Asthma - You Don't Always Outgrow It

I found out that I had asthma when I was fourteen. I had been having mild to moderate symptoms for about three years but hadn't thought much of them. I thought that wheezing, coughing, and a deep itching feeling in the chest weren't abnormal. I mean, come on, doesn't everyone cough until they gag and having that twitchy-itchy feeling deep inside their chest?

Once I was diagnosed with asthma I was given some steroids and an inhaler. Life was easier. Within the next three years I had little problems from my asthma.

I thought that asthma would really inhibit my physical activity. My mom was petrified that I would have an attack when exercising or hiking. I loved to hike, walk, and exercise. I didn't stop doing any of these things, but I was always worried that I might trigger an attack by doing them. I read more about asthma and learned that exercise is important for people with asthma; it strengthens the lungs as well as the rest of the body.

My doctor had told me that people can sometimes outgrow asthma, and I assumed that maybe I had. By the time I was eighteen I hadn't had to use my inhaler in over a year. I began to go without my inhaler, even when I exercised. I felt so healthy and normal that I figured that I didn't have to worry about asthma anymore.

Several months later, when I was stressed and pregnant, I learned that I certainly had not outgrown my asthma. I had the worst asthma attack that I ever had. I began gasping for breath. I sounded like someone who has had the wind knocked out of them. I was so scared about the lack of oxygen my twins must be experiencing, since I wasn't able to satisfy my own thirst for air. I didn't understand what had caused it, but I was terrified. After about three minutes of getting nearly no air in each gasping breath, I was able to breath normally again.

Ever since then I have learned not to take recovery for granted. I make sure that I keep an inhaler with me. I keep my doctor up to date on my symptoms.

Asthma doesn't stop me from enjoying life though.Five years ago I completed a marathon; last year I finished a half-marathon. (I plan on beating that finish time this year!) I ride my bike, jog, and walk my dogs without a problem. I have found the happy medium between being paranoid about asthma attack and being in denial about them.