Breathe, My Friend!

[lb_lee]

Rogan: after that household respiratory sickness in November, running again was harder. I was still doing it, but normally my breath-cycle is two steps inhale, two steps exhale, and now it was three for each. It sure wasn’t because I’d gotten BETTER at running; I would wheeze like a busted accordion around the half mile mark, it’d last for an hour or two, and it sounded bad enough that my asthmatic roommate told me I needed to go to the doctor.

Turns out exercise-induced asthma is a thing! My best guess is long symptoms from that not-COVID of November. (Multiple household members tested multiple times, always negative.) I run full-masked, so it’s not a cold or dryness thing, and it only hits when I run or bolt up stairs or something more intense. Walking all day is fine, no asthma.

So my doc gave me an inhaler, I tried it for the first time yesterday, and HOLY SHIT! Running was so easy! When I finished, I felt great, not wheezy or out of breath at all! It’s almost like I was running on 50% more oxygen!

So glad I didn’t have to give up running. We’ve only been doing it a year and a half, but I already can’t imagine how I got by so long without it.

In summary: hey, if you are wheezing and short-winded a month after recovering from a respiratory illness, maybe go to your doctor and get it checked out!

Comments

[dray]

Yowch! (Thank you for the reminder to take my inhaler! I was similarly prescribed one after coming away from a bad cold-- RIGHT during/after my innoculations for the year, too!-- with an ongoing cough.)

Glad you're able to get back to running, though!

[lb_lee]

Yeah, those hanging-on symptoms are so obnoxious. One of our roommates is still coughing!

[wolffyluna]

Oh, post viral asthma is so """fun""". I'm glad you were able to get a diagnosis and an inhaler that works.

[lb_lee]

Rogan: it was amazing, just one puff and poof! Spell broken! Memory work and shoulder spasms ruined me, I always think everything takes years of life changes before any results can be obtained...

[wispfox]

Ugh. I also have exercise (and chest cold) induced asthma and have for my whole life. For me, it's also worse when it's cold out!

[lb_lee]

Rogan: Yeah, and it got cold FAST; I’m sure that didn’t help.

[wispfox]

Yeah, totally. Confusing weather - it's pretty warm today, though.

[minoanmiss]

*cheers you on*

[lb_lee]

Rogan: call me the big bad wolf, with my regained lung power!

[mint_phalanx]

I have asthma. I remember needing to use my rescue inhaler before walking to and from school. When my mom told the pediatrician, she gave me a pill that controlled my symptoms.

[lb_lee]

Rogan: yeah, mine has been minor and triggered by pretty narrow stuff, mercifully. That inhaler should last me a while.

[phoenix_council]

High fives for going to doctors, meds that work and exercise that you love! A+ adulting, no notes, have a digital cookie.

[lb_lee]

Rogan: slowly but surely, my attitude about going to the doctor is improving! (It’s something that’s been hard for me.)

[beepbird]

Wait. Wait.

You mean feeling like you're dying after running because your chest hurts and you can't breathe isn't normal? Is that why people learn to like running? A friend outright had to teach us tricks to breathe again after running the mile because we'd be gasping and struggling for a long time afterwards (thank you to that friend for making it suck slightly less). We just thought we were out of shape or something even though we could walk for miles and miles without issue.

Oh my god. I have more than a few PE teachers to be mad at now. Hopefully our doctor takes it seriously and checks that out at the next appointment when we bring it up.

[lb_lee]

Mac: it did take our vessel a couple weeks to adjust, but if you always feel like you’re dying and your body doesn’t adjust, that’s worth bringing up! It shouldn’t always feel like that! Nobody would enjoy that!

[numb3r_5ev3n]

Yay, inhaler! Glad you were able to get something that helps!