My Life as an Asthma Mom

  I am one of those people who can never have enough plants.  I go to the grocery store with my list.....but always swing by the plant section. You know - just in case they have a plant I don't have yet 😉 So when I was in DC for work, I just had to stop by the US Botanical Garden . I was planning on spending hours in there. I felt like a kid in a candy store!  I entered the main floor, and could feel my stress melt away. My job is very stressful (chronically) so I needed a little recharge for my soul.  It was humid inside, but not too bad. It's what I expected from a giant sized greenhouse. The tropical plants and meandering stream reminded me of Hawaii. I was a little worried about the heat and humidity, but my lungs seemed to be okay.  Did you know that heat and humidity can trigger an asthma attack?    Sigh.  I noticed a 2nd floor in the greenhouse and couldn't resist a stroll through the tree tops. As I stepped off the elevator, I could feel...

 I'm a little slow in posting this, but May is Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month!  My family had the privilege of attending Allergy & Asthma Day on Capitol Hill, in Washington DC, sponsored by Allergy & Asthma Network.    Did you know that your representatives aren't experts in all areas of life? They rely on hearing from their constituents. Most of the aides we spoke to didn't know anything about allergies or asthma, and how our lives can be impacted by it.  So I share stats about allergies and asthma, and my family shares stories about when they were in the hospital for asthma (12 times) and how scary it can be. We are hoping that sharing our story and those of others will help our reps understand what the allergy and asthma community needs.   I know that I am in a position where I can advocate for those of you who couldn't attend in person. But - good news! You can use social media and tag your reps! (It's not as scary as it sounds!) Allergy ...

     Isn't it crazy that we are still using the same delivery device for epinephrine? Auto injectors. Can't they develop a new way for us to get epinephrine? There are two options in the works. One is an oral film, and one is a nose spray. Oral Film  The oral film just received "Fast Track" designation from the FDA.   A press release says : "U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to AQST-109, the first and only orally delivered epinephrine-based product candidate for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis." The film will be about the size of a postage stamp and will go under the tongue. It will dissolve immediately (no water needed, and it doesn't need to be swallowed.) How cool is that? I don't know about you, but carrying a twin pack of auto-injectors is a pain. I have to carry a large purse for my auto-injectors, inhaler and spacer, plus the assorted mom things (gum, bandaids, t...

  I was just chatting with a group of writers, and we were talking about "gross topics."  Should we write about them or not? Well, if it can help someone feel like they're not alone - why not?! One of those gross topics I brought up is allergies. For those of you with allergies, you may know what I'm talking about.  Mucus (aka Snot)  We all make mucus (and some of us make more than others.....)  And you may make more mucus during certain times of the year.  Spring is always fun for a lot of people. I was recently at a work conference near one of the beautiful national parks. My husband and adult son tagged along so they could go hiking and exploring.  The morning after my conference, we were in the hotel room getting ready for breakfast. My son asked if I was okay? I was a little confused, but then my husband said, "She's fine. She sounds like this all the time." I had blown my nose 4 times before breakfast, and still had a lot of congestion. But I did...

      I was listening to The Today Show while I was getting ready for work. I stopped in my tracks when I heard them talking about Medical Gaslighting.  That was a new term, so I had to listen to see what they were talking about. I have heard of gaslighting before, but not MEDICAL gaslighting. Psychology Today says gaslighting is a form of manipulation and psychological control. Victims are deliberately given false information that leads them to question what they know about themselves. They may end up doubting their memory, perception, and sanity.  The Today Show segment focused on how women are not believed when they go to their doctor. Some doctors may not listen to the patient - and instead just chalk up the symptoms to a woman being depressed, anxious, or just fat. New flash - you can be overweight and STILL have medical problems.... One woman was overweight and her doctor repeatedly dismissed her complaints of stomach and back pain. She went through thi...

  As I look back over the last 22 years (when our asthma journey began) all I can think is WOW. How did I make it through all those years?? My introduction to being an asthma mom was having my then 5 year old admitted to the hospital....and then finding out he had asthma. What?! Trying to learn the asthma lingo (what's a controller inhaler, reliever inhaler, spacer, nebulizer and a breathing treatment?!) Trying to make my home allergy & asthma friendly. See ya carpet! Trying to find the right doctor (Asthma Doc definitely managed their asthma differently than the pediatrician!) Hovering to make sure my kids took their controller inhaler every morning and every night   Calling dibs as room parent so I could see what was going on in my kid's classrooms. (Looking for class pets, stinky art projects, or anything else that could set off their asthma.) Volunteering to go on field trips (yeah.....they're not going to the zoo or state fair without me. I KNOW my son or daughte...

  Is it OK to ask my doctor for a different inhaler?  Well....the short answer is yes.  Don't like your inhaler? Want to try a different kind? It's perfectly OK to ask your doctor about that! Some organizations are trying to encourage doctors to slow down and listen to patients preferences. And part of that is deciding WITH your doctor what is best for you. Shared Decision Making  Allergy & Asthma Network and CHEST have created a tool that allows clinicians and patients to work together to find the best treatment.  The patient tells the doctor their preferences, and the doctor figures out their labs and bio markers.  That helps them figure out the best medicine for their asthma.  They say: "Targeted therapies + shared decision = personalized medicine" Here's an example of what you fill out as a patient Pretty easy, right?  Having a say in what inhaler you take for your asthma is important.  If you don't like it, you won't use it - right?...