Changing things up here as I continue my daily battle with my sidekick ‘Lenny’ (the name I have given my COPD/Asthma) as I know I need to get more serious about what’s ahead for me and that includes being more serious about my therapy for which part of my therapy of sorts is to put into words how my battle may be going and then sharing it openly as part of what I call my responsibility.
That responsibility for my battle is to talk about my travels with ‘Lenny’ and share with others with the hope that maybe, just maybe, I will reach even one other person whom may read what I share and realize they are not alone.
Today I once again share where I am at and maybe how I may or may not be dealing with life and my own COPD/Asthma Travels.
With COPD/Asthma at the level many of us have we must always be aware of our prospects of having an exacerbation, and did I get one bad bout.
Normally when ‘Lenny’ decides to throw me a reminder that my COPD/Asthma is alive and well, it is a bout with SOB (Short of Breath) and with some deep breathing, relaxation exercises I can normally work out of it in a short period of time.
But about ten days ago I started feeling like something was coming on and I got hit hard with some kind of lung thing. Calling the doctor on Thursday last week, because I did not have a fever and was not really coughing anything up yet they told me to rest and drink lots of liquids (which I do both of very well daily).
Well by the time I hit the weekend I was miserable, couldn’t walk through the house without running out of energy and the worst – I was getting those major coughing attacks where ‘Lenny’ just would not let go of that phlegm stuff without making me feel like I had just been tackled by the whole defense of the Denver Broncos.
Needless to say by the time Monday morning rolled around I was one miserable feeling fellow and was so glad to know I could get in to at least see someone. My oxygen levels would drop below 90 with just about anything I would do and you combine that with those exacerbation coughs I was, well you may have been there so you know just how miserable I was.
Doctor gave me a ten day run of the antibiotic ‘augmentin’ as well as a five day run of 20 mg. of prednisone. It took a couple of days, but today I finally was able to get back on the exercise bike for a couple of 15-minute pedals and boy did that feel good.
One truth to know is that I have been blessed to have such a supportive wife as she was always willing to give me some lengthy back and/or chest massages which help a lot in loosening up some of the mess in my lungs.
So for now I am back on the road to normal (as normal as my lungs will get) and that for my household is a sense of major relief.
But the one lesson out of this last 10 days has been – never let the guard down on ‘Lenny’ and always be aware of what is needed to get a quick hold of any bout of exacerbations.
So that pretty much sums up where I have been, why I have been somewhat silent, again!
And that my friends says where ‘Lenny’ (my COPD/Asthma) and me are at 4 today.
*** CONTINUE PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS FOR KAYCIE CHAPMAN ***
NOTE TO REMEMBER: Sometimes we share what may seem like medical information, but we are only giving descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.
As always – if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.
Remember – a person without breathing is a person without life itself.
I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.
(Copyright@2016, CrossDove Writer through wheezingaway.com)
(Image used cleared by written permission for use by CrossDove Photography)
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DISABILITIES DAILY 
Has anyone talked to you about using a percussive vest to help break up the mucus secretions without exhausting yourself?
They mentioned it to me in last month’s better breathers club.
Since I’m just coming off a nasty sinus infection with lots of cughing and congestion, my next request of the doctor is whether or not something like that may help me break up the congestion more easily than simply trying to endure coughing it out.
Glad you’re feeling better.