Relative Something

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Asth•ma | noun |  A respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity.

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Way back in December of 2008, I went to my clinic for a physical, to get a doctor’s authorization for my trek in the high altitudes of the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal. I was told, at the time, that I displayed a partial airway obstruction and was then referred to a pulmonary specialist for further diagnosis. It was at the pulmonary clinic that I finally succumbed to the realization that I have an identifiable respiratory condition that falls under the label of asthma. I had been living my life up to that point in unconscious denial. The diagnosis really shocked me. I had never experienced an ‘attack’ of the type I identified as ‘real’ asthma, and never related the noun, asthma, as anything having to do with me. But, in retrospect, I have come to recognize plenty of the simple colds that settled in my lungs as related. Also, there were a few times bronchitis required treatment at the clinic, and plenty of times when I endured prolonged days of intense coughing and deep lung congestion. To me, it was just a cough. I never considered it a version of asthma.

The pulmonary specialist gave me a prescription for two different asthma medications: one to take daily for long-term control of airway inflammation, and then for short-term prevention, a bronchodilator for use prior to intense activity. I began using them right away in hopes of maximizing my chances of avoiding any limitations during the trek, scheduled to occur 4 months later. During that period, I never felt confident that I was able to discern a difference between being on the medications or not. There were periods when I assumed I was benefiting, but at the same time, since they were not dramatic differences, I wondered if I wasn’t just enjoying psychosomatic results. I thought I should do better, so I did do better!

In the end, during my Himalayan trek, I was still greatly limited by my lung condition, despite the treatment. Even though my lungs were compromised, hopefully it was less of a problem than it could have been had I not been using asthma medication. I continued to use the meds for over 3 months after I returned home, but since the results were not entirely clear to me, I eventually tired of the routine and slowly reduced the amount of the long-acting steroid, and then stopped altogether. I didn’t notice a difference.

Until now.

I have come to the conclusion that whatever my ailment is, it is a mild one. I’m a bit frustrated with the prospect of using a daily medication to treat a mild affliction, but given enough time, at least now I have come to recognize the subtle differences that treatment provides. Lately, what has emerged as the most noticeable difference is morning congestion. I have long been aware of the phenomenon that I experience in the mornings, and just assumed that’s the way I’m built. However, after having been off the asthma medications for a while, I have really been noticing the return of morning congestion. It’s the kind of condition which was entirely unnoticed in its absence during the period I was using the medication, but it sure has become obvious now that it has returned again since I stopped.

I’ve learned that there is a lot more to this asthma than just being out of breath. ‘All things lung related’ is a many nuanced topic, indeed.