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Hi All! It's so easy to be there for others, and still hard for me to reach out for help--but here goes! I've been having a terrible time with asthma and allergy problems lately--so much so, that I can't sleep at nights with coughing and shortness of breath. And as a consequence, I'm getting very cranky. I don't like this at all, because it also means having to go to a doctor (which I've always hated) and take medicines that treat the symptoms but aren't any kind of a cure, and the expense of it all triggers all my money worries, and on and on...I "qualify" for Medicare, but can't afford to buy it! And I just keep hearing that there's no cure for asthma! I try to stay healthy by walking fairly regularly, and eating healthy foods, taking vitamins, etc.etc. but it's been so tough for me lately. Of course I want to manage and control what is clearly beyond my control! Now how familiar is that?! But it's new for me to be applying the program to problems of physical ill-health!
Any kind of support, feedback, thoughts, help, suggestions, or just "hello" would be very welcome!
I am a respiratory therapist and one thing you can do to keep your sinuses clean of allergens is saline washes. It's cheap at drug store or Walmart, like 1 something a bottle and spraying it up your nose and blowing it clean. Also hot showers will clean your sinuses. When dusting don't use anything that stirs up the dust, such as dusters. You can also wear a mask. Keeping your bedding clean, especially the pillow case will help you at night, some people get relief from a fan blowing on them as well. As far as asthma there is no cure sorry but you can keep your self out of trouble, avoiding smoke and cold and other obvious triggers for you. Also practicing daily deep breathing and coughing to clear the airways. You can PM me if you need more information on that. Fortunately, albuterol is one of the cheapest drugs around and prednisone when you are in trouble. Medicare does cover the nebulizer medicine without the drug card and the machine. It is a manageable disease. Have you talked to your doctor about samples or pharmacutical plans? Let me know how I can help.
Josey
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Julianne - It's best to move on. You cannot look back in anger in life. It's too short
I tell myself when times are rough, "this to shall pass!!!" Ask HP for guidance, if the door is open, and I know how to look, I will become aware! I also visit http://www.inspiringthots.net/ . Blessings , Your sister in Recovery
Hello Sea , u will be suprised how quickly u feel better when u let go of the things u can't control . like other people hehe. As u let go of the things that are really none of your business there is lots of time to look after you. Getting a diff perspective on the problem makes a diff too sharring a problem with another al-anon member someone who understand make s life a little easier . We al anon s are very responsible people and some how feel we are the reason the world just isn't running right and need to fix it . Comming into this program I have learned taht I am only responsible for how I live my life.
I do not know what is best for other people I only know what works for me. hOpe your feeling a little better physically. Try letting go . Louise
Do you perhaps qualify for Medicaid? Some of the drug companies actually give their medications to those who cannot pay. Docs usually have drug samples they hand out. I hope that you find some lasting help. Take the best care you can. Diva
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"Speak your truth quietly and clearly..." Desiderata
Thanks, jrtjosey! Since you are a respiratory therapist, I take what you say with care, and will do all I can with the advice you offer. I know there is more I could be doing, and will just have to give it the attention it deserves. I'll see how things go for a while--and may take you up on your offer for more info at some point!
Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and good imput! I feel better already, just knowing I'm not alone with this! I'll let you know how things go. I've already started looking into foods that I may be neglecting that are actually helpful with this--at least according to that book about the right food for your blood type. There are things I can do, and things I have to let go to a higher power, just like everything else in life!
My son developed severe asthma in the 4th grade. He is now 24. I did all I could to do the right things for him. I hated seeing him on his breathing machine etc. We removed the carpet from his room and replaced it with flooring. I found some mold killing cleaner and cleaned the walls down etc. I put plastic around his mattress and pillows since they carry alot of allergens. Anything that holds alot of dust etc. was out of the house. No more plants, old books etc. I got a new vacuum cleaner that had a hepa filter in it that didn't pass around dust when vacuuming. I also purchased a hepa filter room cleaner that looks like an ancient dinosaur now :) They have smaller ones that clean the air and work great. Having them in the bedroom is important since that is where a person spends alot of time in breathing and sleeping. We were even able to install a hepa cleaner (april air) in our heater system and get an air conditioner and write it off on our taxes with a doctors prescription. The amount of the humidity in the air is important for breathing problems. Well, some of this was expensive of course but he did actually grow out of it and went on to play sports in high school and college with no breathing problems at all. I can't help but think all we did helped him out too. Research all you can on the internet too. Wishing you all the best. cdb xoxoxoxoxo
I have asthma and I would agree with Jrt that albuterol and prednisone work well and are not that expensive. The fancy inhalers which are advertised all the time are (they are in the hundreds). Mine is caused by allergies to lots of things. An ionizer does not cost that much and helps a lot too. Avoid any exposure to colds and flu so have a hand sanitzer handy and wash your hands often. I have found my asthma very treatable. I was once pretty depressed about it but I now find it manageable. Another good thing while you have a cough is theraflu which has a pretty effective cough suppressant. You can buy generic theraflu's at walmart and more. I think the heat (it is a liqud) helps for lots of reasons. I gag on cough syrup so that does not work for me. Coughing can be exhausting so its best to avoid that as much as possible.
