‘Lenny’ is my constant companion the doctors call COPD/Asthma.  Naming my constant health companion seems to make life easier for me in relating to my disease as it gives it a bit of a personality.  Besides treating ‘Lenny’ as a companion, come good days or bad, is much better than always dealing with it as an enemy.

Ok, so now let’s talk about “‘Lenny’ and Me 4 Today”.

Having already covered the other stuff, you know the herbal supplements and vitamin type things, and the meds I am supposed to be taking for other health issues, it now means the time is here to discuss what I am currently taking for the lungs, my COPD/Asthma.

Every morning I take 10-15 minutes spending time on my nebulizer getting a dose of ‘Ipratropium’.  Over time there have been so many mornings where my lungs and ‘Lenny’ just seemed to know when I have not taken it and rear up a bit of obnoxiousness by early afternoon.

I question myself often as to why as to why I was so ignorant that for years I would not feel it necessary to get this routine done daily – another one of those reasons as to why I have put myself into the situation I am in with my lungs and breathing.

Routine number two is to take as deep a inhalation from my ‘Breo Ellipta Inhaler’ as my lungs will allow me.  While the medical folks have told me to take this at least once a day, I try to take my dose shortly after being on the nebulizer as I feel that is a point where my lungs could be the most open and operating as they may be all day.

I’ll be honest, I did not like ‘Breo Ellipta’ at first because it never made sense to me to put a powdery substance into an already bad set of lungs.  But unlike ‘Advair’ and ‘Symbicort’ (which upset my breathing terribly), the ‘Breo’ seems to be doing what it is supposed to do without any apparent side effects.

At the moment that is my main morning routine and seems to keep me in check for any problems, unless I try to do anything of true physical strenuous work, until I get to my evening dose of ‘Montelukast’.

Of course, there is my rescue inhaler, ‘Xopenex’, which is on my possession at all-times and anywhere I may be going or be.

The only other med I am taking for the time being is my bi-weekly ‘Xolair’ shots, an extremely costly but now realized necessity for my long-term well-being.

As you may have noticed, most of what I take is directly aimed at the asthma side of my situation and as it was explained to me by my pulmonologist, “our goal is to keep you from having major asthma attacks, which in turn will hopefully prolong the anticipated progression of the COPD.”  Makes sense to me, that’s why they are educated – to help me live.

Yes, like so many others I do stress over my meds.  Sometimes I stress because it does get tiring to have to take what I take, day in and day out – but guess what, that mood happens and I have learned to get over it because my life literally depends on it.  Sometimes I stress because I possible missed a dose of something along the way due to getting busy or being gone and forgetting to take my meds with me – but guess what, it happens so I get over it and get back in routine as quickly as possible.

And yes, I am may opening myself up by sharing my daily med and supplement routine to those who disagree or may feel I might not be as sick as they are – but guess what, that is life as my stage of illness will not be like anybody else’s and your thoughts are your thoughts, I will accept them and move on.

The main point is – this routine of meds and supplements I am doing is meant to keep me living so I can enjoy the life I have with my wife, kids and grandkids.

And that my friends, is where ‘Lenny’ (my COPD/Asthma) and me are at 4 today.

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.

You can follow more writings and tidbits about COPD/Asthma on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/COPD-Travels-1478436192478796/

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer through wheezingaway.com – no part of this write may be used or copied without written permission.)

NOTES: 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.