Wheezing, Hacking, and Gasping
I was a child asthmatic. A bad one. And to go with this:
- I was constantly running and playing sports;
- We lived on several acres with every inflammatory weed;
- This was before Serevent inhalers.
There were so many nights that I would lie on the floor or on my bed gasping for breath. I remember one time in particular, at my uncle and aunt’s house, when I thought I’d die. My parents tried everything (including doctors and chiropractors) to try to bring relief. I learned to hate the word “pollen.” And we learned how to build a makeshift sauna with steam nearly anywhere.
Mostly I’ve grown out of asthma, but some allergies have hung on. Spring is still hard here with cedar and weed in the air. But now there are such wonderful things as Claritin-D, Singulair, and Advair inhalers.
Every time I see a child wheezing or an older person struggling with a cannula to get enough air, I sympathize.
What a wonderful thing a full breath of air is. It’s a gift not to be overlooked.
Stop and enjoy. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
My brother and I suffered from croup as young children. A hot running shower, boiling tea with no sugar, and a horrible thing called Save the Baby- basically turpentine- were all that got us to the next breath. It is a very scary thing to not be able to breathe. 25 years later I can still feel the terror.
From a fellow asthmatic, AMEN!
My asthma has gotten worse with age. But I like you praise God for good meds! Maxflo, Singular and Zyrtec.
It’s been horribly dry and hot in Alabama FOREVER! A good steady rain would certainly make my breathing easier.
The way I feel during an asthma attack is also the way I feel when sin and stress get a strangle hold on me.
I’m not a respiratory therapist, but a recovery room nurse, and as we say every day, BREATHING IS GOOD! I just Hate to get out the ambu bag, but have many many times. I attempt to reassure the patient that this will get better soon, with medications wearing off and other meds added. Just having a hand to hold helps. The inability to breathe while conscious is terrifying.
I am glad you didn’t die that time at your aunt’s house. Many people have done just that with an asthma attack.
Our daughter is mildly asthmatic. She will run into home at her softball games, make a U-turn and trot back to her 3rd base coach who is holding her inhaler, take a puff and go to the dugout. We are trying to find a “holster” for her to wear on her athletic pants (if allowed) so that it can be with her at all times on the field/court – at least for practices. One of her classmates uses some sort of cell phone or pocket knife case that clips to her waist band. The medical supply stores we’ve checked all agree a puffer case would be a great idea but there is no such thing yet. Any ideas?
No asthma experience here – save for exercise induced
However, I am stopping by to see if ya’ll who are reading would stop by my blog today and pray for me and the Colorado Statewide Homeless Count, which begins tonight. I’ve got the specific requests mapped out on my most recent post.
Thanks in advance!
Heather
Mike and other LL World Series Fans-
Who do you like in the game tonight? I posted a lengthy post on my blog this weekend about why I love the LL world series and tonight should be another reminder of all those things.
I’m picking Georgia because of Kyle Carter. I say it will be 5-3 Georgia…….crooked hat and all!
From one asthmatic to another, my empathy.
My tossed salad of meds? Atrovent, Allegra, Singulair, Zyrtec, plus Albuterol & Flonase as needed.
However, I’m not too happy with myself – since my adult asthma came on as a result of a several decade nasty habit. It took moving out on the prairie of West Texas to break it, so am 3-1/2 years poison free. PTL!! \o/
I remember one time on a trip as a child we came back through Toledo, Ohio. It was very smoggy and I couldn’t catch my breath. I lay in the back seat as my dad sped home. He was worried and lit a cigarette as I gasped for air. Back 50 years ago he just didn’t know. I awoke about an hour later at home in our driveway.
Any prognosticators out there stop by my blog and give your prediction for the LL World Series championship game tonight.
And it’s not betting, don’t worry, your grandma won’t get mad.
This post made me think of Sarah Lynn during communion one morning belting out in full throat, “This is the Air I Breathe.” I recall she did it from her seat. By herself. A cappella.
As much as our family loved those Saturday praise nights, that may have been my favorite Sarah Lynn moment of all.
I learned to swim at Camp Wyldewood as a child and during the process I remember swimming underwater from the shallow end with my eyes closed. When I came to the top for air, there was no bottom to the pool, because I had swam too far into the deep end. I couldn’t tread water yet and I gasped for air as I continued to sink, flailing in panic. An alert lifeguard dove in and rescued me, thankfully, but I will never forget those scary moments gasping for air and not being able to take a breath.
The asthma didn’t seem to slow you down any during club flag football at H.U. You were very alusive.
HW
Check the cellphone/pda/mp3/digital camera aisle at WalMart. We just bought a clip case and I noticed lots of size and style options.
Thank GOODNESS the law has changed so students can carry their own emergency meds. My son would have to trek to the nurse, gasping, throughout elementary and middle school. So many laws are passed to “protect” us from ourselves defying common sense!
Freda – Sadly, many states STILL do not allow children to carry or self-administer their own meds. HW & I are fortunate to live in IL where we can. My son carries both an inhaler & an Epi-Pen, due to peanut allergies, to school every day in his backpack. There is still a little twinge of fear in me as I send him off somewhere that I am not in control of his health, but I trust that he is in God’s hands. Saying a prayer for ALL the kids’ health & safety in school today…
Freda
Thanks so much. I’ll check it out. Of course if we could develop it ourselves and sell Nike the idea, we’d be set for life…..
I had asthma in a bad way as a kid, and the central valley in California is a hotbed for allergies. My poor mom and dad spent more than one night with me in the emergency room trying to keep me calm while I was gasping for air. When I see someone struggling with it now (even actors on ER), I get short of breath very quickly and work to calm myself down. Sympathetic asthma, I suppose.
What’s a full breath of air feel like?
In my special ed class today (taught by Evette Orren), we were asked as we introduced ourselves to name someone who inspires us and why. I mentioned you and Diane, and then my teacher told me that she taught Megan! It was a neat connection, and I thought you’d enjoy knowing that. Happy first day of school!
Can’t take a deep breath right now… my Fall allergies are worse than the Spring. Kick in Allegra and Flonase!!!
HW:( http://www.foodallergy.org ) Go to shop for books and gifts. Look at the epinephrine Auto-Injector Carriers. The double holders look like they would work well.
Sinus Drainage Home Remedy:
-1 teaspoon of fresh garlic in 6 oz. of hot water (grate it our use a press then strain it before adding the vinegar)
-steep for 10 minutes
-Add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
-Honey to taste (raw if you have it)
If you can drink it it helps!
When my asthma (or croop) brought me to that point of gasping for breath, my Dad’s remedy was coal oil (kerosene) and sugar. Sugar didn’t help much; I remember not being able to get the kerosone taste out of my mouth for hours. But then, I also remember breathing! Small price to pay.