Lisa’s Story: Living With Asthma
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But as I've gotten older, it's become more difficult to control, and at this point it's uncontrolled. So I have a type of asthma that's not really due to pollen, it's more triggered by things that irritate the airways. So viral infections are really difficult for me.
Air quality I've noticed is very difficult. Sometimes I'd have neighbors that would burn garbage in their backyard and that was very irritating. So it's very interesting to see how the lungs they're very, very sensitive to the outside environment.
My asthma now that I've crossed the 40 mark, it affects every aspect of my life and I think that's what really is surprising about asthma. Asthma really can look like whatever it wants. And for me, that looks like I am a working physician and I can't go to work because of my symptoms. And I've been struggling to get access to an injectable medication for over a month. It's difficult to keep up with the kids because I don't have the energy.
And then from a social perspective with my family and friends, it's difficult to acknowledge a disability and to tell them, hey, I can't do these things. And just on a personal note, it's been interesting and difficult to be able to accept a disability because we have this vision of ourselves that we're 100%, we're perfect, and I'm realizing now that's something that's not true to reality, and that it's OK to have a disability and it's OK to say, I need help.
For me living with asthma it's a challenge. It's something that I have to deal with every day. I have to monitor my lung function, I have to watch for triggers. But also it's something that's empowering.
I thought it was a disability, but it teaches me that I'm strong. And despite this asthma, it doesn't rule my life and I can still be successful as a mom, as a physician, and as a family member. So it seems like a curse, but it's a blessing in disguise.
LISA CASTANEDA
I was diagnosed with asthma in childhood. It started off as just having more trouble keeping up with the kids in class, coughing a lot after exercise, but it continued to get worse to the point of having coughing spells for up to a month after getting a viral infection. I started off with just a rescue inhaler and then that wasn't enough. And as I went through college and eventually became a medical resident, it got to the point that I was needing oral steroids. But as I've gotten older, it's become more difficult to control, and at this point it's uncontrolled. So I have a type of asthma that's not really due to pollen, it's more triggered by things that irritate the airways. So viral infections are really difficult for me.
Air quality I've noticed is very difficult. Sometimes I'd have neighbors that would burn garbage in their backyard and that was very irritating. So it's very interesting to see how the lungs they're very, very sensitive to the outside environment.
My asthma now that I've crossed the 40 mark, it affects every aspect of my life and I think that's what really is surprising about asthma. Asthma really can look like whatever it wants. And for me, that looks like I am a working physician and I can't go to work because of my symptoms. And I've been struggling to get access to an injectable medication for over a month. It's difficult to keep up with the kids because I don't have the energy.
And then from a social perspective with my family and friends, it's difficult to acknowledge a disability and to tell them, hey, I can't do these things. And just on a personal note, it's been interesting and difficult to be able to accept a disability because we have this vision of ourselves that we're 100%, we're perfect, and I'm realizing now that's something that's not true to reality, and that it's OK to have a disability and it's OK to say, I need help.
For me living with asthma it's a challenge. It's something that I have to deal with every day. I have to monitor my lung function, I have to watch for triggers. But also it's something that's empowering.
I thought it was a disability, but it teaches me that I'm strong. And despite this asthma, it doesn't rule my life and I can still be successful as a mom, as a physician, and as a family member. So it seems like a curse, but it's a blessing in disguise.