Well...

[liralen]

The breathing test shows that I'm at about 65% of my theoretical lung capacity. So I'm almost missing one lung. 70% is functional, but not great, as there's a real risk of fibrosis if it's left at that level. 70% is where there aren't direct asthma attacks, but when a cold comes, it can more easily become bronchitis. Which, pretty much, is now the case. And, yes, I'm below that mark at the moment, so I'm having measurable problems.

The doctor's opinion is that my asthma, while it may be symptomatically good, i.e. usually I'm functional. It's still not under control. *sigh* So he wants me to go on a series of meds in conjunction with the allergy shots, and, hopefully, longterm, we'll get enough function back for me to have more lung capacity. But, good for my engineer's soul, he's doing it as an experiment. I go on the meds for a month, we'll measure at the end of that month. If there is significant improvement, then we'll stick with what he's given me for a while, and check again when I'm on maintenance with the shots.

I'm glad he was willing to work with me on that, as I hate feeling dependent on medications. Ah well.

Comments

[ross-teneyck.livejournal.com]

For one of my classes, I was reading Thich Nhat Hanh's book The Miracle of Mindfulness. He talks about a number of exercises where basically you're supposed to breathe and just be aware of your breathing.

The part that struck me was that when he's talking about, for instance, lying down and breathing deeply, he cautions the reader to ease off if the deep breathing turns out to be too hard. Apparently, most people have never learned to breathe all that well.

Which is pretty astounding, if you think about it. If there's one thing we should be practiced at, it should be that!

All that aside, this kinda sucks. I hope the meds work. Call me selfish, but I like it when my friends are in good health.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're selfish. *grin* Thank you for telling me you care, I always appreciate that.

Yeah, I used to do more tai chi and got a really good long, deep breath then. I think that's when I really got aware of my breathing and how long, slow breaths could just calm me down like magic.

And the asthma has only come back in the last year... so it's still early enough that the doc and I think my lungs haven't frozen to less capacity, yet. So there's a good chance it's reversible. We'll see.

[archangelbeth]

*scritchies*

I had to come to terms some long while back on my little green thyroid pills. It helped me to remind myself that, in my case, it wasn't that I was taking a "drug" -- I was taking something my body should be making, and doesn't, the slacker thyroid! Like a diabetic with insulin, but far fewer needles.

So, well, if you're breathing better, stick with the meds? Because, y'know, I like you and I want you to be breathing and all that.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm coming to that conclusion too. I'd always promised myself that if I had a hormone problem or a brain disease that I'd treat the meds that way... but tonight I was thinking some more about it and figured out what you're saying. That it's just something my body really needs to function to its potential.

Yeah. I'll take the meds religiously and if they do make me better, I'll do my best to stick to 'em. *hugs* And thanks for stating that you want me better. *grin* It's cool to know.

[archangelbeth]

**hugs**

Yay! I'm glad it's on the way to bugging you less and stuff!

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Amen... *grin*

[zangetsugirl.livejournal.com]

I've never looked at the pills as the problem, unless I don't take them. I'm unbelievably lucky--my condition (which is either epilepsy or a seizure disorder, depending on which doctor is talking at the time) is completely controlled by medicine.

I can see where you're coming from with the twitching, though, because being dependent on medications is scary in its own way. But I'm gonna wave my own "I'm being selfish" flag and say that I'd rather see you however it's necessary to be/feel better, even if that means hitching yourself up to the little bottle of drugs. That said, YAY for a doctor that's willing to work with you. Doctors who treat your chart and not you are not fun at all.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Mmm... that's a great way to look at it.

*smile* Thank you for taking up the flag, too! I appreciate that a lot. It's good to know that I'm appreciated and wanted.

Yeah, I have to agree about it being a very good thing having a doctor work with me, I am thankful about that.

[stark-black.livejournal.com]

So... you... you really are Ukitake!!! No no just kidding.

I'm sorry. That sucks. I don't know anything about asthma so I have no helpful words or anything like that. But I will give you an internet hug.

