As I sit down to write this year’s health update, which I do every year around World Asthma Day, I find myself slowly recovering from a cold virus that hit me a couple of weeks ago. I don’t get colds often, but when I do, they tend to migrate to my chest, aggravating my asthma and making it incredibly difficult to breathe—often landing me in the hospital. But this time was different. With the reassurance of having been vaccinated for the flu, RSV, and pneumonia earlier in the year, I felt confident enough to ride out the infection and resulting asthma exacerbation at home without serious complications. It’s been a very rough two weeks, but I’m finally inching back to baseline.
That’s not the only win—so far, I’ve only had one asthma-related hospitalization in the past 12 months and just one intubation in the last 18 months. This marks one of the longest hospital-free streaks I’ve had in years. Not because my asthma has improved—I still experience moderate to severe exacerbations every few months—but because I’ve become better at managing severe attacks on my own. Ive been learning to resist the knee-jerk reaction to rush to the ER at the first sign of trouble. My exacerbations are just as intense and frequent, but my perspective has shifted. Ive raised the proverbial, when-to-seek hospital care bar, if you will. Unless, Im gasping for air or turning blue, I prefer to stick it out at home. I dont want to subject myself to the emotional toll of a protracted hospital stay unless I absolutely have to. The doctors and nurses who take care of me are fantastic, but the whole Hospital experience drains me. Im also approaching my 3rd year on the biologic Fasenra, so that may be having a postitive effect on this as well.
One major shift from previous years is that my lung disease—bad as it is—has taken a backseat to other health challenges, particularly my uncontrolled hypertension and lingering neck issues following my laminectomy surgery a couple of years ago. The neck problem is mainly about pain, and let’s be honest—it’s tough to stay positive when you’re in constant discomfort. But the blood pressure issue is far more concerning. The last thing I need is a stroke on top of everything else.
For years, I struggled to get doctors to take my erratic blood pressure patterns seriously. Most people respond well to medication, but my blood pressure spikes to 300 and stays there for hours, which is not great for my heart—especially given my history of TIAs, which have affected my vision. Fortunately, after my third hospitalization for a hypertensive crisis back in January, I finally have a dedicated cardiologist and neurologist investigating the cause of these extreme fluctuations. Starting today, I’ll be wearing a ZIO patch again for two weeks to check for A-Fib, a condition that significantly increases stroke risk (if you’ve seen those TV commercials, you know what I’m talking about). They’re also testing my adrenal glands to see if they’re producing an excess amount of a hormone that could be triggering the hypertension. Lastly, they want me to undergo a transcranial Doppler ultrasound to determine if tiny plaque fragments from my carotid artery are breaking off and causing mini-strokes in my left eye or brain. Also a renal ultrasound, as a narrowed artery to the kidneys can cause uncontrolable hypertension. Thankfully, all of these tests are painless and if any of them yield positive results, there are effective treatment options available, so I’m cautiously optimistic.
On the exercise front, I still get out every day and walk two to three miles. I may not be as fast as I once was, and I deal with more leg cramps, but at 70 years old, I can still out-walk some of my younger, healthier friends! I don’t have any foot races planned at the moment, but later this year, I’ll be heading back to Italy to explore the small towns in Sicily where my mom’s family is from. It’ll involve plenty of walking—though not at a competitive pace. Hey, exercise is exercise, right?
In July, I’ve been invited to speak to the employees of Aerogen at their annual gathering in Chicago. These innovators are behind the development of vibrating mesh technology for medication nebulizers—advancing respiratory care in ways many patients, including myself, have benefited from. Anyone who has been hospitalized for asthma or COPD has likely used their nebulizers. I’m looking forward to sharing my story with them and finally experiencing Chicago for the first time.
My 2025 Respiratory Medication Regimen:
Albuterol nebulizers 3–4 times a day
Formoterol nebulizers 2 times a day
Budesonide nebulizers 2 times a day
Albuterol MDI as needed
Prednisone as needed
Benralizumab injection every 8 weeks
Despite the ongoing challenges with asthma, hypertension, and lingering surgical effects, this past year has been marked by important victories—fewer hospitalizations, better self-management, and new medical investigations that could lead to even better care. While the road hasn’t been easy, I’ve learned that shifting perspective can make all the difference. My breathing issues haven’t miraculously improved, but my approach to them has, and that’s been empowering.
I’m still walking daily, planning travels to Italy, and even preparing to share my story with the team at Aerogen. If there’s one thing I want readers to take away, it’s this: living with chronic illness doesn’t mean giving up on life. There will always be obstacles, but there will also always be silver linings. Whether it’s finding new ways to manage symptoms, celebrating small victories, or simply refusing to let setbacks define you—there’s always a way forward.
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