyshician visit in December, as well as the ones taken at both ER visits). Everything checked out. The allergist then consulted with the pulmonologist by phone while I waited in the room. When he returned he explained they were ordering up an Arterial Blood Gasses test. I then left to have that completed at a near by diagnostics lab and returned to await the results. When the allergist returned to my room he said he again consulted with the pulmonologist and they both agreed it to be acute severe asthma. In short it is when asthma does not respond to standard medications and steroids. He said it's kind of rare and one of only a few cases he was personally seen. I was placed on a larger dose of an antibiotic that I was taking and told to follow up with the pulmonologist the following week. If the extra dose of antibiotics did not work I would then have to be admitted for stay and treatment in the hospital.
Followed up with the pulmonologist and I was showing improvement. Was told to try going back to work the following week and see how I feel, with a follow up in 4 weeks. I attempted to go back to work but only made 3 days out of the week, and they were not full days. Despite being on light and restricted duty, the small and minimal movements I made in my work were enough to trigger my symptoms. I continued to do my treatments and take all of my medications while resting. The following week I was able to work my full schedule (still restricted, light duty). This week I missed 2.5 days due to symptoms and a visit to my primary care physician. The other night I woke up wheezing, and I just finished the short term nebulizer treatment two days ago. Since then I have noticed my chest is getting tighter more often. Whether that means that my lung function is going to revert I don't know, and I really hope not. Over the next two weeks I have 4 different appointments with my pulmonologist, primary care physician, and 2 new specialists that I have not seen.
I cannot say how much I hate feeling like this, hate having to go to the doctors multiple times, hate having to take all the medications I have had to while spacing them all out with enough time, hate all the money I have spent in co-pays, medications, and everything that my insurance will not cover. The long term antibiotic(s) use has also caused several issues that I am dealing with currently as well.
If and when I am able to get well enough, the pulmonologist wants me to undergo a bronchial thermoplasty. And while I would welcome any positive effects I would receive from that, I am very much not looking forward to extended antibiotic use during treatment and recovery period (9-12+ week process). I would just like to feel like my old self again. To breathe normal and do normal things that many, including myself, take for granted. To not have to deal with the side effects that I have, which some in return have required additional antibiotics. To be able to continue all of the training I had been doing with my dog and take him for walks again. To not feel confined to the house. To hang out with my friends. To go back to bike riding, which I like to do throughout the year. To go back to work full time without restrictions. To go back to school, which had been my plan this semester. To not feel tired and drained from this process. To feel alive.
sorry for the pun but figured you could use a smile about now ! Edited to add that I see Fast14riot also felt the same way too...