My Life as an Asthma Mom

  I hate going to the pharmacy and having them say, "Your total is going to be $350 - is that okay?"  NO, it's not okay! This happened to me last week. I know that means they haven't entered the coupon code for my inhalers.  When Asthma Doc sends this year's prescriptions to the pharmacy, she will enter a coupon code. However, she told me that my chain pharmacy has been instructed to NOT enter coupon codes.  Not sure why they refuse to process the coupon code, but I will be switching to a local pharmacy now.  Coupons for inhalers Many people don't know that the companies that make inhalers will often have coupons for their inhaler.   If people don't know they are overpaying, they might just swipe their card, grab their prescription, and then leave for their next errand.  I refuse to do so, because there's no reason to pay full price when the pharmacy won't enter the coupon.  Before I go to the pharmacy, I will search the name of my inhaler + ...

 Many people have been waiting for years for this new Albuterol inhaler!  What makes this inhaler such a big deal? This new inhaler has TWO medicines in it: 1. Albuterol - this medicine helps relax the smooth muscle bands that wrap around the outside of the small airways in the lungs 2. Budesonide - this medicine is a corticosteroid (works like an anti-inflammatory) to reduce the swelling in the lungs The reason this is important is that most people rely on an Albuterol inhaler when they have an asthma attack, but it's only a Bandaid approach (because it doesn't help the swelling in the lungs) If you are still confused Here's a low cost visual aid I use for patients Normal Airways The left side of the photo is a paper towel tube, wrapped in pink craft paper. It shows what it is like to breathe when our airways are open - there is a LOT of room to breathe through that tube!  Notice the rubber bands around the outside? Those show what the smooth muscles look like. When ou...

  Last month, Daughter had emergency surgery. We were in the ER when the ER Doc said there was a specialist in the hospital and he could page him for a consultation. Specialist said my daughter's condition would need emergency surgery, and Daughter agreed. Even though it was late at night, they were able to page surgery staff so the surgeon could operate on my daughter.  The Hubby barely had time to make it to the hospital and wish Daughter luck before the staff whisked her away for surgery.  Afterwards, I stayed with her in her hospital room, and the nurse gave Daughter an incentive spirometer. She told Kitty to use it once an hour to prevent any complications with her lungs.  This is one type of spirometer:   Nurse told her to use the mouthpiece and slowly inhale to get the colored balls to hover. Nurse told her to repeat that several times, and it will help to keep her lungs open.  Due to Daughter's pain level, she couldn't use it every hour, and her lun...

 Asthma is a tricky disease. It changes over time, especially as age and hormones change. When boys are younger, they are more likely to end up at the doctor's office, ER, or even be hospitalized thanks to asthma.  Once puberty hits, rates switch to women having higher rates of doctor visits, ER visits, and being hospitalized for asthma.  1/3 of women will also have asthma flares just before their period. Which is concerning that some women can plan on having an asthma flare once a month... Women seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to asthma. Cleveland Clinic says: “Women are hospitalized twice as frequently as men for asthma and their mortality is twice as high," It's a sobering thought to know that women are twice as likely to die from asthma as men.    What researchers are finding Researchers report that women with endometriosis have higher rates of asthma - due to an imbalance of estrogen . A study reviewed records from almost 3 million wom...

  This is a common question I have been asked over the years, "I'm having a hard time breathing, how do I know if it's asthma or anxiety?" Anxiety and stress are known asthma triggers. If you have ever had an asthma attack, you know how it can be scary and stressful it can be.   You can't breathe, so you have anxiety - and the anxiety can make an asthma attack worse, and.....around and around we go.  It can be like asking "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"   Symptoms of anxiety from Mayo Clinic: Breathing fast (hyperventilating) Increased heart rate  Feeling tired or weak Feeling tense, restless, or nervous  Trembling Trouble sleeping There are more symptoms listed on their website   Some of these CAN sound like asthma....     Symptoms of an asthma attack from Mayo Clinic:   Short of breath Wheezing when you exhale (remember: some of us don't wheeze!) Chest pain or chest tightness  Coughing or wheezing that get ...

 Life is unpredictable  My college aged daughter was having some medical problems and was unable to drive herself to the hospital, so I took drove her there and stayed with her It's always amusing when moms of young kids tell me that I'm so lucky that my kids are "all grown up and they don't need me anymore" 🙄  Most parents don't stop being a parent when their kids turn 18. Granted, there may be parents who do tell their kids that they are on their own when they finish high school....... But I have tried for years to keep my kids alive (literally). My three kids have had a combined total of 5 surgeries and 15 hospitalizations. My job was to watch over them and advocate for them. But things are different when they are over 18 I told my daughter that I am there to help and support her. But - since she is over 18, the doctors will talk to her and she gets to make all of the medical decisions  As we waited in the ER, I realized that I was unprepared. My phone was...

 It's Back to School time and many parents are searching for "asthma inhaler brands" so they know what their child needs to have for school.  As a nationally Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) with decades of experience, this is what a specialize in - helping people learn more about asthma!   I also have asthma, and raised three kids with asthma. Asthma is the focus of my life personally and professionally.  The graphic at the top shows each Albuterol inhaler that is on the market, along with the brand name.  But let's take a closer look! Proventil The brand name for the YELLOW inhaler is "Proventil" (which is an Albuterol inhaler). It's an MDI (Metered Dose Inhaler), which it means it has a measured dose of Albuterol that uses a propellant. The Albuterol comes out of the inhaler at over 50 mph. So, it's important to inhale s-l-o-w-l-y to get the medicine to go down deep into the lungs. If you inhale fast, the Albuterol will land in the back of your...