If you don’t suffer from asthma or allergies it is hard to understand what it entails, how it affects your life and also what medication you will need to be on.

I thought why not talk to people that deal with these issues every day of their life. I hope that this post will give you some insight into what it is like to deal with asthma and allergies.

 

Interview One

Background: Shelby lives in the USA and is 47. During the interview she lived in West Texas.

Q1. How long have you had asthma and any other allergies?

A1. Asthma, diagnosed 2 months ago, allergies, 10 years

Q2.What things set you off? Plants, perfume, food, pollens? Let me know

A2. Candles, perfumes, pollen, our dogs if they roll in the grass/weeds.

Q3. If you have other allergies please detail what ones?

A3. My allergies are to a myriad of things, including, but not limited to, grass, pollen, rag weed, dust, animal dander, various trees, and some medications, to include compazine, flexiril, and Percocet.

Q4. How do you cope with treating your asthma as well as your allergies? Has this caused any issue? For example: Can any medication to treat the allergy not help with the asthma or vice versa?

A4. I am currently on a corticoid steroid, I have a rescue inhaler, and I take both singular and zyrtec for my allergies. I live in West Texas, which has a high elevation, and this has presented some challenges in exercise, so I have been cautioned to use my rescue inhaler prior to exercising, rather than as an emergent situation after. We also border the city of Juarez, in Mexico and they do a lot of burning of industrial waste that filters into the air, so we have a poor air quality, this has presented problems. I no longer run/walk outside for exercise, I cannot breathe well.   I have to do my workouts at home or in the gym. So far, the meds I am on while they are helping, do not make me feel “well” to the point I did prior to the asthma. The allergies, I have had for so long, I don’t notice a huge difference in them.

Q5. Is your asthma/allergies getting worse with age or the same?

A5. Asthma was deemed “environmental” not sure, it’s only been two months, and allergies, my spouse is in the Military, we move, a lot, they (allergies and asthma) seem to be worse with locations, not necessarily age.

Interesting that your environment
plays a major role.

“There is no evidence that air pollution causes asthma, but it can trigger attacks in people who have asthma. Significant outdoor air pollutants for people with asthma are: airborne particles, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone.” (Asthma and Air Pollution: A guide for Health Professionals, 2004 – http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/uploads/publication/asthma-air-pollution.pdf)

 

Q6. Do you find your diet and not eating a certain food helps you feel better? If so what has it been for you?

A6. I eat a pescaterian, mostly fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish. I limit dairy, though I do still consume dairy products, I am not vegan. I do notice a huge difference in the way I feel over when I ate red meat, and when I consumed “junk”, I began this eating change/life style change about a year ago. I have also dropped about 25 lbs. (This is 11kgs for those that don’t know pounds)

Q7. I have read that exercise and keeping at a good weight can help like with everything else regardless of allergies or dealing with asthma. Have you found that if you don’t exercise or say when pregnant suffer more with asthma and allergies?

A7. I have not found that I noticed a difference, I have not always exercised, and my weight is at a healthy level, but I we moved to the location we are in now two years ago, and I developed my asthma here, they are calling it “environmental” in nature, so I am hopeful that when we move back to the Midwest United States in mid July that the asthma either disappears altogether or is much more controlled.

 

Q8. Do you find that your allergies and asthma is worse when you are stressed? How bad does it get?
A8. Asthma in particular is much worse if I am stressed, and I have started to notice sometimes I don’t realize I am actually having an asthma attack per say during a period of high stress, and then I will think, “hey wait, use your inhaler” and I do and things are much better.

 

Q9. Depression is said to have a negative influence on asthma have you found that when you are a bit down that you notice your asthma acting up more?

A9. No
Q10. What medications are you on?

A10. Zyrtec, Singular, Albutrel, FLOVENT DISKUS (fluticasone propionate) Inhalation Powder, Nexium, Lisinopril, topirimate, and zocor.

 

Q11.When you travel what equipment and medicine do you take with you? Some in your carry on and also spares in your main luggage. Is there a process where you tell people you have asthma just in case of emergency? Let us know what you do.

A11. So far, this has not come up, but I do keep an inhaler in my purse and on my night stand. My family all knows I have asthma.

Q12. How has had having asthma or allergies impacted your life? Are you able to do everything you want to do?

A12. No, asthma has definitely changed my workout routine, and I am not happy about it. I went from running/walking 3 miles a day outside, to not being able to do so outside at all, or daily even. And, I am not near as fast as I had been. The allergies don’t seem to impact me much, other than being a nuisance.

Q12a. In answer to a similar question: Do you find that asthma/allergies have impacted on your life in a negative way? Explain how.

A12a. Yes, I cannot exercise in the manner in which I want, and my oldest daughters don’t seem to understand that I am actually ill, they think I am just “putting on”, when I am actually unable to breathe at times.

 

Do you find that family or friends don’t take you seriously when you have issues breathing?
Do they think you are “putting it on”?

 

I can understand if it is a new issue and the family are not used to it but it can upsetting for the person
dealing with asthma and other allergies that can cause issue.

 

 

This issue of family dismissing something that can be serious was brought out of this interview with the lovely Shelby.
Let me know if this happens to you also and how you dealt with it.

 

Q13. Have you ever been hospitalised due to asthma or other allergy related issue?

