9:48 p.m.,
Oct. 20, 2003
So asthma sucks. I have had asthma for seven years and the first three years or so, it was a bitch. No, that's reversed. I was asthma's bitch. Then I took a miracle anti-inflammatory drug named theophyllin that made my lungs strong like the Hulk. Before theophyllin came around though, I also took inhaled steroids (they were legal), albuterol and some inhaler that was bigger than both of my fists together and actually gave me some sort of high when I used it.
Anyway. The miracle drug made things better. It didn't cure me - much like becoming a vampire, asthma is something that never goes away. But my attacks became very infrequent and I didn't have trouble breathing anymore.
So over the course of the last four years, I have used my inhaler about five times total. I even stopped carrying it around with me. And as I've learned, hubris is often a downfall.
So Thursday morning, I went for a run and noticed that my chest got really tight about halfway through. I stopped and walked home. I felt better when I got home so I didn't pull out my inhaler. Well, this weekend I started coughing and I really haven't stopped.
I discovered that my inhaler expired, uh, nine months ago and it didn't do anything when I used it. I got a new inhaler tonight and that's helped. But let me tell you: coughing for four days straight is exhausting work.
I am breathing easier now, but I'm a bit scared. I don't really want to go back to theophyllin or sleeping with an air hydrator. But if I have to, I have to. And I've learned that my lungs are not really strong like the Hulk.
I have another race this weekend, and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to run it. I don't want to be in this position ever again, so I need to take this opportunity to take care of myself and make sure that my lungs get the TLC they need, whether I think they need it or not.
Also, I'm going to the dentist tomorrow. Wish me luck.