My Life as an Asthma Mom

   This #2 writing under my mother's account. She asked me to write about how I feel about asthma, seeing as how it's easier for me just to write about having asthma instead of telling my mother everything and having her write it, heh. So to start, I'm answering some questions, and I'll try to throw in anything else I feel someone may need. #1. How do I react to having asthma? Well, to be honest, it sucks. I hate it with the all the burning passion of 10,000 Twilight fans. But, I realize there are people with worse problems than me, and I know several of them (i.e. diabetes). There are some times when I wish that I didn't have it (I'd be insane not to), but most of the time I just kinda accept it and move on. #2. Do I ever ask "why me?" Sometimes. It's not too often, but most of the time it comes from having to miss certain events that I could attend otherwise, such as a Scout activity where we'd be going somewhere cold, and I had been having p...

      Don't get me wrong, I love my insurance company - except for a few little details. They seem to treat asthma as a one size fits all disease, which of course it's not. Their medical board has decided to no longer cover Xopenex (levalbuterol). It's more expensive than Albuterol, so of course they want everyone to use the cheaper version. Son #2 (severe asthmatic) is sick again. Asthma Doctor was out of the office, so we went to the Pediatrician. He sort of squinted his eyes at Son #2 and said:     "I know how sick your son gets with asthma, we better start him on Prednisone."    I looked at our family's medical file in the doctor's hands, it was shocked to see it was about 3"  thick!    He's on to us.... He knows he has to be aggressive in treating Son #2. The only problem is my son's Xopenex inhaler and nebulizer vials have just expired. And insurance is no longer covering them. Pediatrician suggested I call the pharmacies and ...

  I just read an interesting little paragraph in Reader's Digest magazine. It was talking about a new book that had come out, called Stress Less: The New Science That Shows Women How to Rejuvenate The Body and Mind, by Thea Singer. The article talks about repeated stress, and how most people know that it puts them at higher risk of multiple diseases.    But here's the quote that caught my eye:     "What we didn't know till now was that it actually physically ages us - all the way down to the DNA in our cells...Chronic stress literally gnaws at our DNA- it's tips or "telomeres" to be precise- speeding up the rate at which our cells age by an alarming ten years or more."    YIKES! I had heard that research years ago on one of the national news stations, but it's good to hear as a reminder. So, what do we do as asthma moms? Find what works for you to relieve stress: lunch out with friends movie night with hubby or friends watching a funny movie gett...

Another asthma attack in the family    This time it wasn't me, it was Son #2. I have to rewind a little to explain. I don't go to the salon that often, but my naturally curly hair is getting a little wild, so I decided it was time for a trim. I had an hour where I thought I could fit in a trip to the salon. Well, no sooner was I under the sink and had a sudsy head, then my cell phone started to ring. I apologized and told the stylist I needed to check my phone because my kids have asthma.   I was sure it was Hubby calling, or a friend but thought I better check just to make sure. But, it was Son #2. He has severe asthma and has been hospitalized 8 times (2 of those were ICU admissions.)   Once in a while, he will send a text from school during lunch if he needs something.    This was a phone call, so I knew something was up. I called him back, and he was having problems and some weird symptoms. So, now what?    I'm sitting in a cape with dripping ...

      Some of the things I find in common with other moms is that asthma really controls all aspects of your life. You can plan a vacation, night out, family outing, etc - and all that can go out the window when one of the kids has an asthma attack or is sick with a respiratory infection. I still have times that when I hear my kids cough, my heart starts pounding. I say, "Who's coughing?!"    Sometimes the kids will say "Mom, chill! I just swallowed wrong!" Other times, I can see by the worried look on their face that something is seriously wrong. Things aren't as bad now, but when they were little, I would have to carefully screen who came over to the house to play. A friend with a runny nose? Coughing? Sneezing?    Nah, y'all go back home   I would have to call the parent and say, "please come get your child." I would try to explain that a cold to a 'normal' person is just that - a cold.    For someone with asthma, it often times can...

         Calling all asthma moms! I would like to hear from any moms of kids with asthma. What are your stories of managing your kid's asthma? I was visiting with two fellow asthma moms the other day, and we found that we were all experiencing similar problems and stresses with our kids and their asthma.    Respiratory infections, After Hour trips to the Pediatrician, trips to Urgent Care, trips to the ER, and hospitalizations for asthma.    Spring and summer allergies and allergy shots (immunotherapy) Asthma attacks at school from other students bringing pet dander on their clothing.    Monthly visits for an expensive injectible asthma biologic   I would like to hear what other asthma moms think and feel. Do you feel uneasy when one of your kids start a runny nose, thinking 'I know what's coming next, an asthma flare, doctor's visits and probably a trip to the hospital. Do people think you are a paranoid, hypochondriac mom th...

        Asthma Doc just order labs for Son #2, he said the blood can be a good window into what's going on in the body. Son #2's Vitamin D level is WAY below where it should be.    Average levels are between 30-60, and my son is below 30. Low Vitamin D levels can only be  diagnosed from a blood draw, and I know needles are scary for some people. Needlephobia is a real phobia.    But sometimes, that's the only option for a medical test. Asthma Doctor recommends a Vitamin D supplement twice a day for Son #2. We are also encouraging my son to spend as much time outside as possible. I can often be heard saying turn off the video games and go outside - it's a nice day!   This should be an all around 'win' for my pale son who rarely sees the light of day. What?! Leave the computer and World of Warcraft?! For the record-we don't allow computer play on school days, and limit the time on weekends. But he also likes to read -but he can read outsid...