A13. No, but I was seen in the ER and given a breathing treatment for my asthma

 

Q14. Does where you live make things better or worse? Is a warmer climate good or a cooler one? Let me know.  

A14. We live in a very dry, warm climate, and while I am told warm is good, the dry is hard on my sinuses, and in turn my allergies, and the air quality here is horrible, and the elevation is high, so this causes my asthma to be worse, so living here I guess would be worse.

As Shelby was answering my questions for this post she and her hubby were packing up and getting ready to move. Yes that’s right they are buying a house and moving across the country. A change of scenery, environment will hopefully help Shelby’s asthma and allow her to do more.

 

Q15. Do other family members have the same thing? Or is it just you?

A15. My cousin has asthma, and my children allergies

 

I wish Shelby and her family well and hope that the new house is wonderful. Thanks for allowing me to interview you for this series. Much appreciated.

Interview Two

Background: Ms S is 36 and lives in the lower Blue Mountains. Ms S has two young children.

Q1. How long have you had asthma and any other allergies?

A1. I’ve had a lactose allergy from birth and asthma and eczema was diagnosed from 12. My other allergies were diagnosed when I was 22 and saw an allergist for testing.
Q2.What things set you off? Plants, perfume, food, pollens? Let me know

A2. Dust, changes in temperate (esp. cold), perfume, tree pollens, animal dander

Q3. If you have other allergies please detail what ones?

A3. Yes asthma and allergies – dust mite, tree pollen, pet hair, dairy & eczema

Q4. How do you cope with treating your asthma as well as your allergies? Has this caused any issue? For example: Can any medication to treat the allergy not help with the asthma or vice versa?

A4.No the medications don’t tend to interfere with each other

Q5. Is your asthma/allergies getting worse with age or the same?

A5. My eczema is getting better but my allergies are getting worse. My asthma is in general better but seasonally worse.

 

Q6. Do you find your diet and not eating a certain food helps you feel better? If so what has it been for you?

A6. Yes, avoiding dairy, citrus, alcohol, nightshades and eating a very healthy well balanced diet helps.

 

Shelby limits dairy and Ms S avoids it.

Also both eat very healthy meals.

 

Q7. I have read that exercise and keeping at a good weight can help like with everything else regardless of allergies or dealing with asthma. Have you found that if you don’t exercise or say when pregnant suffer more with asthma and allergies?

A7.Yes being unfit or pregnant certainly made my allergies and asthma wors.

 

Q8. Do you find that your allergies and asthma is worse when you are stressed? How bad does it get?
A8. Yes my asthma is worse and so in my eczema when stressed as I scratch and my breathing shortens. I tend to have a few puffs of ventolin and try to calm down and relax.

 

Q9. Depression is said to have a negative influence on asthma have you found that when you are a bit down that you notice your asthma acting up more?

A9. Yes, I’ve noticed when I’m feeling down my health in general seems to take a dive.

Q10. What medications are you on?

A10. Seretide 250mg, Ventolin and Polaramine

Q11.When you travel what equipment and medicine do you take with you? Some in your carry on and also spares in your main luggage. Is there a process where you tell people you have asthma just in case of emergency? Let us know what you do.

A11. I always take a puffer with me. My son is anaphylactic allergic so I also take an epi-pen jnr with me too and antihistamine (liquid and tablet form) as well as lots of tissues.

Q12. How has had having asthma or allergies impacted your life? Are you able to do everything you want to do?

A12. At the moment the biggest impact is the allergies causing so much sneezing and tend to set off my asthma. Also the sneezing is difficult with my weak pelvic floor post 2 kids. I couldn’t take much antihistamine while pregnant or breastfeeding my kids so I’ve just had to put up with it. At times it would get so bad I’d have 8 blood noses a day. It’s also very dangerous whilst driving a car on a freeway!

Q12a. In answer to a similar question: Do you find that asthma/allergies have impacted on your life in a negative way? Explain how.

A12a. It’s more of an inconvenience or annoyance then anything else.

Q13. Have you ever been hospitalised due to asthma or other allergy related issue?

A13. No

 

Q14. Does where you live make things better or worse? Is a warmer climate good or a cooler one? Let me know.  

A14. It’s become harder since I’ve moved to a colder climate. It was easier to manage my asthma is a warmer more humid climate. The heating irritates my skin allergies too.

 

Q15. Do other family members have the same thing? Or is it just you?

A15. My 1yr old son has eczema and is seriously allergic to many foods and is anaphylactic allergic to eggs. My 3yr old daughter also has serious eczema skin allergies. My mother has allergies and asthma too.

 

Thanks Ms S for allowing me to interview you for this series. Much appreciated.

 

Some findings:

• One thing that was very apparent is that each person needs to give more time for them. Yes you time! I know it is hard and I find getting me time difficult. Dealing with an allergy or illness I think it essential that you get a little time for you or create a sanctuary. Maybe you can start with 10mins a day and build it from there.
• Dairy seemed to be cut out of one diet and lowered in another
• Allergies and Asthma seem to go hand in hand. I know I am not qualified to link this but it seems if you have allergies getting asthma is not a remote possibility.

 

Disclaimer: I am entering the Excellence in Asthma & Allergy Reporting Awards. I aim to create more awareness about asthma and allergies. In the process it would be nice to win the prize but just to be in it will be achievement enough.

This post concludes my series on Asthma and Allergy. I hope you enjoyed them.