My Life as an Asthma Mom

  Sometimes I really hate asthma!  My last article was about being in the ER due to wildfire smoke from California's Dixie fire.Our state is full of smoke, and the air quality level is "red" which means "unhealthy for all". I was being careful and staying indoors.I kept the AC on in the house, keep the windows closed, and used the recirculating air setting in my car.  But - I was in a work meeting and the building filled up with smoke. It smelled like a campfire!  My lungs just couldn't recover. Two days later, I was in the ER. Steroids in the hospital  For those of you who have had a severe asthma flare, you have probably had oral steroids in the hospital. They can be given as a liquid, in a shot form, or in an IV.) It is vital to get the inflammation down quickly in the lungs, and steroids help with that. But it's nasty stuff due to the side effects. After I was discharged, I had to have a week's worth of oral steroids (prednisone.) Those also have

  One of the most important things I teach families in my asthma education workshops, is that if you ever think to yourself:  "I wonder if I should go to the hospital?" The answer is YES! Like many places this summer, our state is full of heavy, thick smoke from the California fire ( Dixie fire. ) We have had smoke in our state several times this last month. On Friday, our air quality was listed as the #1 Worse Air Quality in the World . Yes, the world.  That day, I was at a work meeting, and I thought I could smell smoke. I glanced out the door and saw that the valley was suddenly full of smoke. And that smoke was coming into the building. I quickly took two puffs of my inhaler, excused myself, and drove to my office. But, when I got to my office, I could smell smoke in there too.  I headed home because I knew it safe with a clean furnace filter and free standing air purifiers.  But the damage to my lungs was already done.  I didn't feel well and continued using my Albut