The Scoop on this Asthma Business

May 11, 2009

At the beginning of April, I started taking my usual springtime medication, Pulmicort. Normally, I can pass through spring, summer, fall without a single asthmatic incident when I have this medicine. Not this spring. It didn’t work. I landed myself in the doctors office at least 4 times in April and in the ER once. No fun. All of this while being pregnant. I got to a point where I couldn’t control my anxiety over the situation. I was afraid of going to bed, especially. I never knew what type of night I would have. And, I was terrified of being left alone. But, Jeremiah had to go to work and I had two small children to care for. I had to keep going, whether or not I felt like I physically or emotionally could. About 2 weeks ago, I started Advair instead of Pulmicort, Prilosec (heartburn makes asthma worse) and Zoloft for the depression/anxiety this was causing me. I am finally feeling like my old self emotionally again and almost back to my old self physically. I am still having daily asthma symptoms but they are extremely mild and I barely notice them. Hopefully, once the pollen count goes back down and I have had more time on my meds, I will feel 100% again. I feel like I can enjoy my days again and that every moment I am awake isn’t complete torture. And the scary nights of being awake for hours and hours seem to be over. The last night I spent awake and miserable was a little over a week ago and I haven’t taken my emergency inhaler for 9 days. Considering I was taking it every 4-6 hours at one point, I would call this progress. I am praying this good feeling continues and I remain healed through the next allergy season, called ragweed in July/August.

Thank you to all the people who were praying for me. Thank you to the friends who have brought me meals and supported us during this really tough time. You know who you are and can I just say, I love you! Thank you to my family who has come the last 3 weekends to help Jeremiah and I with the kids and keep the house straight. And a huge thank you to my husband who has truly been the most amazing man on earth to me. He stayed up with me when I was scared, prayed with me every night, let me cry all I wanted, went to the ER with me, and has been my personal slave for the last month or so. I am madly in love with that man. I have no idea how I got so lucky to have such great friends/family and an amazing husband, but I am blessed. And most of all, thank you Lord! Thank you for not abandoning me when I was angry with you. Thank you for giving me friends and family that love me. Thank you for giving me a doctor that listens and loves You. Thank you for the miracle of modern medicine and for speaking to me so clearly in times of hopelessness and desperation.

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