‘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.

Let’s see where ‘Lenny’ and Me have been most recently – we are looking ahead.

Scheduling times ahead, just what do I mean by that.  It means work harder at planning ahead with projects and events so not to antagonize ‘Lenny’ my companion known as COPD/Asthma.

Because of my chronic illness/disease, I can and will get tired quicker than most folks which means I must assemble a plan when I know there may something I need to attend to.  Even running to the store is something I must take a few moments to prepare for.

When we talk prepare, for the little trips around town for a run to the store, attending a meeting or playing taxi for the grandkids – I still prepare by making sure I have my rescue inhaler with me, take several concentrated breathes to see how my breathing may be for the day, check to make sure I am dressed properly so not to get to hot or too cold and always double check to make sure my mind is in the right mode to be paying attention to my surroundings.

The last step of preparation is possible the most important as those of us with a chronic illness and/or disability know, that keeping our head, eyes and mind on a swivel is important when out and about because we are always either consciously or sub-consciously checking for triggers, so that ‘Lenny’ will not get irritated and set out to upset our being out and about.

I am thinking about these preparation things because around here we are heading into the final four weeks of school and in my case the final five weeks before my daughter and four grandkids move out of state, some five-plus hours away by car.

We sat down the other day to check what is left on the school schedules for grandkid stuff and found that there would be nine events in the days between today and May 25 which this grandparent knows he wants to share in with the grandkids.  And that is not counting six required meetings, a couple of funerals, a couple of family nights and at least three events that I was hoping to attend to help rekindle my photography.

With each of these events, I must remember to think ahead not only for myself but for ‘Lenny’, thinking of what I may need in case of a spout of trouble when “Lenny’ finds a trigger.

Of course, with the grandkids that are moving, the one thing I will not be able to plan-ahead for will be the emotional strain and drain, as these four grandkids are extremely close to this ‘Papa’ and I know I will miss them a bunch when they move.  And for those who may deal with a chronic illness or disability, especially one that involves the lungs, the level of one’s emotions can even play on how we are feeling and doing.

As I realize how busy a couple of weeks have become, I stop and contemplate just what and if I should or could work even one more event in the month without really pushing the line on keep up my stamina and ability to stay one step ahead of ‘Lenny’ and its habit of being unpredictable.

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 good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

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

Follow all the adventures of “‘Lenny’ and Me 4 Today” at wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at “COPD Travels”.

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.