Good for you for reaching out! You are just like me - afraid to ask for help and support. What are we waiting for? These are terrific ideas. For myself, I use alternative medicines like homeopathy. My friend has asthma and severe allergies to cats/dogs. Her doctor changed her meds and she can be in my house now for hours. Keep looking. Building up your exercise capacity seems to help with asthma. Hope you find what works.
Just wanted to let you know that I have a friend who suffers badly with asthma especially when the temperature is humid. He has found that his asthma has improved heaps by taking apple cider vinegar as well as regular medication. Luv Leo xx
Wow! So much good imput here! Thank you all so much! I've got my work cut out for me now, but it's good to be reminded that I need to take care of myself! And that's what I'm gonna do!
seachange u are going to think i am absolutely NUTS, but this is what i did when i was diagnosed with "chronic asthmatic bronchitis"
i was so bad, i couodn't get up the stairs w/out gasping for air..i coughed so bad, wheezed so bad...my doc gave me the "works" re" the meds but finally he told me i was so bad, all he could do was just keep me breathin the best way he could and hope for the best....i had nebulizers/ pills/ nose stuff/ inhaler crap, U name it
finally i was in this used book store and i found this book, "rapid healing foods" by some guy, and the book was UGLY...yellow with purple letters i bought it and devoured it
i fasted on nothing but oranges and water for 31 straight days...i mean i must have eaten 15 oranges per day cuz i was hungry (if not 15, at least 10) anyway, jugs and jugs of water so i was in the john more than i was out...but guess what?? by the THIRD day i was sleeping through the night and peacefully, my body stunk of all the poisons i was getting rid of..my breathe smelled like the bottom of a bird cage, from all the toxins just jumpin out of my body...i sweat like a theif in the confessional, but all that junk, OLD junk comming out of my lungs was amazing, i would cough productive stuff....and my lungs cleared up.....at the end of the 31 days, i began a NEW , and PERMANENT diet of healthy foods.....mostly fruits and veggies.....not together cuz fruits take 1 hr. to digest---veggies up to 4 hrs..........my rule?? if it doesn't grow??? don't eat it.....NO white flour and refined sugar.....VERY sparing on dairy and its organic when i do.....
i went to the doc on day 45 or so and he listened to my lungs and just about fell over on the spot......my lungs were clear and i was on the tennis courts plahying....i was weak for a bit during the fast, but not so bad.........i had lost some weight, but not real glaring weight loss, cuz i ate so many oranges.......
i beat it!!! i watch what i eat becuz i have that "tendency" to alergies, asthma, but NOTHING, ZERO compared to the old....i mean i may wheeze a tiny bit when i get into dust or spray bug killers, and at times i have to use my over the counter inhaler or a benedrex nose inhaler, but i mean little use.....
i burned out all that diseased tissue in my lungs, and have been free since...
also negative emotions can bring this on too, so this recovery work can do NOTHING but help us get better physically
this thing i did was desperte, but i was dying..i felt it..it was "do or die" for me......and i beat it......like i said, a little wheezing / sneasing here and there but thats it....
now i am back being strickt with my healthy diet and my ibs is about GONE.......and i know that that was all the "stored pain" in my body through my emotions........really, i kinda think my back spasms are emotions too, being "gripped up" "worked up" "tightened up--fighting life" brings on the spasms, i am sure.....
take what works and dump the rest, but i swear to you i told u what i did, and it worked for me...i IMPLORE u to use caution in any cleansing fast u do.....consult ur doctor FIRST if it is as radical as mine was.........good luclk, rosie
Thanks Rosie Light! I appreciate you sharing your experience with this. I am also looking for alternative therapies as well as traditional ones, so am very interested in your experience with this. I've done juice fasts in the past--with apple juice and spirulina--and they were cleansing and wonderful. I was able to go up to ten days on that without any cosnequences other than good ones. I've been a bit leary about trying it with this asthmatic condition I now have--and of course not getting support from my regular doctor about this--not out of meanness, he just doesn't have any familiarity with alternative medicine and I'm glad he's honest about that.
I'm looking at everyone's advice here, and will take my time and pray for guidance from my higher power, and just hope to get to a good level of health at least.
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