Badass-matic
Badassmatic (adj.): Person with severe asthma better defined by badassery. Possesses insatiable desire for growth, change and adventure.
Need proof that asthma is an expensive disease? So far this year the medical bills associated with treating my asthma totals $1,362,067.99. And while that’s the most Ive racked up in a single year, on average it still costs about a half million dollars to keep this asthmatic alive, and most of that from taxpayer … Read moreThe Price tag for 2018
You’ll probably have to zoom in on these images, but do any of the drug labels on my IV pole look familiar to you? You may have heard of these drugs before, but you might not beware that they are also used in the critical care treatment of severe asthma exacerbations, what they call status … Read moreAsthma party drugs
Elite Asthma Fighter ( adj.): A “Badassmatic” who in the face of constant and severe exacerbations, is relentless in the fight and refuses to give in. Obviously all asthma flares that are severe enough to warrant treatment in an intensive care unit are bad, but for some of us, even the more potent and potentially … Read moreElite Asthma Fighter
It seems I haven’t done a proper “Breathing Basics” post in almost 8 years. I think this installment might fit under that category. In browsing through some of the posts on various Asthma support groups, personal blogs, or in chatting with people who have asthma or COPD, I often hear someone refer to, or equate … Read moreAsthma severity is more than just FEV1
To celebrate reaching my 64th year despite crippling asthma, and to satisfy an itch for getting out there one more time, I’ll soon be wiggling my ass again on a race course…. this time in Canada. My body is too wrecked to attempt another full marathon, so I searched the continent looking for a worthwhile … Read moreWatch out Canada
I was racking my brain trying to come up with an appropriate title for this post and finally settled on this one. I think it works because in many cases living with asthma can be a full time around the clock job. Kind of ironic when you consider all the people who are unable to … Read moreAsthma 23/7
Since you’re reading this post, Im assuming that you’re either living with asthma yourself, or you know someone else who is. If you’ve been to my site before, then you probably know that I blog extensively about my asthma and the impact it’s had on my life. Ah, but except for a few who … Read moreIt’s your turn
This is a generic notebook that they give ICU patients at the hospital I go to when my asthma gets really bad. With it, they encourage patients and their families to keep a sort of diary, which often times can help in with the persons recovery. I have a stack of them at home. Well … Read moreICU angels
So on May 23rd, just days after proudly declaring how I had managed to keep my asthma under control and stay out of the hospital for a full 5 months, my good luck streak came crashing down and I ended up back in the hospital sicker than Ive been in a long time . (Below … Read moreNice try asthma, but I’m still here.
After spending the last several months testing the waters to see how my body and lungs might react to doing another race, the verdict is finally in. Assuming I can work out some nagging foot issues…..I’m going for it! On Oct 14th, with my lung function the lowest its ever been, I hope to attempt … Read moreThe do- another- race verdict is in.
I hate to jinx myself by writing this post, but I haven’t had an exacerbation severe enough to warrant a hospital stay, dare I say since the beginning of this year? Been roughly 4 months and counting since the last big one. May not sound like a long time, but between late 2015 and late … Read moreCould the Azithromycin therapy actually be working?
I post my personal hospital bills from time to time to show how incredibly expensive an asthma exacerbation in the San Francisco day area can be, but this one takes the cake. At first glance $56,000 may seem like a drop in the bucket compared to some of my other hospital bills. That is, until … Read moreSticker shock
Im a happy camper in this photo, because today I completed my first feasibility walk. It was only a 2.5 mile walk, but I tolerated it reasonably well without a break. Assuming I don’t have any setbacks, I should be able to complete the rest of these test walks and render an opinion within a … Read moreA feasibility walk is now feasible