*hug*

There. *pouts* You'll be okay though right???? Right???

[liralen.livejournal.com]

*laughter* It's a lot easier to channel sick Ukitake when I'm asthma-y... I have to admit. *grin* The time when Shunsui finds Jyuushiro unable to say more than one word between breaths was from experience. *wry grin*

You have extremely helpful words. XDD The hug is wonderful.

*hugs back* Mmm... relaxes a little and breathes a little more deeply.

I will be okay. I will.

[calmingeffects.livejournal.com]

*squishes* I am glad the doctor is willing work with you and try some things out to fix this problem You take better care of yourself okay?!?!?! *doesn't like Swan being sick*

GET BETTER!!!

*sends love and hugs and comfort* get some sleep!

[liralen.livejournal.com]

*snugs gently*

Yeah, I'm glad, too, about the doctor, and I'll take my meds and try and rest better.

I will get better. :-)

[jwordsmith.livejournal.com]

Ugh, I've been through bouts with asthma and don't envy you the chronic version. My dad has asthma too and has been taking increasingly better meds over the years. Glad to hear your doctor is willing to work with you. That helps.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it really does help. :-)

Thanks for the encouragement!

[rephetibel.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, kiddo. What a thing to have to deal with! Be well.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! I appreciate it.

[tearraws.livejournal.com]

I also hate medication - but for two reasons. One, abuse of medication creates a tolerance in the system, and two, because I don't want to become 'one of those people' who finds a pill for everything.

That doesn't prevent me from taking medication when I need to. I simply sit down and look at whether or not it's actually necessary, or whether it's just a convenience.

For your situation, I think that it's necessary. Would this sort of view of things help to assuage your reluctance to take meds? If not, from where stems your reluctance?

No matter what happens, I hope you find a way to breath easier. Breathing is one of the most fundamental elements of life - one of those things where, if you don't get that working properly, everything else sorta falls apart, just from lack of concentration.

I also agree with Ross. When I first started martial arts, I was amazed at how difficult it was to breath properly. I still don't do it right, because it's so hard to remember to practice.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think part of me thinks that if I just exercised *enough* or ate the right things, or... whatever I shouldn't have to resort to medications. That it's just laziness on my part or something rather than a real need for my body.

Given that a demonstration that it is a real need, I have little reluctance about it.

Thank you for the wishes! That helps very much. Yeah, when I was doing tai chi, I got very aware of my breathing and how good it is when it's good and how bad it can be when it's bad.

[tearraws.livejournal.com]

I know how that feels. I don't know what kind of shape you are in, but I know that I, myself, could be in better shape. I should exercise more, I should eat better. I'm working on it constantly, trying to improve, but in the end, I know I'm not doing a good enough job of it.

And as far as this goes - if it was something like diabetes, there'd be some sort of logic behind that. The health you're in has a serious affect on many afflictions. And it might even have a minor effect on asthma - but not much. Asthma is one of those annoying things that you just can't help very much. Some people can move to the country, or to the city, to help their breathing. Some people can move north or south. But for the most part, Asthma is just Asthma. You can't just 'make Asthma go away' by exercising better.

If you feel you need to be healthier, take the medication to give you the breath and strength you need to get there.

But then, these are emotions, not logic. Sadly, we're creatures of emotion, and what we feel doesn't always make sense. That's what makes us human. *heh* I just write because I want to let you know that I know how you feel, and what I do when I am feeling the same way. A little bit of connectedness.

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Mmm... yeah... well a regular exercise regimen is part of gaining some control over asthma... but it does only go so far.

I just lost fifteen pounds in the last year, and I'm doing better in a lot of ways. And, yeah, if I moved ever three years, I'd do just fine with my allergies and asthma; but that's hard with a kid who really needs more stability than that. I managed for the last seven years by moving twice. But I'll eventually run out of places that I'm not yet sensitized to.

And, yeah, it's emotional. Logic helps... but the emotions still run their course... hard as that is sometimes. It is good to connect! :-)