What?! You're still sick?

 

Don't you hate it when you get sick, and people say, "Are you STILL sick?!" 

My friends with asthma won't ever say that....they know better! They know that when we get sick, it lasts about a month.

 It's people who DON'T have asthma who can't figure why we are still sick.

Normal People (no asthma) when they are sick

Those without asthma are usually sick for a day or two - a week at the most. They are annoyed thanks to a stuffy or runny nose, and sneezing. And they might use a little sleep here and there.

Then they're back at school or work and carrying on with normal life.

People with asthma when they are sick 

While our friends or family members have recovered, our misery is just starting. At the one week mark, most of us with asthma are still Best Friends with our nebulizer, and we're doing breathing treatments every 4 hour around the clock. Hello 2am Breathing Buddy!

And we're coughing so hard we are about to pull a muscle in our rib cage/break a rib/or are coughing so hard we throw up.

Case in Point

After 2 1/2 years, my husband and I finally caught COVID. 

The Hubby doesn't have asthma, so he was sick for a few days. He was really just was annoyed with congestion and couldn't sleep well because of a stuffy nose. When he started a runny nose, he complained that he felt like a snotty little 3 year old. 

But really, it was just an annoyance for him.

Meanwhile, I was doing a telehealth visit with my doctor so I could get additional help.I manage my asthma by taking a daily, controller inhaler to keep the swelling down in my lungs. Since I inhale the medicine from the inhaler, it goes straight to my lungs where I need it. 

But - when I get a bad respiratory infection, I sometimes need an oral steroid. Since it's an oral treatment, it can cause short term and long term problems. Since I swallow the pills, it goes through every system in my body - stomach, liver, bloodstream, heart, lungs, etc. All that medicine just to get the swelling down in one place - my lungs! 

But a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

I was still doing breathing treatments and was so weak that I had a nebulizer stashed on each level of the house for easy access.

I also qualified for an antiviral. I have severe asthma and was in the ER 6 months ago for asthma (I'm looking at you California wildfire smoke.....) My doctor didn't want to take any chances of me ending up back at the hospital.

I was flooded with friends dropping off fruit and veggies, flowers and ice cream. 

And they would all cheerily ask "Are you better yet?"

I would give them a raspy "NO!"

They would look at me and say "Really?!"

All you asthma peeps - how long are usually sick with a respiratory infection? For me and my kids, it's at least a month. 

What is your experience?