Follow up visit with the Pulmonologist

The advair is finally starting to do it’s job and I’m not in panic mode if I don’t have my albuterol inhaler on my person at all times!!  My cough and lung congestion are much better.  Saw the pulm doc in follow up today and he said that my chest xray looked much better than he thought it would based on the way my lungs sounded at my initial appointment.  Also that my blood work  looked fine so my allergy medication (zyrtec) was doing it’s job well. 

So, for now we follow the course.  He would eventually like me off the advair but thinks that this spring I may have to go up in dosage before going off as the pollen count goes up.  We’ll see I guess.

Pulmonologist Visit

           

Yesterday I saw the pulmonologist for this new diagnosis of asthma.  It actually went quite well.  As noted in the last post I have probably had asthma for a long time but yet have also been in denial regarding it for a long time.  The appointment started with pulmonary function tests.  Those are always interesting as you blow into this crazy looking machine!!

Next on to see the doctor.  He and I have had a wonderful working relationship for nearly 9 years now.  He can be difficult to work with but we have always gotten along and had mutual respect for each other.  He was quite thorough in his history starting with any sinus issues and working his way down to my lungs.  I had chronic sinus infections starting when I was a teen.  He says this is probably when my asthma started.  Next we moved on to anything I’m allergic to.  I already know that is dust and dust mites.  Then onto household and environmental exposures.  Smoking history (no!)  Etc, etc.  Like I said very thorough.  (But the nice thing is I’m not allowed to vacuum anymore due to the dust allergy and it’s negative effects on my airway!!!)

The next component that he said was a major issue is reflux.  I used to have MAJOR reflux and had anti-reflux surgery in 2002 called a Nissen fundoplication.  Since then I have not had to take any antacid medications.  But he said that people like me get used to the way a TINY amount of reflux feels since it used to be so bad and that I could still have small amounts that are further irritating my airways.  And that I may still have nighttime reflux when I lay flat that doesn’t awaken me.  For this reason I have to now take antacid medication twice daily along with maalox 30 min before bedtime and not eat for 30 min before bed.  Also NO carbonation or caffeine.  (What the heck kind of way is that to live?????)

Then we talked about my actual lungs and how I’m not feeling any better since starting the advair and albuterol inhalers.  I had a nastly cold recently that ended several weeks ago but yet my lungs are still quite congested.  This is not usual for me.  He listened to them and said they still sound quite junky.  He said this was concerning as I should be better by now with both the congestion and how I’m feeling with what he put me on.  So off I go for a chest xray and some bloodwork.  I’ll find out about those on Friday.

All in all it was a great appointment.

Photostory Friday–I have asthma

I have asthma

 

Here is my photostory Friday:  I have asthma.  I probably have had it since I was a teenager and started with chronic sinus infections or longer possibly since I had recurrent ear trouble as a kid.  Either way I’m finally at 32 admitting to it.  Not sure why I needed to be in denial so long.  I just didn’t want to be asthmatic.  2 of my 3 children are but I didn’t want to be.  Why? you may ask?  Again, I’m not sure!  I see asthmatics as a nurse all the time and just didn’t want to be one.  But this great pulmonologist that I work with finally convinced me that a) not only am I but b) it’s ok to be and c) he would help me.  So, here I am.  Those are my inhalers and I’m feeling better!! 

So, happy photostory Friday.
 

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

 

 

Go and visit Cecily’s blog or Mama Geek’s blog for more photostory Friday posts.  And thanks for visiting mine! 

Not Me Monday

                        

This past week I:

 

Didn’t accept an offer to have a friend at work be my personal trainer and then only take the stairs, as per his suggestion to get into better shape, when he was there and I knew I may run into him and take the elevators when he wasn’t.  Not me, I would always listen to such advice and follow it to a T.

 

I didn’t deny to a pulmonolgist (lung doctor) that was trying to help me that I may have asthma.  He was only trying to help me to feel better and stop coughing all the time which I have done for years.  I didn’t stand there and state that I DO NOT HAVE ASTHMA AND THAT IS ALL THERE IS TO IT to him.  Not me, I would always listen to what the doctor says and make an appointment with him just as he suggests.

 

I didn’t borrow a piece of equipment from a friend and not return it yet.  Not me, I always return things as soon as I am done with them.

 

And I didn’t get to my nap late today (work nights) so that I could get this up on my blog since I didn’t participate last week.  Not me, I always get enough sleep because I know taking care of myself is very important.

 

For more Not Me Monday posts visit McMama’s blog.