An Apple a Day Keeps The Doctor Away

Well it looks like I haven't eaten enough apples lately.  That pesky cold I had last week that kept me out of work, well it's finally on the outs, but my ears are killing me! I finally decided to bite the bullet and go to the doctor because I was worried it was an ear infection.  

I'm not someone who hates going to doctors appointments, but I don't like paying the co pay! Especially when they tell you "Oh, just take some Advil Cold & Sinus or anything with sudafedrin in it". But we all have to make a living, on the upside (there's an upside??) I have HORRIBLE allergies.  I own a nebulizer for my asthma when they get really bad so I can administer my own treatments.  So the doctor's appointment turned out to be okay since I needed refills on all my wonderful allergy meds which pile up to be 5 total daily! Yikes all in the name of Asthma!

Not sure what a nebulizer is? It's this wonderful little contraption that I have had to use since I was this little myself.

  Photo Found Here

Me and Asthma we go WAY back! I used it in elementary school in the principals office during allergy season, I even had Benadryl bottle in a drawer in the principals office because I needed it everyday and he had to administer it. In high school I would have to leave birthday parties or any party that involved a house with a cat, even had to use it before volleyball games my team mates thought I was crazy, in college I had it in a backpack when I went on long road trips with friends and when it's really bad I just keep it in the backpack whenever I was out for long periods of time.  I even brought the darn thing with me to Italy and Hawaii more than once because I don't know what the air quality would be like.  You catch my drift.  Doesn't help that it's louder than a jackhammer and it takes 20-30 minutes for an adult treatment. 

Here's some facts about Asthma from the CDC: 

Asthma

(Data are for the U.S.)

Morbidity

• Number of noninstitutionalized adults who currently have asthma: 16.4 million
• Percent of noninstitutionalized adults who currently have asthma: 7.3%

Source: Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2008, tables 3, 4

• Number of children who currently have asthma: 7.0 million
• Percent of children who currently have asthma: 9.4%

Source: Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2008, table 1

SJ Mercy Health has this:

What kids say…
My asthma makes me feel:
“Like an elephant is sitting on my chest.”
“Like I am dying.”
“I feel like a fish without water.”
“My heart hurts.”

Thanks for letting me rant about this I know it's not a terribly entertaining post but Asthma sucks! And I thankfully have mine under control (right now that is).  They said I would out grow it when I was a teenager... I'm still waiting... 

I totally own a shirt similar to this.  My purse and car are always fully supplied with inhalers. I'll bust that bad boy out in the middle of a dance floor if I have too!

Anyone else in the Asthma is Sexy club? Really I should form a club because it's always helpful to have a friend who has asthma too because if you forget your inhaler they'll have one too! (This has come in handy too many times to count) My honey has it too but it's more like a once a year type thing where mine is daily.  Let's say he needs a new inhaler because I've used his up plenty of times.