New here and in need of alot of support - very long

Hi ­

My name is Susan and I live in Twinsburg, Ohio.

I am in need of some asthma support!!!!!!!

I was diagnosed with asthma in March of 2001, but I feel that I have always had the symptoms of asthma, at time trouble breathing and the side of my neck hurting from straining to get deep breaths. I have always been physically active, but stopped exercising about 2 years ago, when Greg (my husband) and I decided to try for another baby. I have rough pregnancies and exercising is out of the question during that time. I have a 5-year-old daughter ­ Sara and a 5-month-old daughter ­ Olivia.


Back to me…I get bronchitis very easily and in March of 2001, it turned into asthma also. After months of trying different products, my primary care dr. and I finally got it under control with a combination of Advir 250/50 and Singular with Abulterol as needed.

In December, 2001 I found out I was pregnant with Livie. I had to go off of the Advir and started seeing a pulmologist (sp). I was sick from January on, and had a three day hospital stay in April. I was on Singular, Pulomcort, Serevent, 10mg of Predizone, and Abulterol as needed (which was almost daily). Things got really bad at the end of June, when Livie stopped growing due to all of my medication. On July 11th, I was put into the hospital again (I was having 2 dr visits per week ­ watching Livie and I) due to her stress, and induced on the 13th ­ Livie was born 6 weeks early, at 4 lbs 7 oz. We are very blessed that she is doing well ­ One week in the NICU. I was told on the 11th that I was in the hospital until Livie was born ­ 2 days or up to 6 weeks. This all took a toll on the family ­ but we got through it. My drs were wonderful! After Livie's birth ­ my asthma was back under control with Advir 250/50 and Abulterol has needed. Well that was up until a few days ago ­ I am on my second round of Antibiotics for a bacterial infection and back on my breathing treatments every 4 hours.


I am having terrible guilt about all of this ­ I feel that I am not taking care of my family as I should be and I am terrified of getting sick… Greg, my parents and other family keep telling my I shouldn't feel guilty ­ but I do. It hurts me to think that Sara and Livie will not know me with out breathing treatments, hacking, having to rest. It makes me very sad. I feel bad that I am not the healthy woman that Greg married. He will never do anything to hurt me, but a little part of me worries that it will all get to be too much for him too handle. I am probably not giving him the credit he deserves, but again that is the guilt part I am trying to deal with. I was really hoping that this was all a bad dream ­ part is not, and it is part of my life for the rest of it.


I am trying to get back into an exercise program and starting Yoga also. I have not been allergy tested, but I think I should be. The triggers I know are cold weather and infections. How to you all feel about allergy testing and exercise for asthamics?


Please any help that you can give me would be appreciated. I am sure there are parts to this story that I am missing.


Thanks for making it this far ­ I know this was long.


Susan