My Life as an Asthma Mom

It's that time of year again - Independence Day (or as most people call it - the 4th of July!) I like fireworks as much as the next person - but only aerial fireworks like the cities shoot off for the city festivals. (I'm not a fan of those carnival rides though....) Am I just old and cranky? I only like aerial fireworks and not neighborhood fireworks? Well, yes. I mean - I am old and cranky - but there's a reason why I don't like neighborhood fireworks. About 15 years ago, Son #2 had been outside playing with friends (as kids do during summer.) I looked out to check on the kids and noticed that the neighborhood was suddenly full of smoke from a forest fire about 15 miles away. So, I quickly called all of the kids to come into the house.  Son #2 started coughing, so I started giving him Albuterol breathing treatments. He had already been hospitalized before for asthma (and pneumonia), so I was worried.  As the night went on, he was still co...

This falls under the category of strange but true - losing my voice with asthma. And this happens to be my husband's favorite thing! Ha ha. When I have a severe asthma attack, or get bronchitis or pneumonia, I lose my voice. It usually happens after a bad coughing spell. I can't speak above a whisper.  The first time it happened, I was really surprised. It doesn't seem to last very long -  if I'm sick, it will last for a few days. This was a problem this spring when I had bronchitis. I couldn't call Asthma Doc's office to make a doctor's appointment, because they wouldn't be able to hear me on the phone. So, I had to have whisper to daughter Kitty that I needed her to call Hubby. She told him what was happening, then he called Asthma Doc's office to make an appointment for me. Sigh. If I have a sudden asthma attack and use my inhaler, I can also lost my voice. It will usually last for a few hours. Then, just as sudd...

(Photo of the article from Family Circle Magazine) Do any of you feel like you are embarrassed by asthma? I read an article in Family Circle Magazine about kids that are embarrassed to use their medication. The article was talking about how kids won't take their asthma inhalers, check their blood sugar levels, or give themselves insulin for their diabetes. Why? Well.....I guess because they don't want to look different.  Everyone wants to "fit in". Have your kids felt that way? Most of the times our kids won't tell us even if they DO feel that way. You know, that would mean they would have to talk to us.... But, even adults can feel too embarrassed to use their inhaler in public. I found a scientific paper called "Stigma in the Lives of Asthma Patients: A Review From the Literature."  The researcher looked at all of the scientific studies about the stigma about asthma (embarrassment), and how that affects...