More than Asthma in Carnival

Kristyn posted:

The biggest misconception would have to be that asthma is easy to manage and treat, and every case is the same. It’s so easy to think all cases are exactly like in the textbook, but they aren’t. Not everyone will improve on the standard treatments and it takes a good doctor to listen to a patient and try their best to help get a persons asthma fully controlled.

This is very true! I didn't really understand it myself until my own asthma because more severe.

Have you seen AAFA's Severe ASTHMA Care course? It's a free online course to help people with severe asthma. As you said, treatments alone don't always keep asthma in control. There is also identifying and reducing exposure to triggers.

Thankfully my asthma has been mild up until recently. This was one of the last big things I did before my asthma went out of control and became severe. It has taken about eight months but I am finally close to getting my asthma controlled. However I am still considered to have severe persistent asthma that isn’t controlled but with the new biologic I am on I am finally getting to the controlled point and hopefully will soon be off prednisone. I have had to take time off to fully get control of my asthma because for a while I was needing the nebulizer every 4 hours. I think the hardest part is a lot of people don’t realize how big of an impact severe asthma has on a persons life. I have had to make major changes to be able to make sure I always take meds on time and now that I am on a biologic I have to give myself shots every two weeks. I have even had a doctor try dismissing my asthma saying it must be anxiety because I was on a ton of meds and still uncontrolled. Thankfully her attending set her straight and I haven’t seen her again. I am not the only patient who has had issues with her according to the nurses. The biggest misconception would have to be that asthma is easy to manage and treat, and every case is the same. It’s so easy to think all cases are exactly like in the textbook, but they aren’t. Not everyone will improve on the standard treatments and it takes a good doctor to listen to a patient and try their best to help get a persons asthma fully controlled.

Oh, I love your wings! Your costume is gorgeous! 

How have you managed asthma and medical school? What are some misconceptions folks (yes, even med students!) have about asthma? We'd love to have you join us on the forum discussion about "What do people say when you tell them you have asthma or allergies?"