ips-aiims

Dealing With Asthma

Having been raised on a farm, I'm sure we lived with, and inhaled, all the plants and dust particles that they now alert us to that make the pollen count such that one should stay inside if you have a breathing problem. That was just a "way of life" for us at that time and we didn't even consider what might be causing a problem breathing.

As time progressed and man made chemicals began to be used for flies, and other annoying insects, DDT was introduced to protect animals from them. And so it was that, on the farm, DDT was used to spray the cows before we left them out to pasture in the fields. This was the first thing I can remember that really affected me. It bothered me to inhale, making my eyes water and itch, and my nose drip, so I was excused from spraying the cows, or even remaining in the barn when someone else did it. Apparently I was allergic to what was used in the DDT to keep the flies away.

To my knowledge, I was not allergic to any other product although, in fall when everything ripened, I apparently was bothered to some extent because I got the usual runny nose and itchy eyes. After several weeks that would leave again and I was fine.

When I was older, I usually had a cold for the Christmas season. With quite a few nephews and nieces by that time in my life, I would feel frustrated because I felt I shouldn't get too close if I had a winter cold.

It wasn't until many years later, after raising our own family and still getting that cold for Christmas, that this annual affliction came about the second week in December and it was gone after a number of days. I was happy about that because it meant I wouldn't have the usual illness for Christmas. I was disappointed when it all returned, a day or two before the holidays began, only this time it didn't go away. After a couple weeks of that I contacted my doctor and he suspected there was more to it than I thought. He inquired about when we would put our Christmas tree in and, because we always did that several days before, he suspected I was allergic to the tree. He suggested that I have testing done to see if there were other items I was allergic to and, after testing near to 100 items, it was determined that I indeed was allergic to specific molds, certain trees, cats, and dogs, even though we no longer had either of them in our home. Needless to say, we used an artificial tree since that time.

Further testing, including the Pulmonary Function test, showed that I was suffering from Asthma so I was under a doctor's constant scrutiny. Being put on medication helped, however, it caused me to gain weight and I found myself fighting to not take what was all prescribed. Eventually, I found myself gasping for air and ended up in emergency twice. When Gil, my husband, had foot surgery, I needed to do the driving and one visit to his doctor was at a time when I could not get my air. Sitting in the car, I looked at him and said, "You know, we're like two little old people trying to take care of each other," and we laughed about it, though it's hard to laugh when you are struggling for air. It was at that doctor's visit when he asked my doctor if I would be that way if I didn't fight taking what was prescribed for me. The doctor's emphatic "No" left an impression on me. That, along with him telling me that it affected my heart when I had to breathe so hard to get my air, put a little fear in me.

It was later, when someone gave me a book about asthma to read, I could see that I had the tendencies described in the book, which was to "fight" taking the "drugs" as I referred to them. In my mind I'd determined that no one was going to make a "drug addict" out of me and, since these were the most drugs I'd ever taken at one time, I was determined that I could get along without so many. Eventually I learned to deal with that problem.

Being unable to breathe is no fun. At my place of work one morning, I called the gal who came in to help me and asked if she would bring an Anacin, or other aspirin, assuring her that there was nothing wrong, and I'd explain to her when she came in. She arrived about 8:00 a.m. and at approximately 8:05 I took an aspirin. I knew I had an infection and was going to see a doctor but an aspirin, I felt, would help until I got there, later in the day.

I learned a lesson on that day because it wasn't too long before I could not breathe. Using my inhalers I tried to help myself and, thinking that going outside would help, I did that. It was all to no avail and I returned to my office and asked her to call Gil. I needed medical help. The janitor happened to come in and said he was taking me to the hospital at once, which he did. When the door on the car closed, I felt really panicky; it was as though all air was shut off from me.

On arriving at the hospital, he parked and we proceeded to go inside where he said, very loudly, "she's having an asthma attack." Those waiting in the room immediately all looked at me and the attendants ran for a wheel chair and wheeled me to emergency. They immediately gave me an adrenalin shot so in a short time I could get air once more, however, my body seemed to fly out of control. Later they gave me another shot which calmed my body down. It was through this experience, and not a nice one, I discovered that an asthmatic should not take aspirin. I was released from the hospital the following day, after they had thoroughly checked everything, however I will never forget that experience and have not taken an aspirin since then.

The next time I required help to breathe was when I was given an injection for dental work. Later results, sending me to emergency, frightened me to the point where I refuse injections when I go to see my dentist. It may be painful but it certainly isn't anything compared to not being able to breathe. That time I came home from emergency the same evening I was taken in. The trip to the hospital in our family car was, once again, a scary time and opening the window to put my head out, trying to get air in my lungs, was all useless because my airways were restricted. It's a time I soon tried to forget.

I found, quite by accident, that I've gotten to be allergic to a couple other medications that include sulfa, which I'd been given a number of times for an infection, and iodine that was used in the vein, both causing the hives. Our bodies apparently change with added years so I am cautious when I am given medications for some ailment.

After about 25 years, my medications have lessened and, although I "run out of air" if I walk fast, carry heavy objects, etc. I am happy that it has gotten so much better and I can live with it. With aspirin advertised for various ailments, I wonder how many people know that aspirin causes an attack. Hopefully, someone told them about it and they don't have to learn in the manner I did.

I feel concern for children who have asthma because I feel an adult can reason why this may be happening, but it must be terribly frightening to a child. I pray their parents, or caretakers, know what can happen and what they are able to do. My recommendation is that every parent with an asthmatic child make themselves aware of all the dangers of taking medication, even aspirin, before they give it to their child.