My Life as an Asthma Mom

  Most of us know the basics of managing asthma - taking your controller or reliever inhalers morning and night.  And using an albuterol inhaler or a nebulizer for a breathing treatment when you are sick or having an asthma attack.    But what about the invisible workload in managing a disease?    Making appointments  There is a new system at my doctor's office for being able to schedule an online appointment, but the system doesn't actually work. I made an appointment online, but as the time got closer, I didn't get a reminder or link to check in.  So I'm stuck on hold waiting to talk to a receptionist and schedule an appointment. Why is this a lot of work? Because all three of my kids and I had allergy shots twice a week to help desensitize our bodies to everything we are allergic to.  We all had such large and hot welts after injections that we couldn't increase the serum. So we  would be stuck at the same dose for weeks. Which me...

 Most know the basics signs and symptoms of asthma:  Coughing  Wheezing  Shortness of breathe Chest tightness But there are many diseases that can have the same symptoms, but "mimic" asthma. I'll list a few of the most common here, so buckle up!   Asthma mimickers  Alpha-1 - the full name   is Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and it's a genetic disease that can damage the liver and/or lungs. This happens when your body lacks a protein in the blood alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) made by the liver.  This protein protects the lungs from swelling. But it can build up in the liver and cause liver disease. Bronchiectasis   -  this chronic lung disease causes the airways to swell, widened, and sometimes scar. The mucus that normally helps your body get rid of dust germs and other tiny particles you inhale is too thick - which means it's hard to clear out by coughing. That thick mucus can grow bacteria, which leads to more swelling and damage....

  For those of you in the U.S., Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away. That can mean dealing with a large group of extended family members you may not see throughout the year. (And there may be that one certain relative you want to avoid.....) We try to not discuss politics during family dinners.That's sure to start a fight.     But as you are catching up with family members about their life, they may mention medical problems (especially for those of us who are a little *ahem* older) Do allergies & asthma run in your family?  I didn't know there was a family history of asthma on my husband's side until AFTER my son was hospitalized - and THEN diagnosed with asthma.   25 years ago, I remember asking my Pediatrician if it was possible Middle Son had asthma. I had read an article in Parent's magazine about asthma, and all of the signs and symptoms sounded REALLY familiar.  I noticed Middle Son was:  Sicker more often than his older brother a...